diff --git a/build/deploy-local-smapi.targets b/build/deploy-local-smapi.targets
index d30967fe5..bc97dedf8 100644
--- a/build/deploy-local-smapi.targets
+++ b/build/deploy-local-smapi.targets
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ This assumes `find-game-folder.targets` has already been imported and validated.
     <Copy SourceFiles="$(TargetDir)\SMAPI.config.json" DestinationFiles="$(GamePath)\smapi-internal\config.json" />
     <Copy SourceFiles="$(TargetDir)\SMAPI.metadata.json" DestinationFiles="$(GamePath)\smapi-internal\metadata.json" />
     <Copy SourceFiles="$(TargetDir)\Newtonsoft.Json.dll" DestinationFolder="$(GamePath)\smapi-internal" />
+    <Copy SourceFiles="$(TargetDir)\Newtonsoft.Json.Schema.dll" DestinationFolder="$(GamePath)\smapi-internal" />
     <Copy SourceFiles="$(TargetDir)\TMXTile.dll" DestinationFolder="$(GamePath)\smapi-internal" />
     <Copy SourceFiles="$(TargetDir)\Pintail.dll" DestinationFolder="$(GamePath)\smapi-internal" />
     <Copy SourceFiles="@(TranslationFiles)" DestinationFolder="$(GamePath)\smapi-internal\i18n" />
diff --git a/build/unix/prepare-install-package.sh b/build/unix/prepare-install-package.sh
index cfd24afd4..b70fbca56 100755
--- a/build/unix/prepare-install-package.sh
+++ b/build/unix/prepare-install-package.sh
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ for folder in ${folders[@]}; do
     cp -r "$smapiBin/i18n" "$bundlePath/smapi-internal"
 
     # bundle smapi-internal
-    for name in "0Harmony.dll" "0Harmony.xml" "Mono.Cecil.dll" "Mono.Cecil.Mdb.dll" "Mono.Cecil.Pdb.dll" "MonoMod.Common.dll" "Newtonsoft.Json.dll" "Pathoschild.Http.Client.dll" "Pintail.dll" "TMXTile.dll" "SMAPI.Toolkit.dll" "SMAPI.Toolkit.xml" "SMAPI.Toolkit.CoreInterfaces.dll" "SMAPI.Toolkit.CoreInterfaces.xml" "System.Net.Http.Formatting.dll"; do
+    for name in "0Harmony.dll" "0Harmony.xml" "Mono.Cecil.dll" "Mono.Cecil.Mdb.dll" "Mono.Cecil.Pdb.dll" "MonoMod.Common.dll" "Newtonsoft.Json.dll" "Newtonsoft.Json.Schema.dll" "Pathoschild.Http.Client.dll" "Pintail.dll" "TMXTile.dll" "SMAPI.Toolkit.dll" "SMAPI.Toolkit.xml" "SMAPI.Toolkit.CoreInterfaces.dll" "SMAPI.Toolkit.CoreInterfaces.xml" "System.Net.Http.Formatting.dll"; do
         cp "$smapiBin/$name" "$bundlePath/smapi-internal"
     done
 
diff --git a/build/windows/prepare-install-package.ps1 b/build/windows/prepare-install-package.ps1
index 48c013ff0..00a719efe 100644
--- a/build/windows/prepare-install-package.ps1
+++ b/build/windows/prepare-install-package.ps1
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ foreach ($folder in $folders) {
     cp -Recurse "$smapiBin/i18n" "$bundlePath/smapi-internal"
 
     # bundle smapi-internal
-    foreach ($name in @("0Harmony.dll", "0Harmony.xml", "Mono.Cecil.dll", "Mono.Cecil.Mdb.dll", "Mono.Cecil.Pdb.dll", "MonoMod.Common.dll", "Newtonsoft.Json.dll", "Pathoschild.Http.Client.dll", "Pintail.dll", "TMXTile.dll", "SMAPI.Toolkit.dll", "SMAPI.Toolkit.xml", "SMAPI.Toolkit.CoreInterfaces.dll", "SMAPI.Toolkit.CoreInterfaces.xml", "System.Net.Http.Formatting.dll")) {
+    foreach ($name in @("0Harmony.dll", "0Harmony.xml", "Mono.Cecil.dll", "Mono.Cecil.Mdb.dll", "Mono.Cecil.Pdb.dll", "MonoMod.Common.dll", "Newtonsoft.Json.dll", "Newtonsoft.Json.Schema.dll", "Pathoschild.Http.Client.dll", "Pintail.dll", "TMXTile.dll", "SMAPI.Toolkit.dll", "SMAPI.Toolkit.xml", "SMAPI.Toolkit.CoreInterfaces.dll", "SMAPI.Toolkit.CoreInterfaces.xml", "System.Net.Http.Formatting.dll")) {
         cp "$smapiBin/$name" "$bundlePath/smapi-internal"
     }
 
