diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/ConfigurationKeys.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/ConfigurationKeys.cs
index d1ca2b0b6b..e04744ecdf 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/ConfigurationKeys.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/ConfigurationKeys.cs
@@ -51,6 +51,33 @@ internal partial class ConfigurationKeys
     /// </summary>
     public const string EnabledResourceDetectorTemplate = "OTEL_DOTNET_AUTO_{0}_RESOURCE_DETECTOR_ENABLED";
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Configuration key template for resource attributes.
+    /// </summary>
+    public const string ResourceAttributes = "OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES";
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Configuration key for setting the service name.
+    /// </summary>
+    public const string ServiceName = "OTEL_SERVICE_NAME";
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Configuration keys for file based configuration.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static class FileBasedConfiguration
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Configuration key for enabling file based configuration.
+        /// </summary>
+        public const string Enabled = "OTEL_EXPERIMENTAL_FILE_BASED_CONFIGURATION_ENABLED";
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Configuration key for the path to the configuration file.
+        /// Default is <c>"config.yaml"</c>.
+        /// </summary>
+        public const string FileName = "OTEL_EXPERIMENTAL_CONFIG_FILE";
+    }
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Configuration keys for traces.
     /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FailFastSettings.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FailFastSettings.cs
index 02bd7ee8bd..802a2a4e59 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FailFastSettings.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FailFastSettings.cs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ internal class FailFastSettings : Settings
 {
     public bool FailFast { get; private set; }
 
-    protected override void OnLoad(Configuration configuration)
+    protected override void OnLoadEnvVar(Configuration configuration)
     {
         FailFast = configuration.GetBool(ConfigurationKeys.FailFast) ?? false;
     }
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/Parser/ConditionalDeserializer.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/Parser/ConditionalDeserializer.cs
index a69463520a..89426149fe 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/Parser/ConditionalDeserializer.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/Parser/ConditionalDeserializer.cs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 // Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
-using System.Reflection;
 using Vendors.YamlDotNet.Core;
 using Vendors.YamlDotNet.Core.Events;
 using Vendors.YamlDotNet.Serialization;
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/Parser/EmptyObjectOnEmptyYamlAttribute.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/Parser/EmptyObjectOnEmptyYamlAttribute.cs
index 9863a486b3..22c7e91aed 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/Parser/EmptyObjectOnEmptyYamlAttribute.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/Parser/EmptyObjectOnEmptyYamlAttribute.cs
@@ -4,6 +4,4 @@
 namespace OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations.FileBasedConfiguration.Parser;
 
