diff -u b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/ConfigImporter.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/ConfigImporter.php
--- b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/ConfigImporter.php
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/ConfigImporter.php
@@ -526,9 +526,7 @@
     }
     $sync_steps[] = 'processConfigurations';
 
-    $presync = $this->moduleHandler->invokeAll('config_import_presync_steps');
-    $postsync = $this->moduleHandler->invokeAll('config_import_postsync_steps');
-    $sync_steps = array_merge($presync, $sync_steps, $postsync);
+    // Allow modules to add new steps to configuration synchronization.
     $this->moduleHandler->alter('config_import_steps', $sync_steps);
     $sync_steps[] = 'finish';
     return $sync_steps;
diff -u b/core/modules/config/lib/Drupal/config/Tests/ConfigImporterTest.php b/core/modules/config/lib/Drupal/config/Tests/ConfigImporterTest.php
--- b/core/modules/config/lib/Drupal/config/Tests/ConfigImporterTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/config/lib/Drupal/config/Tests/ConfigImporterTest.php
@@ -198,11 +198,8 @@
     $this->assertFalse(isset($GLOBALS['hook_config_test']['predelete']));
     $this->assertFalse(isset($GLOBALS['hook_config_test']['delete']));
 
-    // Verify that hook_config_import_presync_steps(),
-    // hook_config_import_postsync_steps(), hook_config_import_steps_alter() can
-    // add steps to configuration synchronization.
-    $this->assertTrue(isset($GLOBALS['hook_config_test']['config_import_presync_steps']));
-    $this->assertTrue(isset($GLOBALS['hook_config_test']['config_import_postsync_steps']));
+    // Verify that hook_config_import_steps_alter() can add steps to
+    // configuration synchronization.
     $this->assertTrue(isset($GLOBALS['hook_config_test']['config_import_steps_alter']));
 
     // Verify that there is nothing more to import.
diff -u b/core/modules/config/tests/config_import_test/config_import_test.module b/core/modules/config/tests/config_import_test/config_import_test.module
--- b/core/modules/config/tests/config_import_test/config_import_test.module
+++ b/core/modules/config/tests/config_import_test/config_import_test.module
@@ -6,20 +6,6 @@
  */
 
 /**
- * Implements hook_config_import_presync_steps().
- */
-function config_import_test_config_import_presync_steps() {
-  return array('_config_import_test_config_import_presync_step');
-}
-
-/**
- * Implements hook_config_import_postsync_steps().
- */
-function config_import_test_config_import_postsync_steps() {
-  return array('_config_import_test_config_import_postsync_step');
-}
-
-/**
  * Implements hook_config_import_steps_alter().
  */
 function config_import_test_config_import_steps_alter(&$sync_steps) {
@@ -27,30 +13,6 @@
 }
 
 /**
- * Implements pre configuration synchronization step for testing.
- *
- * @param array $context
- *   The batch context.
- */
-function _config_import_test_config_import_presync_step(&$context) {
-  $GLOBALS['hook_config_test']['config_import_presync_steps'] = TRUE;
-  $context['finished'] = 1;
-  return;
-}
-
-/**
- * Implements post configuration synchronization step for testing.
- *
- * @param array $context
- *   The batch context.
- */
-function _config_import_test_config_import_postsync_step(&$context) {
-  $GLOBALS['hook_config_test']['config_import_postsync_steps'] = TRUE;
-  $context['finished'] = 1;
-  return;
-}
-
-/**
  * Implements configuration synchronization step added by an alter for testing.
  *
  * @param array $context
diff -u b/core/modules/system/system.api.php b/core/modules/system/system.api.php
--- b/core/modules/system/system.api.php
+++ b/core/modules/system/system.api.php
@@ -2879,42 +2879,28 @@
 }
 
 /**
- * Adds pre steps to the configuration synchronization process.
- *
- * @return callable[]
- *   An array of callables that are invoked before the extensions and
- *   configuration are synchronized.
- *
- * @see \Drupal\Core\Config\ConfigImporter::initialize()
- */
-function hook_config_import_presync_steps() {
-  return array('_custom_configuration_presync_step');
-}
-
-/**
- * Adds post steps to the configuration synchronization process.
- *
- * @return callable[]
- *   An array of callables that are invoked after the extensions and
- *   configuration are synchronized.
- *
- * @see \Drupal\Core\Config\ConfigImporter::initialize()
- */
-function hook_config_import_postsync_steps() {
-  return array('_custom_configuration_postsync_step');
-}
-
-/**
  * Alter the configuration synchronization steps.
  *
  * @param array $sync_steps
- *   An array of \Drupal\Core\Config\ConfigImporter method names and callables
- *   that are invoked to complete the import.
+ *   A one-dimensional array of \Drupal\Core\Config\ConfigImporter method names
+ *   or callables that are invoked to complete the import, in the order that
+ *   they will be processed. Each callable item defined in $sync_steps should
+ *   either be a global function or a public static method. The callable should
+ *   accept a $context array by reference. For example:
+ *   <code>
+ *     function _additional_configuration_step(&$context) {
+ *       // Do stuff.
+ *       // If finished set $context['finished'] = 1.
+ *     }
+ *   </code>
+ *   For more information on creating batches, see the
+ *   @link batch Batch operations @endlink documentation.
  *
+ * @see callback_batch_operation()
  * @see \Drupal\Core\Config\ConfigImporter::initialize()
  */
 function hook_config_import_steps_alter(&$sync_steps) {
-  $sync_steps[] = '_custom_configuration_altered_step';
+  $sync_steps[] = '_additional_configuration_step';
 }
 
 /**