diff --git a/src/SMAPI.Toolkit/Serialization/JsonHelper.cs b/src/SMAPI.Toolkit/Serialization/JsonHelper.cs
index 0552a23e1..a1ae915af 100644
--- a/src/SMAPI.Toolkit/Serialization/JsonHelper.cs
+++ b/src/SMAPI.Toolkit/Serialization/JsonHelper.cs
@@ -14,19 +14,26 @@ namespace StardewModdingAPI.Toolkit.Serialization
     public class JsonHelper
     {
         /*********
-        ** Accessors
+        ** Fields
         *********/
-        /// <summary>The JSON settings to use when serializing and deserializing files.</summary>
-        public JsonSerializerSettings JsonSettings { get; } = JsonHelper.CreateDefaultSettings();
-
-        private readonly JSchemaGenerator _schemaGenerator = new();
+        /// <summary>The JSON schema generator to use when creating a schema file.</summary>
+        private readonly JSchemaGenerator SchemaGenerator = new();
 
-        private readonly JSchemaWriterSettings _schemaWriterSettings = new()
+        /// <summary>The JSON settings to use when creating a schema file.</summary>
+        private readonly JSchemaWriterSettings SchemaWriterSettings = new()
         {
             Version = SchemaVersion.Draft2019_09,
             ReferenceHandling = JSchemaWriterReferenceHandling.Never
         };
 
+
+        /*********
+        ** Accessors
+        *********/
+        /// <summary>The JSON settings to use when serializing and deserializing files.</summary>
+        public JsonSerializerSettings JsonSettings { get; } = JsonHelper.CreateDefaultSettings();
+
+
         /*********
         ** Public methods
         *********/
@@ -109,9 +116,7 @@ public void WriteJsonFile<TModel>(string fullPath, TModel model)
                 throw new ArgumentException("The file path is empty or invalid.", nameof(fullPath));
 
             // create directory if needed
-            string dir = Path.GetDirectoryName(fullPath)!;
-            if (dir == null)
-                throw new ArgumentException("The file path is invalid.", nameof(fullPath));
+            string dir = Path.GetDirectoryName(fullPath) ?? throw new ArgumentException("The file path is invalid.", nameof(fullPath));
             if (!Directory.Exists(dir))
                 Directory.CreateDirectory(dir);
 
@@ -120,7 +125,7 @@ public void WriteJsonFile<TModel>(string fullPath, TModel model)
             File.WriteAllText(fullPath, json);
         }
 
-        /// <summary>Generate a schema and save to a JSON file.</summary>
+        /// <summary>Save a data model schema to a JSON file.</summary>
         /// <typeparam name="TModel">The model type.</typeparam>
         /// <param name="fullPath">The absolute file path.</param>
         /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">The given path is empty or invalid.</exception>
@@ -132,16 +137,14 @@ public void WriteJsonSchemaFile<TModel>(string fullPath)
                 throw new ArgumentException("The file path is empty or invalid.", nameof(fullPath));
 
             // create directory if needed
-            string dir = Path.GetDirectoryName(fullPath)!;
-            if (dir == null)
-                throw new ArgumentException("The file path is invalid.", nameof(fullPath));
+            string dir = Path.GetDirectoryName(fullPath) ?? throw new ArgumentException("The file path is invalid.", nameof(fullPath));
             if (!Directory.Exists(dir))
                 Directory.CreateDirectory(dir);
 
-            JSchema schema = this._schemaGenerator.Generate(typeof(TModel));
-            string output = schema.ToString(this._schemaWriterSettings);
-
-            File.WriteAllText(fullPath, output);
+            // write file
+            JSchema schema = this.SchemaGenerator.Generate(typeof(TModel));
+            string json = schema.ToString(this.SchemaWriterSettings);
+            File.WriteAllText(fullPath, json);
         }
 