 [AttributeUsage(AttributeTargets.Class)]
-internal sealed class EmptyObjectOnEmptyYamlAttribute : Attribute
-{
-}
+internal sealed class EmptyObjectOnEmptyYamlAttribute : Attribute;
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/Parser/Parser.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/Parser/Parser.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fbdaf8eb17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/Parser/Parser.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+using Vendors.YamlDotNet.Serialization;
+using Vendors.YamlDotNet.Serialization.NodeDeserializers;
+
+namespace OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations.FileBasedConfiguration.Parser;
+
+internal static class Parser
+{
+    public static YamlConfiguration ParseYaml(string filePath)
+    {
+        var deserializer = new DeserializerBuilder()
+            .WithNodeDeserializer(existing => new ConditionalDeserializer(existing), s => s.InsteadOf<NullNodeDeserializer>())
+            .WithTypeConverter(new EnvVarTypeConverter())
+            .IgnoreUnmatchedProperties()
+            .Build();
+
+        var yaml = File.ReadAllText(filePath);
+        var config = deserializer.Deserialize<YamlConfiguration>(yaml);
+        return config;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/ResourceAttribute.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/ResourceAttribute.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fae559405a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/ResourceAttribute.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+using Vendors.YamlDotNet.Serialization;
+
+namespace OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations.FileBasedConfiguration;
+
+internal class ResourceAttribute
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets the name of the resource attribute.
+    /// </summary>
+    [YamlMember(Alias = "name")]
+    public string Name { get; set; } = null!;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets the value of the resource attribute.
+    /// </summary>
+    [YamlMember(Alias = "value")]
+    public object Value { get; set; } = null!;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets the type of the resource attribute.
+    /// </summary>
+    [YamlMember(Alias = "type")]
+    public string Type { get; set; } = "string";
+}
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/ResourceConfiguration.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/ResourceConfiguration.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..886c906ced
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/ResourceConfiguration.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+using Vendors.YamlDotNet.Serialization;
+
+namespace OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations.FileBasedConfiguration;
+
+internal class ResourceConfiguration
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets the list of resource attributes.
+    /// </summary>
+    [YamlMember(Alias = "attributes")]
+    public List<ResourceAttribute>? Attributes { get; set; }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets the attributes list for the resource.
+    /// </summary>
+    [YamlMember(Alias = "attributes_list")]
+    public string? AttributesList { get; set; }
+
+    public List<KeyValuePair<string, object>> ParseAttributes()
+    {
+        var resourceAttributesWithPriority = new Dictionary<string, object>();
+
+        if (Attributes != null)
+        {
+            foreach (var attr in Attributes)
+            {
+                if (!resourceAttributesWithPriority.ContainsKey(attr.Name))
+                {
+                    // TODO parse type and converting the value accordingly.
+                    resourceAttributesWithPriority.Add(attr.Name, attr.Value);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (AttributesList != null)
+        {
+            const char attributeListSplitter = ',';
+            char[] attributeKeyValueSplitter = ['='];
+
+            var rawAttributes = AttributesList.Split(attributeListSplitter);
+            foreach (var rawKeyValuePair in rawAttributes)
+            {
+                var keyValuePair = rawKeyValuePair.Split(attributeKeyValueSplitter, 2);
+                if (keyValuePair.Length != 2)
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                var key = keyValuePair[0].Trim();
+
+                if (!resourceAttributesWithPriority.ContainsKey(key))
+                {
+                    resourceAttributesWithPriority.Add(key, keyValuePair[1].Trim());
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        return resourceAttributesWithPriority.ToList();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/YamlConfiguration.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/YamlConfiguration.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8e0fbf259e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/FileBasedConfiguration/YamlConfiguration.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+using Vendors.YamlDotNet.Serialization;
+
+namespace OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations.FileBasedConfiguration;
+
+internal class YamlConfiguration
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets the file format version.
+    /// The yaml format is documented at
+    /// https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-configuration/tree/main/schema
+    /// </summary>
+    [YamlMember(Alias = "file_format")]
+    public string? FileFormat { get; set; }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets the resource configuration.
+    /// Configure resource for all signals.
+    /// If omitted, the default resource is used.
+    /// </summary>
+    [YamlMember(Alias = "resource")]
+    public ResourceConfiguration? Resource { get; set; }
+}
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/GeneralSettings.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/GeneralSettings.cs
index 732af52102..3f54323096 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/GeneralSettings.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/GeneralSettings.cs
@@ -10,11 +10,6 @@ internal class GeneralSettings : Settings
     /// </summary>
     public IList<string> Plugins { get; } = new List<string>();
 
-    /// <summary>
-    /// Gets the list of enabled resource detectors.
-    /// </summary>
-    public IReadOnlyList<ResourceDetector> EnabledResourceDetectors { get; private set; } = new List<ResourceDetector>();
-
     /// <summary>
     /// Gets a value indicating whether the <see cref="AppDomain.UnhandledException"/> event should trigger
     /// the flushing of telemetry data.
@@ -32,7 +27,7 @@ internal class GeneralSettings : Settings
     /// </summary>
     public bool ProfilerEnabled { get; private set; }
 
-    protected override void OnLoad(Configuration configuration)
+    protected override void OnLoadEnvVar(Configuration configuration)
     {
         var providerPlugins = configuration.GetString(ConfigurationKeys.ProviderPlugins);
         if (providerPlugins != null)
@@ -43,12 +38,6 @@ protected override void OnLoad(Configuration configuration)
             }
         }
 
-        var resourceDetectorsEnabledByDefault = configuration.GetBool(ConfigurationKeys.ResourceDetectorEnabled) ?? true;
-
-        EnabledResourceDetectors = configuration.ParseEnabledEnumList<ResourceDetector>(
-            enabledByDefault: resourceDetectorsEnabledByDefault,
-            enabledConfigurationTemplate: ConfigurationKeys.EnabledResourceDetectorTemplate);
-
         FlushOnUnhandledException = configuration.GetBool(ConfigurationKeys.FlushOnUnhandledException) ?? false;
         SetupSdk = configuration.GetBool(ConfigurationKeys.SetupSdk) ?? true;
 
