diff --git a/admin/tests/behat/behat_admin.php b/admin/tests/behat/behat_admin.php
index af027dec4c895..5b48dbff6af23 100644
--- a/admin/tests/behat/behat_admin.php
+++ b/admin/tests/behat/behat_admin.php
@@ -53,11 +53,8 @@ public function i_set_the_following_administration_settings_values(TableNode $ta
         }
 
         foreach ($data as $label => $value) {
-            $this->execute('behat_navigation::i_select_from_flat_navigation_drawer', [get_string('administrationsite')]);
-
-            // Search by label.
-            $this->execute('behat_forms::i_set_the_field_to', [get_string('query', 'admin'), $label]);
-            $this->execute("behat_forms::press_button", get_string('search', 'admin'));
+            // Navigate straight to the search results fo rthis label.
+            $this->execute('behat_general::i_visit', ["/admin/search.php?query=" . urlencode($label)]);
 
             // Admin settings does not use the same DOM structure than other moodle forms
             // but we also need to use lib/behat/form_field/* to deal with the different moodle form elements.
diff --git a/admin/tool/dataprivacy/tests/behat/manage_data_requests.feature b/admin/tool/dataprivacy/tests/behat/manage_data_requests.feature
index 0c0d943265bdd..47caf1daa5537 100644
--- a/admin/tool/dataprivacy/tests/behat/manage_data_requests.feature
+++ b/admin/tool/dataprivacy/tests/behat/manage_data_requests.feature
@@ -9,10 +9,8 @@ Feature: Manage data requests
       | username | firstname | lastname | email          |
       | student1 | John      | Doe      | s1@example.com |
       | student2 | Jane      | Doe      | s2@example.com |
-    And I log in as "admin"
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
-      | contactdataprotectionofficer | 1 |
-    And I log out
+    And the following config values are set as admin:
+      | contactdataprotectionofficer | 1 | tool_dataprivacy |
 
   @javascript
   Scenario: Marking general enquiries as complete
diff --git a/auth/tests/behat/login.feature b/auth/tests/behat/login.feature
index f80390b204e8d..250955b7289d1 100644
--- a/auth/tests/behat/login.feature
+++ b/auth/tests/behat/login.feature
@@ -41,10 +41,8 @@ Feature: Authentication
     Then I should see "You are not logged in" in the "page-footer" "region"
 
   Scenario Outline: Checking the display of the Remember username checkbox
-    Given I log in as "admin"
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
+    Given the following config values are set as admin:
       | rememberusername | <settingvalue> |
-    And I log out
     And I am on homepage
     When I click on "Log in" "link" in the ".logininfo" "css_element"
     Then I should <expect> "Remember username"
diff --git a/backup/util/ui/tests/behat/duplicate_activities.feature b/backup/util/ui/tests/behat/duplicate_activities.feature
index 9b1b9afd392a9..6f2d47c6cb87a 100644
--- a/backup/util/ui/tests/behat/duplicate_activities.feature
+++ b/backup/util/ui/tests/behat/duplicate_activities.feature
@@ -14,10 +14,8 @@ Feature: Duplicate activities
     And the following "course enrolments" exist:
       | user | course | role |
       | teacher1 | C1 | editingteacher |
-    And I log in as "admin"
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
-      | backup_import_activities    | 0 |
-    And I log out
+    And the following config values are set as admin:
+      | backup_import_activities | 0 | backup |
     And I log in as "teacher1"
     And I am on "Course 1" course homepage with editing mode on
     And I add a "Database" to section "1" and I fill the form with:
diff --git a/blocks/site_main_menu/tests/behat/edit_activities.feature b/blocks/site_main_menu/tests/behat/edit_activities.feature
index 51b60ea550064..e8aa3315c9a7f 100644
--- a/blocks/site_main_menu/tests/behat/edit_activities.feature
+++ b/blocks/site_main_menu/tests/behat/edit_activities.feature
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ Feature: Edit activities in main menu block
 