         /// <summary>Deserialize JSON text if possible.</summary>
diff --git a/src/SMAPI/Framework/ModHelpers/DataHelper.cs b/src/SMAPI/Framework/ModHelpers/DataHelper.cs
index dd8cd373e..69b20b1ac 100644
--- a/src/SMAPI/Framework/ModHelpers/DataHelper.cs
+++ b/src/SMAPI/Framework/ModHelpers/DataHelper.cs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ internal class DataHelper : BaseHelper, IDataHelper
         /// <summary>Construct an instance.</summary>
         /// <param name="mod">The mod using this instance.</param>
         /// <param name="modFolderPath">The absolute path to the mod folder.</param>
-        /// <param name="jsonHelper">The absolute path to the mod folder.</param>
+        /// <param name="jsonHelper">Encapsulates SMAPI's JSON file parsing.</param>
         public DataHelper(IModMetadata mod, string modFolderPath, JsonHelper jsonHelper)
             : base(mod)
         {
@@ -67,19 +67,21 @@ public void WriteJsonFile<TModel>(string path, TModel? data)
                 File.Delete(path);
         }
 
-        /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public void WriteJsonSchemaFile<TModel>(string path, TModel data) where TModel : class
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public void WriteJsonSchemaFile<TModel>(string path)
+            where TModel : class
         {
             if (!PathUtilities.IsSafeRelativePath(path))
-                throw new InvalidOperationException($"You must call {nameof(IMod.Helper)}.{nameof(IModHelper.Data)}.{nameof(this.WriteJsonFile)} with a relative path (without directory climbing).");
+                throw new InvalidOperationException($"You must call {nameof(IMod.Helper)}.{nameof(IModHelper.Data)}.{nameof(this.WriteJsonSchemaFile)} with a relative path (without directory climbing).");
 
             path = Path.Combine(this.ModFolderPath, PathUtilities.NormalizePath(path));
+
             this.JsonHelper.WriteJsonSchemaFile<TModel>(path);
         }
 
         /****
-         ** Save file
-         ****/
+        ** Save file
+        ****/
         /// <inheritdoc />
         public TModel? ReadSaveData<TModel>(string key)
             where TModel : class
diff --git a/src/SMAPI/Framework/ModHelpers/ModHelper.cs b/src/SMAPI/Framework/ModHelpers/ModHelper.cs
index 13efbd683..e48052aab 100644
--- a/src/SMAPI/Framework/ModHelpers/ModHelper.cs
+++ b/src/SMAPI/Framework/ModHelpers/ModHelper.cs
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ internal class ModHelper : BaseHelper, IModHelper, IDisposable
         /*********
         ** Fields
         *********/
-        /// <summary>Whether to generate config.schema.json files.</summary>
-        private readonly bool _generateConfigSchemas;
+        /// <summary>Whether to generate a <c>config.schema.json</c> file based on the mod's config model when it's loaded or saved.</summary>
+        private readonly bool GenerateConfigSchema;
+
 
         /*********
         ** Accessors
@@ -71,10 +72,10 @@ internal class ModHelper : BaseHelper, IModHelper, IDisposable
         /// <param name="reflectionHelper">An API for accessing private game code.</param>
         /// <param name="multiplayer">Provides multiplayer utilities.</param>
         /// <param name="translationHelper">An API for reading translations stored in the mod's <c>i18n</c> folder.</param>
-        /// <param name="generateConfigSchemas">Whether to generate config.schema.json files.</param>
+        /// <param name="generateConfigSchema">Whether to generate a <c>config.schema.json</c> file based on the mod's config model when it's loaded or saved.</param>
         /// <exception cref="ArgumentNullException">An argument is null or empty.</exception>
         /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">The <paramref name="modDirectory"/> path does not exist on disk.</exception>
-        public ModHelper(IModMetadata mod, string modDirectory, Func<SInputState> currentInputState, IModEvents events, IGameContentHelper gameContentHelper, IModContentHelper modContentHelper, IContentPackHelper contentPackHelper, ICommandHelper commandHelper, IDataHelper dataHelper, IModRegistry modRegistry, IReflectionHelper reflectionHelper, IMultiplayerHelper multiplayer, ITranslationHelper translationHelper, bool generateConfigSchemas)
+        public ModHelper(IModMetadata mod, string modDirectory, Func<SInputState> currentInputState, IModEvents events, IGameContentHelper gameContentHelper, IModContentHelper modContentHelper, IContentPackHelper contentPackHelper, ICommandHelper commandHelper, IDataHelper dataHelper, IModRegistry modRegistry, IReflectionHelper reflectionHelper, IMultiplayerHelper multiplayer, ITranslationHelper translationHelper, bool generateConfigSchema)
             : base(mod)
         {
             // validate directory
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ public ModHelper(IModMetadata mod, string modDirectory, Func<SInputState> curren
             this.Multiplayer = multiplayer ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(multiplayer));
             this.Translation = translationHelper ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(translationHelper));
             this.Events = events;
-            this._generateConfigSchemas = generateConfigSchemas;
+            this.GenerateConfigSchema = generateConfigSchema;
         }
 
