diff --git a/changelog.d/14818.doc b/changelog.d/14818.doc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..7a47cc8ab35e27e67561bc69eec016a8a9611c4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/14818.doc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Updated documentation in configuration manual for `user_directory.search_all_users`.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/usage/configuration/config_documentation.md b/docs/usage/configuration/config_documentation.md
index 35de9c95e345b94781e7712f6de115edff797f28..3481e866f70554bfa150f97ef6b2b75fd6d94f47 100644
--- a/docs/usage/configuration/config_documentation.md
+++ b/docs/usage/configuration/config_documentation.md
@@ -3472,8 +3472,8 @@ This setting defines options related to the user directory.
 This option has the following sub-options:
 * `enabled`:  Defines whether users can search the user directory. If false then
    empty responses are returned to all queries. Defaults to true.
-* `search_all_users`: Defines whether to search all users visible to your HS when searching
-   the user directory. If false, search results will only contain users
+* `search_all_users`: Defines whether to search all users visible to your HS at the time the search is performed. If set to true, will return all users who share a room with the user from the homeserver.
+   If false, search results will only contain users
     visible in public rooms and users sharing a room with the requester.
     Defaults to false.