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/LogSettings.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/LogSettings.cs
index 7d98e346e2..0b15291aa5 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/LogSettings.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/LogSettings.cs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ internal class LogSettings : Settings
     /// </summary>
     public OtlpSettings? OtlpSettings { get; private set; }
 
-    protected override void OnLoad(Configuration configuration)
+    protected override void OnLoadEnvVar(Configuration configuration)
     {
         LogsEnabled = configuration.GetBool(ConfigurationKeys.Logs.LogsEnabled) ?? true;
         LogExporters = ParseLogExporter(configuration);
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/MetricSettings.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/MetricSettings.cs
index a3a54e2c6e..ed5dd28906 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/MetricSettings.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/MetricSettings.cs
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ internal class MetricSettings : Settings
     /// </summary>
     public OtlpSettings? OtlpSettings { get; private set; }
 
-    protected override void OnLoad(Configuration configuration)
+    protected override void OnLoadEnvVar(Configuration configuration)
     {
         MetricExporters = ParseMetricExporter(configuration);
         if (MetricExporters.Contains(MetricsExporter.Otlp))
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/ResourceConfigurator.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/ResourceConfigurator.cs
index a19e30063f..381b1aaf54 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/ResourceConfigurator.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/ResourceConfigurator.cs
@@ -8,21 +8,24 @@ namespace OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations;
 
 internal static class ResourceConfigurator
 {
-    internal const string ServiceNameAttribute = "service.name";
-
-    public static ResourceBuilder CreateResourceBuilder(IReadOnlyList<ResourceDetector> enabledResourceDetectors)
+    public static ResourceBuilder CreateResourceBuilder(ResourceSettings resourceSettings)
     {
         var resourceBuilder = ResourceBuilder
-            .CreateEmpty() // Don't use CreateDefault because it puts service name unknown by default.
-            .AddEnvironmentVariableDetector()
-            .AddTelemetrySdk()
-            .AddAttributes(new KeyValuePair<string, object>[]
-            {
+            .CreateEmpty(); // Don't use CreateDefault because it puts service name unknown by default.
+
+        if (resourceSettings.EnvironmentalVariablesDetectorEnabled)
+        {
+            resourceBuilder.AddEnvironmentVariableDetector();
+        }
+
+        resourceBuilder.AddTelemetrySdk()
+            .AddAttributes([
                 new(Constants.DistributionAttributes.TelemetryDistroNameAttributeName, Constants.DistributionAttributes.TelemetryDistroNameAttributeValue),
                 new(Constants.DistributionAttributes.TelemetryDistroVersionAttributeName, AutoInstrumentationVersion.Version)
-            });
+            ])
+            .AddAttributes(resourceSettings.Resources);
 
-        foreach (var enabledResourceDetector in enabledResourceDetectors)
+        foreach (var enabledResourceDetector in resourceSettings.EnabledDetectors)
         {
             resourceBuilder = enabledResourceDetector switch
             {
@@ -39,10 +42,10 @@ public static ResourceBuilder CreateResourceBuilder(IReadOnlyList<ResourceDetect
         }
 
         var resource = resourceBuilder.Build();
-        if (!resource.Attributes.Any(kvp => kvp.Key == ServiceNameAttribute))
+        if (resource.Attributes.All(kvp => kvp.Key != Constants.ResourceAttributes.AttributeServiceName))
         {
             // service.name was not configured yet use the fallback.
-            resourceBuilder.AddAttributes(new KeyValuePair<string, object>[] { new(ServiceNameAttribute, ServiceNameConfigurator.GetFallbackServiceName()) });
+            resourceBuilder.AddAttributes([new(Constants.ResourceAttributes.AttributeServiceName, ServiceNameConfigurator.GetFallbackServiceName())]);
         }
 