   @javascript
   Scenario: Activities in main menu block can be made available but not visible on a course page
-    And I log in as "admin"
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
+    Given the following config values are set as admin:
       | allowstealth | 1 |
+    And I log in as "admin"
     And I am on site homepage
     And I navigate to "Turn editing on" in current page administration
     And I add the "Main menu" block
diff --git a/blocks/social_activities/tests/behat/edit_activities.feature b/blocks/social_activities/tests/behat/edit_activities.feature
index 9ea303183c22b..ddce9f6d4192a 100644
--- a/blocks/social_activities/tests/behat/edit_activities.feature
+++ b/blocks/social_activities/tests/behat/edit_activities.feature
@@ -33,10 +33,8 @@ Feature: Edit activities in social activities block
 
   @javascript
   Scenario: Activities in social activities block can be made available but not visible on a course page
-    And I log in as "admin"
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
+    Given the following config values are set as admin:
       | allowstealth | 1 |
-    And I log out
     And I log in as "user1"
     And I am on "Course 1" course homepage with editing mode on
     And I add the "Recent activity" block
diff --git a/course/tests/behat/activities_visibility_icons.feature b/course/tests/behat/activities_visibility_icons.feature
index b936e4a2327ee..d26ae6716b84f 100644
--- a/course/tests/behat/activities_visibility_icons.feature
+++ b/course/tests/behat/activities_visibility_icons.feature
@@ -131,10 +131,8 @@ Feature: Toggle activities visibility from the course page
       | user | course | role |
       | teacher1 | C1 | editingteacher |
       | student1 | C1 | student |
-    And I log in as "admin"
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
+    And the following config values are set as admin:
       | allowstealth | 1 |
-    And I log out
     And I log in as "teacher1"
     And I am on "Course 1" course homepage with editing mode on
     And I add the "Recent activity" block
diff --git a/course/tests/behat/activity_navigation.feature b/course/tests/behat/activity_navigation.feature
index dff44351b0ae9..9184770ae8add 100644
--- a/course/tests/behat/activity_navigation.feature
+++ b/course/tests/behat/activity_navigation.feature
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ Feature: Activity navigation
       | wiki       | Wiki 1       | Test wiki description       | C1     | wiki1     | 6       |
       | workshop   | Workshop 1   | Test workshop description   | C1     | workshop1 | 6       |
       | assign     | Assignment 1 | Test assignment description | C2     | assign21  | 0       |
-    And I log in as "admin"
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
+    And the following config values are set as admin:
       | allowstealth | 1 |
+    And I log in as "teacher1"
     And I am on "Course 1" course homepage with editing mode on
     # Stealth activity.
     And I click on "Hide" "link" in the "Forum 1" activity
diff --git a/course/tests/behat/add_activities.feature b/course/tests/behat/add_activities.feature
index 61466e52ef89a..71e4db9212032 100644
--- a/course/tests/behat/add_activities.feature
+++ b/course/tests/behat/add_activities.feature
@@ -11,16 +11,16 @@ Feature: Add activities to courses
       | student2 | Student | 2 | student2@example.com |
     And the following "courses" exist:
       | fullname | shortname | format |
-      | Course 1 | C1 | topics |
+      | Course 1 | Course 1 | topics |
     And the following "course enrolments" exist:
       | user | course | role |
-      | student1 | C1 | student |
-      | student2 | C1 | student |
-    And I log in as "admin"
-    And I am on "Course 1" course homepage with editing mode on
+      | student1 | Course 1 | student |
+      | student2 | Course 1 | student |
 
   @javascript
   Scenario: Add an activity to a course
+    Given I am on the "Course 1" Course page logged in as admin
+    And I am on "Course 1" course homepage with editing mode on
     When I add a "Database" to section "3" and I fill the form with:
       | Name | Test name |
       | Description | Test database description |
@@ -38,15 +38,18 @@ Feature: Add activities to courses
 
   @javascript
   Scenario: Add an activity supplying only the name
+    Given I am on the "Course 1" Course page logged in as admin
+    And I am on "Course 1" course homepage with editing mode on
     When I add a "Database" to section "3" and I fill the form with:
       | Name | Test name |
     Then I should see "Test name"
 
