diff --git a/core/modules/settings_tray/settings_tray.api.php b/core/modules/settings_tray/settings_tray.api.php
index 05297f0d4b..a3053fd098 100644
--- a/core/modules/settings_tray/settings_tray.api.php
+++ b/core/modules/settings_tray/settings_tray.api.php
@@ -10,9 +10,31 @@
  * @{
  * Settings Tray API
  *
+ * @section sec_overview Overview and terminology
+ *
+ * The Settings Tray module makes administering blocks easier. It provides a
+ * "Quick Edit" link for blocks using the Contextual Links module. Clicking this
+ * link opens the off-canvas Settings Tray which allows changing the rendered
+ * contents of the block by showing all relevant configuration (minus block
+ * visibility conditions). This means blocks can be modified without leaving the
+ * page.
+ *
+ * For example:
+ * - For every block, one can configure whether to display the block title or
+ *   not, and optionally override it (block configuration).
+ * - For menu blocks, one can configure which menu levels to display (block
+ *   configuration) but also the menu itself (menu configuration).
+ * - For the site branding block, one can change which branding elements to
+ *   display (block configuration), but also the site name and slogan (simple
+ *   configuration).
+ *
  * @section sec_api The API: the form in the Settings Tray
  *
- * By default, every block will show its built-in form in the Settings Tray.
+ * By default, every block will show its built-in form in the Settings Tray
+ * which uses the off-canvas dialog.
+ *
+ * @see core/misc/dialog/off-canvas.es6.js
+ *
  * However, many blocks would benefit from a tailored form which either:
  * - limits the form items displayed in the Settings Tray to only items that
  *   affect the content of the rendered block
diff --git a/core/modules/settings_tray/settings_tray.info.yml b/core/modules/settings_tray/settings_tray.info.yml
index f25420f3eb..bb2e36c4d9 100644
--- a/core/modules/settings_tray/settings_tray.info.yml
+++ b/core/modules/settings_tray/settings_tray.info.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 name: 'Settings Tray'
 type: module
-description: 'Provides the ability to change the most common configuration from the Drupal front-end.'
+description: 'Provides a sidebar to configure blocks on the page.'
 package: Core (Experimental)
 version: VERSION
 core: 8.x
diff --git a/core/modules/settings_tray/settings_tray.module b/core/modules/settings_tray/settings_tray.module
index af04450459..20a2eac2d9 100644
--- a/core/modules/settings_tray/settings_tray.module
+++ b/core/modules/settings_tray/settings_tray.module
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 use Drupal\Core\Asset\AttachedAssetsInterface;
 use Drupal\Core\Routing\RouteMatchInterface;
+use Drupal\Core\Url;
 use Drupal\settings_tray\Block\BlockEntityOffCanvasForm;
 use Drupal\settings_tray\Form\SystemBrandingOffCanvasForm;
 use Drupal\settings_tray\Form\SystemMenuOffCanvasForm;
@@ -18,10 +19,15 @@ function settings_tray_help($route_name, RouteMatchInterface $route_match) {
   switch ($route_name) {
     case 'help.page.settings_tray':
       $output = '<h3>' . t('About') . '</h3>';
-      $output .= '<p>' . t('The Settings Tray module provides an \'edit mode\' in which clicking on a block opens a slide-out tray which allows configuration to be altered without leaving the page.For more information, see the <a href=":settings-tray-documentation">online documentation for the Settings Tray module</a>.', [':settings-tray-documentation' => 'https://www.drupal.org/documentation/modules/settings_tray']) . '</p>';
+      $output .= '<p>' . t('The Settings Tray module allows users with the <a href=":administer_block_permission">Administer blocks</a> and <a href=":contextual_permission">Use contextual links</a> permissions to edit blocks without visiting a separate page. For more information, see the <a href=":handbook_url">online documentation for the Settings Tray module</a>.', [':handbook_url' => 'https://www.drupal.org/documentation/modules/settings_tray', ':administer_block_permission' => \Drupal::url('user.admin_permissions', [], ['fragment' => 'module-block']), ':contextual_permission' => \Drupal::url('user.admin_permissions', [], ['fragment' => 'module-contextual'])]) . '</p>';
       $output .= '<h3>' . t('Uses') . '</h3>';
       $output .= '<dl>';
-      $output .= '<dt>' . t('Editing blocks on the same page in the slide-out tray') . '</dt>';
+      $output .= '<dt>' . t('Editing blocks in place') . '</dt>';
+      $output .= '<dd>';
+      $output .= '<p>' . t('To edit blocks in place, either click the <strong>Edit</strong> button in the toolbar and then click on the block, or choose "Quick edit" from the block\'s contextual link. (see the <a href=":contextual">Contextual Links module help</a> for more information about how to use contextual links).', [':contextual' => \Drupal::url('help.page', ['name' => 'contextual'])]) . '</p>';
+      $output .= '<p>' . t('The Settings Tray for the block will open in a sidebar, with a compact form for configuring what the block shows.') . '</p>';
+      $output .= '<p>' . t('Save the form and the changes will be immediately visible on the page.') . '</p>';
+      $output .= '</dd>';
       $output .= '</dl>';
       return ['#markup' => $output];
   }