diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml
index 559eb898a9..391bcb4306 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml
@@ -4615,9 +4615,12 @@ ANY <replaceable class="parameter">num_sync</replaceable> ( <replaceable class="
         <listitem>
          <para>
           Specifies a trigger file whose presence ends recovery in the
-          standby.  Even if this value is not set, you can still promote
-          the standby using <command>pg_ctl promote</command> or calling
-          <function>pg_promote()</function>.
+          standby, though this may take as long as 60s to take effect.
+          This mechanism is now deprecated and will be removed in a later
+          release. The preferred mechanism by which to promote the standby
+          is by using <command>pg_ctl promote</command> or calling
+          <function>pg_promote()</function>, both of which promote much
+          faster than using this parameter.
           This parameter can only be set in the <filename>postgresql.conf</filename>
           file or on the server command line.
          </para>
diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/high-availability.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/high-availability.sgml
index b2b3129397..d85788338c 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/high-availability.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/high-availability.sgml
@@ -653,11 +653,11 @@ protocol to make nodes agree on a serializable transactional order.
 
    <para>
     Standby mode is exited and the server switches to normal operation
-    when <command>pg_ctl promote</command> is run,
-    <function>pg_promote()</function> is called, or a trigger file is found
-    (<varname>promote_trigger_file</varname>). Before failover,
-    any WAL immediately available in the archive or in <filename>pg_wal</filename> will be
-    restored, but no attempt is made to connect to the primary.
+    when <command>pg_ctl promote</command> is run, or
+    <function>pg_promote()</function> is called.  Use of
+    <varname>promote_trigger_file</varname> is deprecated. Before failover,
+    any WAL immediately available in the archive or in <filename>pg_wal</filename>
+    will be restored, but no attempt is made to connect to the primary.
    </para>
   </sect2>
 
@@ -1483,12 +1483,8 @@ synchronous_standby_names = 'ANY 2 (s1, s2, s3)'
 
    <para>
     To trigger failover of a log-shipping standby server, run
-    <command>pg_ctl promote</command>, call <function>pg_promote()</function>,
-    or create a trigger file with the file name and path specified by the
-    <varname>promote_trigger_file</varname>. If you're planning to use
-    <command>pg_ctl promote</command> or to call
-    <function>pg_promote()</function> to fail over,
-    <varname>promote_trigger_file</varname> is not required. If you're
+    <command>pg_ctl promote</command> or call <function>pg_promote()</function>.
+    Use of <varname>promote_trigger_file</varname> is deprecated. If you're
     setting up the reporting servers that are only used to offload read-only
     queries from the primary, not for high availability purposes, you don't
     need to promote it.
diff --git a/src/backend/access/transam/xlogrecovery.c b/src/backend/access/transam/xlogrecovery.c
index cb07694aea..2ba81e91eb 100644
--- a/src/backend/access/transam/xlogrecovery.c
+++ b/src/backend/access/transam/xlogrecovery.c
@@ -3840,14 +3840,17 @@ WaitForWALToBecomeAvailable(XLogRecPtr RecPtr, bool randAccess,
 					XLogPrefetcherComputeStats(xlogprefetcher);
 
 					/*
-					 * Wait for more WAL to arrive. Time out after 5 seconds
-					 * to react to a trigger file promptly and to check if the
-					 * WAL receiver is still active.
+					 * Wait for more WAL to arrive, when we will be woken
+					 * immediately by the WAL receiver.  Hibernate, but time out
+					 * to react to a trigger file.  Direct use of trigger file
+					 * is now deprecated and the promote_trigger_file will be
+					 * removed in a later release.
 					 */
 					(void) WaitLatch(&XLogRecoveryCtl->recoveryWakeupLatch,
 									 WL_LATCH_SET | WL_TIMEOUT |
 									 WL_EXIT_ON_PM_DEATH,
-									 5000L, WAIT_EVENT_RECOVERY_WAL_STREAM);
+									 60000L,
+									 WAIT_EVENT_RECOVERY_WAL_STREAM);
 					ResetLatch(&XLogRecoveryCtl->recoveryWakeupLatch);
 					break;
 				}
diff --git a/src/backend/utils/misc/guc_tables.c b/src/backend/utils/misc/guc_tables.c
index 836b49484a..38aca5dac4 100644
--- a/src/backend/utils/misc/guc_tables.c
+++ b/src/backend/utils/misc/guc_tables.c
@@ -3802,7 +3802,8 @@ struct config_string ConfigureNamesString[] =
 	{
 		{"promote_trigger_file", PGC_SIGHUP, REPLICATION_STANDBY,
 			gettext_noop("Specifies a file name whose presence ends recovery in the standby."),
-			NULL
+			NULL,
+			GUC_NOT_IN_SAMPLE
 		},
 		&PromoteTriggerFile,
 		"",
diff --git a/src/backend/utils/misc/postgresql.conf.sample b/src/backend/utils/misc/postgresql.conf.sample
index 868d21c351..043864597f 100644
--- a/src/backend/utils/misc/postgresql.conf.sample
+++ b/src/backend/utils/misc/postgresql.conf.sample
@@ -331,7 +331,6 @@
 
 #primary_conninfo = ''			# connection string to sending server
 #primary_slot_name = ''			# replication slot on sending server
-#promote_trigger_file = ''		# file name whose presence ends recovery
 #hot_standby = on			# "off" disallows queries during recovery
 					# (change requires restart)
 #max_standby_archive_delay = 30s	# max delay before canceling queries