   @javascript
   Scenario: Set activity description to required then add an activity supplying only the name
-    Given I set the following administration settings values:
-      | requiremodintro | Yes |
-    When I am on "Course 1" course homepage
+    Given the following config values are set as admin:
+      | requiremodintro | 1 |
+    And I am on the "Course 1" Course page logged in as admin
+    And I am on "Course 1" course homepage with editing mode on
     And I add a "Database" to section "3" and I fill the form with:
       | Name | Test name |
     Then I should see "Required"
diff --git a/course/tests/behat/course_relativedatesmode.feature b/course/tests/behat/course_relativedatesmode.feature
index e0372cd08dca3..ed8cda6e31283 100644
--- a/course/tests/behat/course_relativedatesmode.feature
+++ b/course/tests/behat/course_relativedatesmode.feature
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ Feature: Courses can be set up to display dates relative to the user's enrolment
 
   @javascript
   Scenario: Create a course with relative dates feature disabled
-    Given  I log in as "admin"
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
+    Given the following config values are set as admin:
       | enablecourserelativedates | 0 |
+    And  I log in as "admin"
     And I am on site homepage
     And I turn editing mode on
     When I press "Add a new course"
@@ -18,20 +18,19 @@ Feature: Courses can be set up to display dates relative to the user's enrolment
 
   @javascript
   Scenario: Create a course with relative dates feature enabled
-    Given  I log in as "admin"
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
+    Given the following config values are set as admin:
       | enablecourserelativedates | 1 |
+    And I log in as "admin"
     And I am on site homepage
     And I turn editing mode on
     When I press "Add a new course"
-    And I wait until the page is ready
     Then I should see "Relative dates mode"
     And I should see "Relative dates mode cannot be changed once the course has been created."
 
   Scenario: Edit courses with relative dates feature enabled
-    Given  I log in as "admin"
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
+    Given the following config values are set as admin:
       | enablecourserelativedates | 1 |
+    And  I log in as "admin"
     And I create a course with:
       | Course full name    | Course 1  |
       | Course short name   | C1        |
diff --git a/course/tests/behat/course_request.feature b/course/tests/behat/course_request.feature
index c50671f4ef2e9..3eee1ed9a5af4 100644
--- a/course/tests/behat/course_request.feature
+++ b/course/tests/behat/course_request.feature
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@ Feature: Users can request and approve courses
 
   Scenario: Simple course request workflow
     Given the following "system role assigns" exist:
-      | user  | course | role |
+      | user  | course               | role    |
       | user2 | Acceptance test site | manager |
-    Given I log in as "admin"
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
+    And the following config values are set as admin:
       | lockrequestcategory | 1 |
+    Given I log in as "admin"
     And I set the following system permissions of "Authenticated user" role:
       | capability | permission |
       | moodle/course:request | Allow |
diff --git a/mod/feedback/tests/behat/anonymous.feature b/mod/feedback/tests/behat/anonymous.feature
index 9e098efca049f..b01c03541c812 100644
--- a/mod/feedback/tests/behat/anonymous.feature
+++ b/mod/feedback/tests/behat/anonymous.feature
@@ -110,10 +110,8 @@ Feature: Anonymous feedback
     And I log out
 
   Scenario: Complete fully anonymous feedback on the front page as a guest
-    And I log in as "admin"
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
+    Given the following config values are set as admin:
       | feedback_allowfullanonymous | 1 |
-    And I log out
     When I follow "Site feedback"
     And I follow "Preview"
     And I should see "Do you like our site?"
@@ -128,9 +126,9 @@ Feature: Anonymous feedback
 
