diff --git a/.changeset/rude-sloths-cross.md b/.changeset/rude-sloths-cross.md
index 8e22070662..8d3fc486e8 100644
--- a/.changeset/rude-sloths-cross.md
+++ b/.changeset/rude-sloths-cross.md
@@ -5,4 +5,10 @@
 '@backstage/plugin-explore-react': patch
 ---
 
-Updated to use new @backstage/plugin-explore-backend
+Added new `@backstage/plugin-explore-backend` & `@backstage/plugin-explore-common` packages.
+
+This deprecates the `ExploreToolsConfig` API (in `@backstage/plugin-explore-react`) which is replaced by the `ExploreApi` & `ExploreClient`. The list of `ExploreTool` data can now be provided on the backend by either using the supplied `StaticExploreToolProvider` or by implementing a custom `ExploreToolProvider`. See the [explore-backend README](https://github.com/backstage/backstage/blob/master/plugins/explore-backend/README.md) for full details.
+
+NOTE: Existing installations that have customized the `ExploreToolConfig` will continue to work through the new `ExploreClient`. However, existing data should be migrated over to new `explore-backend` plugin as `ExploreToolConfig` will be removed in the future.
+
+BREAKING CHANGE: If you have previously installed the `explore` plugin, but not yet customized the `ExploreToolConfig` API in your `packages/app`, this will result in an empty list of tools.
diff --git a/plugins/explore-backend/README.md b/plugins/explore-backend/README.md
index 927cc47fd7..d1714806f4 100644
--- a/plugins/explore-backend/README.md
+++ b/plugins/explore-backend/README.md
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ See [the explore plugin README](../explore/README.md) for more information.
 
 The `explore-backend` uses the `ExploreToolProvider` interface to provide a list
 of tools used in your organization and/or within your Backstage instance. This
-can be overriden to provide tools from any source. For example you could create
+can be customized to provide tools from any source. For example you could create
 a `CustomExploreToolProvider` that queries an internal for tools in your
 `packages/backend/src/plugins/explore.ts` file.
 
diff --git a/plugins/explore/README.md b/plugins/explore/README.md
index e8bd4446d9..0204f34714 100644
--- a/plugins/explore/README.md
+++ b/plugins/explore/README.md
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ export const Root = ({ children }: PropsWithChildren<{}>) => (
     </Sidebar>
 ```
 
-### Use earch result list item for Explore Tools
+### Use search result list item for Explore Tools
 
 When you have your `packages/app/src/components/search/SearchPage.tsx` file
 ready to make modifications, add the following code snippet to add the
diff --git a/plugins/explore/src/plugin.ts b/plugins/explore/src/plugin.ts
index b6bf7238e3..f1869ae849 100644
--- a/plugins/explore/src/plugin.ts
+++ b/plugins/explore/src/plugin.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import {
   fetchApiRef,
 } from '@backstage/core-plugin-api';
 import { ExploreClient, exploreApiRef } from './api';
-import { exampleTools } from './util/examples';
+// import { exampleTools } from './util/examples';
 
 /** @public */
 export const explorePlugin = createPlugin({
@@ -54,9 +54,9 @@ export const explorePlugin = createPlugin({
           // TODO: Determine if this should return undefined or exampleTools
           // - `undefined` will enable the explore-backend to be used via the ExploreClient backwards compatibility
           //    which is likely the desired behavior for anyone that has not yet overriden this API
-          // return undefined as any;
+          return undefined as any;
           // - `exampleTools` will disable the explore-backend fetching for users that have not yet overriden this API
-          return exampleTools;
+          // return exampleTools;
         },
       }),
     }),