         var pluginManager = Instrumentation.PluginManager;
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/ResourceSettings.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/ResourceSettings.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1554a16757
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/ResourceSettings.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+using OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations.FileBasedConfiguration;
+
+namespace OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations;
+
+internal class ResourceSettings : Settings
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets the list of enabled resource detectors.
+    /// </summary>
+    public IReadOnlyList<ResourceDetector> EnabledDetectors { get; set; } = [];
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets the list of enabled resources.
+    /// </summary>
+    public IReadOnlyList<KeyValuePair<string, object>> Resources { get; set; } = [];
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets a value indicating whether environmental variables resource detector is enabled.
+    /// </summary>
+    public bool EnvironmentalVariablesDetectorEnabled { get; set; } = true;
+
+    protected override void OnLoadEnvVar(Configuration configuration)
+    {
+        var resourceDetectorsEnabledByDefault = configuration.GetBool(ConfigurationKeys.ResourceDetectorEnabled) ?? true;
+
+        EnabledDetectors = configuration.ParseEnabledEnumList<ResourceDetector>(
+            enabledByDefault: resourceDetectorsEnabledByDefault,
+            enabledConfigurationTemplate: ConfigurationKeys.EnabledResourceDetectorTemplate);
+    }
+
+    protected override void OnLoadFile(YamlConfiguration configuration)
+    {
+        EnvironmentalVariablesDetectorEnabled = false;
+
+        Resources = configuration.Resource?.ParseAttributes() ?? [];
+
+        // TODO initialize EnabledDetectors from file configuration
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/SdkSettings.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/SdkSettings.cs
index c0c0b14725..98fdb8c10c 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/SdkSettings.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/SdkSettings.cs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 // Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
-using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;
 using OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Logging;
 
 namespace OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations;
@@ -18,7 +17,7 @@ internal class SdkSettings : Settings
     /// </summary>
     public IList<Propagator> Propagators { get; private set; } = new List<Propagator>();
 
-    protected override void OnLoad(Configuration configuration)
+    protected override void OnLoadEnvVar(Configuration configuration)
     {
         Propagators = ParsePropagator(configuration);
     }
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/Settings.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/Settings.cs
index eece253424..16991d34cd 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/Settings.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/Settings.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 // Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
+using OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations.FileBasedConfiguration;
+using OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations.FileBasedConfiguration.Parser;
+
 namespace OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations;
 
 /// <summary>
@@ -8,18 +11,35 @@ namespace OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations;
 /// </summary>
 internal abstract class Settings
 {
+    private static readonly bool IsYamlConfigEnabled = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(ConfigurationKeys.FileBasedConfiguration.Enabled) == "true";
+    private static readonly Lazy<YamlConfiguration> YamlConfiguration = new(ReadYamlConfiguration);
+
     public static T FromDefaultSources<T>(bool failFast)
         where T : Settings, new()
     {
-        var configuration = new Configuration(failFast, new EnvironmentConfigurationSource(failFast));
-        var settings = new T();
-        settings.Load(configuration);
-        return settings;
+        if (IsYamlConfigEnabled)
+        {
+            var settings = new T();
+            settings.LoadFile(YamlConfiguration.Value);
+            return settings;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            var configuration = new Configuration(failFast, new EnvironmentConfigurationSource(failFast));
+            var settings = new T();
+            settings.LoadEnvVar(configuration);
+            return settings;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void LoadEnvVar(Configuration configuration)
+    {
+        OnLoadEnvVar(configuration);
     }
 
-    public void Load(Configuration configuration)
+    public void LoadFile(YamlConfiguration configuration)
     {
-        OnLoad(configuration);
+        OnLoadFile(configuration);
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -27,5 +47,25 @@ public void Load(Configuration configuration)
     /// using the specified <see cref="Configuration"/> to initialize values.
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="configuration">The <see cref="Configuration"/> to use when retrieving configuration values.</param>
-    protected abstract void OnLoad(Configuration configuration);
+    protected abstract void OnLoadEnvVar(Configuration configuration);
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="Settings"/> class
+    /// using the specified <see cref="YamlConfiguration"/> to initialize values.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="configuration">The <see cref="YamlConfiguration"/> to use when retrieving configuration values.</param>
+    protected virtual void OnLoadFile(YamlConfiguration configuration)
+    {
+    }
+
+    private static YamlConfiguration ReadYamlConfiguration()
+    {
+        var configFile = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(ConfigurationKeys.FileBasedConfiguration.FileName) ?? "config.yaml";
+        // TODO validate file existence
+
+        var config = Parser.ParseYaml(configFile);
+
+        // TODO validate file format version https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-configuration/blob/4f185c07eaaffc18c9ad34a46085e7ad6625fca0/README.md#file-format
+        return config;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/TracerSettings.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/TracerSettings.cs
index 69e21d9e07..78732e0da8 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/TracerSettings.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Configurations/TracerSettings.cs
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ internal class TracerSettings : Settings
     /// </summary>
     public OtlpSettings? OtlpSettings { get; private set; }
 