         /****
@@ -108,12 +109,6 @@ public TConfig ReadConfig<TConfig>()
         {
             TConfig config = this.Data.ReadJsonFile<TConfig>("config.json") ?? new TConfig();
             this.WriteConfig(config); // create file or fill in missing fields
-
-            if (this._generateConfigSchemas)
-            {
-                this.WriteConfigSchema(config);
-            }
-
             return config;
         }
 
@@ -122,12 +117,9 @@ public void WriteConfig<TConfig>(TConfig config)
             where TConfig : class, new()
         {
             this.Data.WriteJsonFile("config.json", config);
-        }
 
-        private void WriteConfigSchema<TConfig>(TConfig config)
-            where TConfig : class, new()
-        {
-            this.Data.WriteJsonSchemaFile("config.schema.json", config);
+            if (this.GenerateConfigSchema)
+                this.Data.WriteJsonSchemaFile<TConfig>("config.schema.json");
         }
 
         /****
diff --git a/src/SMAPI/Framework/Models/SConfig.cs b/src/SMAPI/Framework/Models/SConfig.cs
index 42c9e0b52..4c439dab3 100644
--- a/src/SMAPI/Framework/Models/SConfig.cs
+++ b/src/SMAPI/Framework/Models/SConfig.cs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ internal class SConfig
             [nameof(RewriteMods)] = true,
             [nameof(UseCaseInsensitivePaths)] = Constants.Platform is Platform.Android or Platform.Linux,
             [nameof(SuppressHarmonyDebugMode)] = true,
-            [nameof(GenerateConfigSchemas)] = false,
+            [nameof(GenerateConfigSchemas)] = false
         };
 
         /// <summary>The default values for <see cref="SuppressUpdateChecks"/>, to log changes if different.</summary>
@@ -92,9 +92,10 @@ internal class SConfig
         /// <summary>The mod IDs SMAPI should load after any other mods.</summary>
         public HashSet<string> ModsToLoadLate { get; set; }
 
-        /// <summary>Whether to generate config.schema.json files for external tools like mod managers.</summary>
+        /// <summary>Whether to generate <c>config.schema.json</c> files for external tools like mod managers.</summary>
         public bool GenerateConfigSchemas { get; set; }
 
+
         /********
         ** Public methods
         ********/
diff --git a/src/SMAPI/IDataHelper.cs b/src/SMAPI/IDataHelper.cs
index 23d026e31..ff778bc24 100644
--- a/src/SMAPI/IDataHelper.cs
+++ b/src/SMAPI/IDataHelper.cs
@@ -27,12 +27,11 @@ public interface IDataHelper
         void WriteJsonFile<TModel>(string path, TModel? data)
             where TModel : class;
 
-        /// <summary>Save the schema of the data to a JSON file in the mod's folder.</summary>
+        /// <summary>Save a data model schema to a JSON file in the mod's folder.</summary>
         /// <typeparam name="TModel">The model type. This should be a plain class that has public properties for the data you want. The properties can be complex types.</typeparam>
         /// <param name="path">The file path relative to the mod folder.</param>
-        /// <param name="data">The arbitrary data to save.</param>
         /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">The <paramref name="path"/> is not relative or contains directory climbing (../).</exception>
-        void WriteJsonSchemaFile<TModel>(string path, TModel data)
+        void WriteJsonSchemaFile<TModel>(string path)
             where TModel : class;
 
         /****
diff --git a/src/SMAPI/SMAPI.config.json b/src/SMAPI/SMAPI.config.json
index 1bd467d97..4e64707cb 100644
--- a/src/SMAPI/SMAPI.config.json
+++ b/src/SMAPI/SMAPI.config.json
@@ -158,5 +158,12 @@ in future SMAPI versions.
      * the mod author.
      */
     "ModsToLoadEarly": [],
-    "ModsToLoadLate": []
+    "ModsToLoadLate": [],
+
+    /**
+     * Whether to generate a `config.schema.json` file next to each mod's `config.json` file.
+     *
+     * This can be used by separate tools like mod managers to enable config editing features.
+    */
+    "GenerateConfigSchemas": false
 }