diff --git a/awx/ui/client/src/configuration/configuration.block.less b/awx/ui/client/src/configuration/configuration.block.less
index b5a7d203cf..2ce7d4e4b9 100644
--- a/awx/ui/client/src/configuration/configuration.block.less
+++ b/awx/ui/client/src/configuration/configuration.block.less
@@ -147,6 +147,8 @@ textarea[disabled="disabled"] + div[id*="-container"]{
 //Needed to show the not-allowed cursor over a Codemirror instance
 .Form-formGroup--disabled {
     cursor: not-allowed;
+    position: relative;
+    display: inline-block;
 
     // Filepicker and toggle disabling
     .Form-filePicker--pickerButton, .Form-filePicker--textBox,
@@ -155,4 +157,46 @@ textarea[disabled="disabled"] + div[id*="-container"]{
         cursor: not-allowed;
     }
 
+    // Adding explanatory tooltips for disabled fields
+    // Borrows styling from .popover
+    .Form-tooltip--disabled {
+        visibility: hidden;
+        background-color: @default-interface-txt;
+        color: @default-bg;
+        text-align: center;
+        border-radius: 6px;
+
+        position: absolute;
+        z-index: 1;
+        width: 200px;
+        bottom: 110%;
+        left: 50%;
+        margin-left: -100px;
+
+        background-clip: padding-box;
+        border: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,.2);
+        -webkit-box-shadow: 0 5px 10px rgba(0,0,0,.2);
+        box-shadow: 0 5px 10px rgba(0,0,0,.2);
+        white-space: normal;
+
+        padding: 9px 14px;
+        font-size: 12px;
+        font-weight: bold;
+    }
+
+    &:hover .Form-tooltip--disabled {
+        visibility: visible;
+    }
+
+    .Form-tooltip--disabled::after {
+        content: " ";
+        position: absolute;
+        top: 100%;
+        left: 50%;
+        margin-left: -11px;
+        border-width: 11px;
+        border-style: solid;
+        border-color: @default-interface-txt transparent transparent transparent;
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/awx/ui/client/src/shared/form-generator.js b/awx/ui/client/src/shared/form-generator.js
index 6d2809181e..17592d4f0f 100644
--- a/awx/ui/client/src/shared/form-generator.js
+++ b/awx/ui/client/src/shared/form-generator.js
@@ -740,6 +740,10 @@ angular.module('FormGenerator', [GeneratorHelpers.name, 'Utilities', listGenerat
                     html += (field.awFeature) ? "aw-feature=\"" + field.awFeature + "\" " : "";
                     html += ">\n";
 
+                    var definedInFileMessage = i18n._('This setting has been set manually in a settings file and is now disabled.');
+                    html += (field.definedInFile) ?
+                        `<span class="Form-tooltip--disabled">${definedInFileMessage}</span>` : ``;
+
                     // toggle switches
                     if(field.type === 'toggleSwitch') {
                         html += label();