-    protected override void OnLoad(Configuration configuration)
+    protected override void OnLoadEnvVar(Configuration configuration)
     {
         TracesExporters = ParseTracesExporter(configuration);
         if (TracesExporters.Contains(TracesExporter.Otlp))
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Constants.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Constants.cs
index bee459c4af..7471950386 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Constants.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Constants.cs
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ public static class HttpSpanAttributes
         public const string AttributeHttpResponseHeaderPrefix = "http.response.header";
     }
 
+    public static class ResourceAttributes
+    {
+        public const string AttributeServiceName = "service.name";
+    }
+
     public static class ConfigurationValues
     {
         public const string None = "none";
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/HeadersCapture/HeaderConfigurationExtensions.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/HeadersCapture/HeaderConfigurationExtensions.cs
index 38e90be5b3..ff7aea146f 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/HeadersCapture/HeaderConfigurationExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/HeadersCapture/HeaderConfigurationExtensions.cs
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@ internal static class HeaderConfigurationExtensions
 {
     public static IReadOnlyList<AdditionalTag> ParseHeaders(this Configuration source, string key, Func<string, AdditionalTag> stringToHeaderCacheConverter)
     {
-        var headers = source.ParseList(key, ',');
+        var headers = source.ParseList(key, Constants.ConfigurationValues.Separator);
 
         if (headers.Count == 0)
         {
-            return Array.Empty<AdditionalTag>();
+            return [];
         }
 
         return headers.Select(stringToHeaderCacheConverter).ToArray();
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Instrumentation.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Instrumentation.cs
index 2cbea65037..5177a6d691 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Instrumentation.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Instrumentation.cs
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ internal static LoggerProvider? LoggerProvider
 
     internal static Lazy<GeneralSettings> GeneralSettings { get; } = new(() => Settings.FromDefaultSources<GeneralSettings>(FailFastSettings.Value.FailFast));
 
+    internal static Lazy<ResourceSettings> ResourceSettings { get; } = new(() => Settings.FromDefaultSources<ResourceSettings>(FailFastSettings.Value.FailFast));
+
     internal static Lazy<TracerSettings> TracerSettings { get; } = new(() => Settings.FromDefaultSources<TracerSettings>(FailFastSettings.Value.FailFast));
 
     internal static Lazy<MetricSettings> MetricSettings { get; } = new(() => Settings.FromDefaultSources<MetricSettings>(FailFastSettings.Value.FailFast));
@@ -134,7 +136,7 @@ public static void Initialize()
                     var builder = Sdk
                         .CreateTracerProviderBuilder()
                         .InvokePluginsBefore(_pluginManager)
-                        .SetResourceBuilder(ResourceConfigurator.CreateResourceBuilder(GeneralSettings.Value.EnabledResourceDetectors))
+                        .SetResourceBuilder(ResourceConfigurator.CreateResourceBuilder(ResourceSettings.Value))
                         .UseEnvironmentVariables(LazyInstrumentationLoader, TracerSettings.Value, _pluginManager)
                         .InvokePluginsAfter(_pluginManager);
 
@@ -156,7 +158,7 @@ public static void Initialize()
                     var builder = Sdk
                         .CreateMeterProviderBuilder()
                         .InvokePluginsBefore(_pluginManager)
-                        .SetResourceBuilder(ResourceConfigurator.CreateResourceBuilder(GeneralSettings.Value.EnabledResourceDetectors))
+                        .SetResourceBuilder(ResourceConfigurator.CreateResourceBuilder(ResourceSettings.Value))
                         .UseEnvironmentVariables(LazyInstrumentationLoader, MetricSettings.Value, _pluginManager)
                         .InvokePluginsAfter(_pluginManager);
 
@@ -355,7 +357,7 @@ private static void InitializeBufferProcessing(TimeSpan exportInterval, TimeSpan
 
