diff --git a/changelog.d/8891.doc b/changelog.d/8891.doc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c3947fe7c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/8891.doc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Clarify comments around template directories in `sample_config.yaml`.
diff --git a/docs/sample_config.yaml b/docs/sample_config.yaml
index 8712c580c0..68c8f4f0e2 100644
--- a/docs/sample_config.yaml
+++ b/docs/sample_config.yaml
@@ -1879,11 +1879,8 @@ sso:
# - https://my.custom.client/
# Directory in which Synapse will try to find the template files below.
- # If not set, default templates from within the Synapse package will be used.
- #
- # DO NOT UNCOMMENT THIS SETTING unless you want to customise the templates.
- # If you *do* uncomment it, you will need to make sure that all the templates
- # below are in the directory.
+ # If not set, or the files named below are not found within the template
+ # directory, default templates from within the Synapse package will be used.
#
# Synapse will look for the following templates in this directory:
#
@@ -2113,9 +2110,8 @@ email:
#validation_token_lifetime: 15m
# Directory in which Synapse will try to find the template files below.
- # If not set, default templates from within the Synapse package will be used.
- #
- # Do not uncomment this setting unless you want to customise the templates.
+ # If not set, or the files named below are not found within the template
+ # directory, default templates from within the Synapse package will be used.
#
# Synapse will look for the following templates in this directory:
#
diff --git a/synapse/config/emailconfig.py b/synapse/config/emailconfig.py
index cceffbfee2..7c8b64d84b 100644
--- a/synapse/config/emailconfig.py
+++ b/synapse/config/emailconfig.py
@@ -390,9 +390,8 @@ class EmailConfig(Config):
#validation_token_lifetime: 15m
# Directory in which Synapse will try to find the template files below.
- # If not set, default templates from within the Synapse package will be used.
- #
- # Do not uncomment this setting unless you want to customise the templates.
+ # If not set, or the files named below are not found within the template
+ # directory, default templates from within the Synapse package will be used.
#
# Synapse will look for the following templates in this directory:
#
diff --git a/synapse/config/sso.py b/synapse/config/sso.py
index 4427676167..93bbd40937 100644
--- a/synapse/config/sso.py
+++ b/synapse/config/sso.py
@@ -93,11 +93,8 @@ class SSOConfig(Config):
# - https://my.custom.client/
# Directory in which Synapse will try to find the template files below.
- # If not set, default templates from within the Synapse package will be used.
- #
- # DO NOT UNCOMMENT THIS SETTING unless you want to customise the templates.
- # If you *do* uncomment it, you will need to make sure that all the templates
- # below are in the directory.
+ # If not set, or the files named below are not found within the template
+ # directory, default templates from within the Synapse package will be used.
#
# Synapse will look for the following templates in this directory:
#
|
