diff --git a/conf/defaults.ini b/conf/defaults.ini
index e8e0a152dc8..22918d44339 100644
--- a/conf/defaults.ini
+++ b/conf/defaults.ini
@@ -527,9 +527,11 @@ external_manage_link_url =
 external_manage_link_name =
 external_manage_info =
 
+# Deprecated: Assign your viewers to editors.
 # Viewers can edit/inspect dashboard settings in the browser. But not save the dashboard.
 viewers_can_edit = false
 
+# Deprecated: Assign your editors to admins.
 # Editors can administrate dashboard, folders and teams they create
 editors_can_admin = false
 
diff --git a/conf/sample.ini b/conf/sample.ini
index 7022ff51b26..e3b3c1f965d 100644
--- a/conf/sample.ini
+++ b/conf/sample.ini
@@ -528,9 +528,12 @@
 ;external_manage_link_name =
 ;external_manage_info =
 
+
+# Deprecated: Assign your viewers to editors.
 # Viewers can edit/inspect dashboard settings in the browser. But not save the dashboard.
 ;viewers_can_edit = false
 
+# Deprecated: Assign your editors to admins.
 # Editors can administrate dashboard, folders and teams they create
 ;editors_can_admin = false
 
diff --git a/pkg/setting/setting.go b/pkg/setting/setting.go
index 5b560c3b937..cc1b10b9054 100644
--- a/pkg/setting/setting.go
+++ b/pkg/setting/setting.go
@@ -294,8 +294,8 @@ type Cfg struct {
 	// DistributedCache
 	RemoteCacheOptions *RemoteCacheSettings
 
-	ViewersCanEdit  bool
-	EditorsCanAdmin bool
+	ViewersCanEdit  bool // Deprecated: no longer used
+	EditorsCanAdmin bool // Deprecated: no longer used
 
 	ApiKeyMaxSecondsToLive int64
 
@@ -1729,8 +1729,16 @@ func readUserSettings(iniFile *ini.File, cfg *Cfg) error {
 	cfg.ExternalUserMngAnalytics = users.Key("external_manage_analytics").MustBool(false)
 	cfg.ExternalUserMngAnalyticsParams = valueAsString(users, "external_manage_analytics_params", "")
 
+	// Deprecated
 	cfg.ViewersCanEdit = users.Key("viewers_can_edit").MustBool(false)
+	if cfg.ViewersCanEdit {
+		cfg.Logger.Warn("[Deprecated] The viewers_can_edit configuration setting is deprecated. Please upgrade viewers to editors.")
+	}
+	// Deprecated
 	cfg.EditorsCanAdmin = users.Key("editors_can_admin").MustBool(false)
+	if cfg.EditorsCanAdmin {
+		cfg.Logger.Warn("[Deprecated] The editors_can_admin configuration setting is deprecated. Please upgrade editors to admin.")
+	}
 
 	userInviteMaxLifetimeVal := valueAsString(users, "user_invite_max_lifetime_duration", "24h")
 	userInviteMaxLifetimeDuration, err := gtime.ParseDuration(userInviteMaxLifetimeVal)