             // TODO: plugins support
             var loggerProvider = loggerProviderBuilder!
-                .SetResourceBuilder(ResourceConfigurator.CreateResourceBuilder(GeneralSettings.Value.EnabledResourceDetectors))
+                .SetResourceBuilder(ResourceConfigurator.CreateResourceBuilder(ResourceSettings.Value))
                 .UseEnvironmentVariables(LazyInstrumentationLoader, LogSettings.Value, _pluginManager!)
                 .Build();
             Logger.Information("OpenTelemetry logger provider initialized.");
diff --git a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Logger/LoggerInitializer.cs b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Logger/LoggerInitializer.cs
index 57a5020e28..e358ff2b16 100644
--- a/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Logger/LoggerInitializer.cs
+++ b/src/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation/Logger/LoggerInitializer.cs
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ private static void AddOpenTelemetryLogs(ILoggingBuilder builder)
 
             builder.AddOpenTelemetry(options =>
             {
-                options.SetResourceBuilder(ResourceConfigurator.CreateResourceBuilder(Instrumentation.GeneralSettings.Value.EnabledResourceDetectors));
+                options.SetResourceBuilder(ResourceConfigurator.CreateResourceBuilder(Instrumentation.ResourceSettings.Value));
 
                 options.IncludeFormattedMessage = settings.IncludeFormattedMessage;
 
diff --git a/test/IntegrationTests/Helpers/TestHelper.cs b/test/IntegrationTests/Helpers/TestHelper.cs
index 3bd47eae18..e986e8ad81 100644
--- a/test/IntegrationTests/Helpers/TestHelper.cs
+++ b/test/IntegrationTests/Helpers/TestHelper.cs
@@ -90,6 +90,12 @@ public void EnableDefaultExporters()
         RemoveEnvironmentVariable("OTEL_LOGS_EXPORTER");
     }
 