   @javascript
   Scenario: Complete fully anonymous feedback and view analyze on the front page as a guest
-    And I log in as "admin"
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
+    Given the following config values are set as admin:
       | feedback_allowfullanonymous | 1 |
+    And I log in as "admin"
     And I set the following system permissions of "Guest" role:
       | capability                   | permission |
       | mod/feedback:viewanalysepage | Allow      |
diff --git a/mod/h5pactivity/tests/behat/result_fillin.feature b/mod/h5pactivity/tests/behat/result_fillin.feature
index bfba4c0ba5f72..526fe21f5a6d4 100644
--- a/mod/h5pactivity/tests/behat/result_fillin.feature
+++ b/mod/h5pactivity/tests/behat/result_fillin.feature
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ Feature: View fill the blanks attempt report
     And the following "course enrolments" exist:
       | user     | course | role           |
       | student1 | C1     | student        |
-    And I log in as "admin"
-    # No HTML should appear even with formatstringstriptags disabled.
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
+    And the following config values are set as admin:
+      # No HTML should appear even with formatstringstriptags disabled.
       | formatstringstriptags | 0 |
+    And I log in as "admin"
     And I am on "Course 1" course homepage with editing mode on
     And I add a "H5P" to section "1"
     And I set the following fields to these values:
diff --git a/mod/h5pactivity/tests/behat/result_longfillin.feature b/mod/h5pactivity/tests/behat/result_longfillin.feature
index de37562accede..826c19f4ba16c 100644
--- a/mod/h5pactivity/tests/behat/result_longfillin.feature
+++ b/mod/h5pactivity/tests/behat/result_longfillin.feature
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ Feature: View essay attempt report
     And the following "course enrolments" exist:
       | user     | course | role           |
       | student1 | C1     | student        |
-    And I log in as "admin"
-    # No HTML should appear even with formatstringstriptags disabled.
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
+    And the following config values are set as admin:
+      # No HTML should appear even with formatstringstriptags disabled.
       | formatstringstriptags | 0 |
+    And I log in as "admin"
     And I am on "Course 1" course homepage with editing mode on
     And I add a "H5P" to section "1"
     And I set the following fields to these values:
diff --git a/report/participation/tests/behat/message_participants.feature b/report/participation/tests/behat/message_participants.feature
index 2f0bac9d61ada..4b376aa484846 100644
--- a/report/participation/tests/behat/message_participants.feature
+++ b/report/participation/tests/behat/message_participants.feature
@@ -7,23 +7,24 @@ Feature: Use the particiaption report to message groups of students
   Background:
     Given the following "courses" exist:
       | fullname | shortname | category | groupmode |
-      | Course 1 | C1 | 0 | 1 |
+      | Course 1 | C1        | 0        | 1         |
     And the following "users" exist:
-      | username | firstname | lastname | email |
-      | teacher1 | Teacher | 1 | teacher1@example.com |
-      | student1 | Student | 1 | student1@example.com |
-      | student2 | Student | 2 | student2@example.com |
-      | student3 | Student | 3 | student3@example.com |
+      | username | firstname | lastname |
+      | teacher1 | Teacher   | 1        |
+      | student1 | Student   | 1        |
+      | student2 | Student   | 2        |
+      | student3 | Student   | 3        |
     And the following "course enrolments" exist:
-      | user | course | role |
-      | teacher1 | C1 | editingteacher |
-      | student1 | C1 | student |
-      | student2 | C1 | student |
-      | student3 | C1 | student |
+      | user     | course | role           |
+      | teacher1 | C1     | editingteacher |
+      | student1 | C1     | student        |
+      | student2 | C1     | student        |
+      | student3 | C1     | student        |
     And the following "activity" exists:
       | course      | C1             |
       | activity    | book           |
       | name        | Test book name |
+      | idnumber    | Test book name |
       | description | Test book      |
       | idnumber    | book1          |
     And I am on the "Test book name" "book activity" page logged in as student1
diff --git a/user/tests/behat/user_grade_navigation.feature b/user/tests/behat/user_grade_navigation.feature
index f41b46b75f1d5..040087ac2c295 100644
--- a/user/tests/behat/user_grade_navigation.feature
+++ b/user/tests/behat/user_grade_navigation.feature
@@ -51,11 +51,9 @@ Feature: The student can navigate to their grades page and user grade report.
     | Test assignment three | 0.00 %( Empty ) | - | 0–150 | - | 0.00 % |
 
   Scenario: Change Grades settings to go to a custom url.
-    When I log in as "admin"
-    And I set the following administration settings values:
-    | grade_mygrades_report | External URL |
-    | gradereport_mygradeurl | /badges/mybadges.php |
-    And I log out
+    Given the following config values are set as admin:
+      | grade_mygrades_report  | external             |
+      | gradereport_mygradeurl | /badges/mybadges.php |
     And I log in as "student1"
     And I follow "Student 1"
     And I follow "Grades" in the user menu