diff --git a/docs/widget-guide.md b/docs/widget-guide.md
index dadda4cf..7a1ed850 100644
--- a/docs/widget-guide.md
+++ b/docs/widget-guide.md
@@ -206,6 +206,40 @@ To use an existing widget in your plugin's `config_schema.json`, simply add the
 
 The widget will be automatically rendered when the plugin configuration form is loaded.
 
+## Marking Fields as Advanced (`x-advanced`)
+
+Add `"x-advanced": true` to any top-level, non-object property to move it out
+of the main form and into a single collapsed **Advanced Settings** section at
+the bottom of the plugin's configuration page:
+
+```json
+{
+  "properties": {
+    "city": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "title": "City"
+    },
+    "request_timeout": {
+      "type": "integer",
+      "default": 10,
+      "description": "HTTP timeout in seconds",
+      "x-advanced": true
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+Guidelines:
+
+- Use it for fine-tuning knobs most users never touch (timeouts, retry
+  behavior, cache TTLs, styling overrides). Anything a first-time user must
+  set to get the plugin working should stay basic.
+- Nothing is hidden permanently — the section expands on click, and the
+  settings search finds and auto-expands advanced fields like any others.
+- The flag is ignored on `object`-type properties (they already render as
+  their own collapsible sections) and is safely ignored by older cores, so
+  adding it never breaks compatibility.
+
 ## Creating Custom Widgets
 
 ### Step 1: Create Widget File
diff --git a/web_interface/templates/v3/partials/plugin_config.html b/web_interface/templates/v3/partials/plugin_config.html
index e427918f..edb98056 100644
--- a/web_interface/templates/v3/partials/plugin_config.html
+++ b/web_interface/templates/v3/partials/plugin_config.html
@@ -1005,13 +1005,51 @@
                         {# Use property order if defined, otherwise use natural order #}
                         {# Skip 'enabled' field - it's handled by the header toggle #}
                         {% set property_order = schema['x-propertyOrder'] if 'x-propertyOrder' in schema else schema.properties.keys()|list %}
+                        {# Flat (non-object) properties flagged "x-advanced": true are
+                           grouped into one collapsed "Advanced Settings" section after
+                           the basic fields. Object-type properties already render as
+                           their own collapsible sections, so the flag is ignored for
+                           them. Schemas without the flag render exactly as before. #}
+                        {% set tiers = namespace(basic=[], advanced=[]) %}
                         {% for key in property_order %}
                             {% if key in schema.properties and key != 'enabled' %}
                                 {% set prop = schema.properties[key] %}
-                                {% set value = config[key] if key in config else none %}
-                                {{ render_field(key, prop, value, '', plugin.id) }}
+                                {% set is_object = prop.type is defined and 'object' in prop.type %}
+                                {% if prop.get('x-advanced') and not is_object %}
+                                    {% set tiers.advanced = tiers.advanced + [key] %}
+                                {% else %}
+                                    {% set tiers.basic = tiers.basic + [key] %}
+                                {% endif %}
                             {% endif %}
                         {% endfor %}
+                        {% for key in tiers.basic %}
+                            {% set prop = schema.properties[key] %}
+                            {% set value = config[key] if key in config else none %}
+                            {{ render_field(key, prop, value, '', plugin.id) }}
+                        {% endfor %}
+                        {% if tiers.advanced %}
+                            {% set adv_section_id = (plugin.id ~ '-section-advanced-settings')|replace('.', '-')|replace('_', '-') %}
+                            <div class="nested-section border border-gray-300 rounded-lg mb-4">
+                                <button type="button"
+                                        class="w-full bg-gray-100 hover:bg-gray-200 px-4 py-3 flex items-center justify-between text-left transition-colors rounded-t-lg"
+                                        onclick="toggleSection('{{ adv_section_id }}')">
+                                    <div class="flex-1">
+                                        <h4 class="font-semibold text-gray-900">
+                                            <i class="fas fa-sliders-h mr-1 text-gray-500"></i>Advanced Settings ({{ tiers.advanced|length }})
+                                        </h4>
+                                        <p class="text-sm text-gray-600 mt-1">Optional fine-tuning — the defaults work for most setups.</p>
+                                    </div>
+                                    <i id="{{ adv_section_id }}-icon" class="fas fa-chevron-right text-gray-500 transition-transform"></i>
+                                </button>
+                                <div id="{{ adv_section_id }}" class="nested-content bg-gray-50 px-4 py-4 space-y-3 hidden" style="display: none;">
+                                    {% for key in tiers.advanced %}
+                                        {% set prop = schema.properties[key] %}
+                                        {% set value = config[key] if key in config else none %}
+                                        {{ render_field(key, prop, value, '', plugin.id) }}
+                                    {% endfor %}
+                                </div>
+                            </div>
+                        {% endif %}
                     {% else %}
                         {# No schema - render simple form from config #}
                         {% if config %}