+    public void EnableFileBasedConfigWithDefaultPath()
+    {
+        SetEnvironmentVariable("OTEL_EXPERIMENTAL_FILE_BASED_CONFIGURATION_ENABLED", "true");
+        SetEnvironmentVariable("OTEL_EXPERIMENTAL_CONFIG_FILE", Path.Combine(EnvironmentHelper.GetTestApplicationApplicationOutputDirectory(), "config.yaml"));
+    }
+
     public (string StandardOutput, string ErrorOutput, int ProcessId) RunTestApplication(TestSettings? testSettings = null)
     {
         // RunTestApplication starts the test application, wait up to DefaultProcessTimeout.
diff --git a/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/AssemblyInfo.cs b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/AssemblyInfo.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e47741118c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/AssemblyInfo.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+using Xunit;
+
+[assembly: CollectionBehavior(DisableTestParallelization = true)]
diff --git a/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/FileBased/FilebasedGeneralSettingsTests.cs b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/FileBased/FilebasedGeneralSettingsTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..52ab2d51be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/FileBased/FilebasedGeneralSettingsTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+using OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations;
+using OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations.FileBasedConfiguration;
+using Xunit;
+
+namespace OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests.Configurations.FileBased;
+
+public class FilebasedGeneralSettingsTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public void LoadFile_MergesBaseAndCustomResourceAttributes()
+    {
+        var resource = new ResourceConfiguration
+        {
+            AttributesList = "custom1=value1,custom2=value2",
+            Attributes =
+            [
+                new() { Name = "custom1", Value = "OverridesAttributesList" },
+                new() { Name = "custom3", Value = "value3" }
+            ]
+        };
+
+        var conf = new YamlConfiguration { Resource = resource };
+        var settings = new ResourceSettings();
+
+        settings.LoadFile(conf);
+
+        var result = settings.Resources.ToDictionary(kv => kv.Key, kv => kv.Value);
+
+        Assert.Equal("OverridesAttributesList", result["custom1"]);
+        Assert.Equal("value2", result["custom2"]);
+        Assert.Equal("value3", result["custom3"]);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void LoadFile_AttributesListOnly_IsParsedCorrectly()
+    {
+        var resource = new ResourceConfiguration
+        {
+            AttributesList = "key1=value1,key2=value2"
+        };
+
+        var conf = new YamlConfiguration { Resource = resource };
+        var settings = new ResourceSettings();
+
+        settings.LoadFile(conf);
+
+        var result = settings.Resources.ToDictionary(kv => kv.Key, kv => kv.Value);
+
+        Assert.Equal("value1", result["key1"]);
+        Assert.Equal("value2", result["key2"]);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void LoadFile_AttributesOnly_IsParsedCorrectly()
+    {
+        var resource = new ResourceConfiguration
+        {
+            Attributes =
+            [
+                new() { Name = "a", Value = "1" },
+                new() { Name = "b", Value = "2" }
+            ]
+        };
+
+        var conf = new YamlConfiguration { Resource = resource };
+        var settings = new ResourceSettings();
+
+        settings.LoadFile(conf);
+
+        var result = settings.Resources.ToDictionary(kv => kv.Key, kv => kv.Value);
+
+        Assert.Equal("1", result["a"]);
+        Assert.Equal("2", result["b"]);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void LoadFile_AttributesListOverwrittenByAttributes()
+    {
+        var resource = new ResourceConfiguration
+        {
+            AttributesList = "key1=fromList",
+            Attributes =
+            [
+                new() { Name = "key1", Value = "fromAttributes" }
+            ]
+        };
+
+        var conf = new YamlConfiguration { Resource = resource };
+        var settings = new ResourceSettings();
+
+        settings.LoadFile(conf);
+
+        var result = settings.Resources.ToDictionary(kv => kv.Key, kv => kv.Value);
+
+        Assert.Equal("fromAttributes", result["key1"]);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/FileBased/Files/TestFile.yaml b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/FileBased/Files/TestFile.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a6722a1859
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/FileBased/Files/TestFile.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+file_format: "1.0-rc.1"
+
+resource:
+  attributes:
+    - name: service.name
+      value: unknown_service
+  attributes_list:
diff --git a/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/FileBased/Files/TestFileEnvVars.yaml b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/FileBased/Files/TestFileEnvVars.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..53b1031487
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/FileBased/Files/TestFileEnvVars.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+file_format: "1.0-rc.1"
+
+resource:
+  attributes:
+    - name: service.name
+      value: ${OTEL_SERVICE_NAME}
+  attributes_list: ${OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES}
diff --git a/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/FileBased/ParserTests.cs b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/FileBased/ParserTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ddec15a763
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/FileBased/ParserTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+using OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Configurations.FileBasedConfiguration.Parser;
+using Xunit;
+
+namespace OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests.Configurations.FileBased;
+
+[Collection("Non-Parallel Collection")]
+public class ParserTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public void Parse_FullConfigYaml_ShouldPopulateModelCorrectly()
+    {
+        var config = Parser.ParseYaml("Configurations/FileBased/Files/TestFile.yaml");
+
+        Assert.NotNull(config);
+
+        Assert.Equal("1.0-rc.1", config.FileFormat);
+
+        Assert.NotNull(config.Resource);
+        Assert.NotNull(config.Resource.Attributes);
+        Assert.Single(config.Resource.Attributes);
+
+        var serviceAttr = config.Resource.Attributes.First();
+        Assert.Equal("service.name", serviceAttr.Name);
+        Assert.Equal("unknown_service", serviceAttr.Value);
+
+        Assert.NotNull(config.Resource.AttributesList);
+        Assert.Empty(config.Resource.AttributesList);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Parse_EnvVarYaml_ShouldPopulateModelCompletely()
+    {
+        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable("OTEL_SDK_DISABLED", "true");
+        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable("OTEL_SERVICE_NAME", "my‑service");
+        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable("OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES", "key=value");
+
+        var config = Parser.ParseYaml("Configurations/FileBased/Files/TestFileEnvVars.yaml");
+
+        Assert.Equal("1.0-rc.1", config.FileFormat);
+        var serviceAttr = config.Resource?.Attributes?.First(a => a.Name == "service.name");
+        Assert.NotNull(serviceAttr);
+        Assert.Equal("my‑service", serviceAttr.Value);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/PluginManagerTests.cs b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/PluginManagerTests.cs
index bac9d714d7..2c1317b8c7 100644
--- a/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/PluginManagerTests.cs
+++ b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/PluginManagerTests.cs
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ private static GeneralSettings GetSettings(string assemblyQualifiedName)
         }));
 
         var settings = new GeneralSettings();
-        settings.Load(config);
+        settings.LoadEnvVar(config);
         return settings;
     }
 
diff --git a/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/ServiceNameConfiguratorTests.cs b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/ServiceNameConfiguratorTests.cs
index 58497f2728..510ff3713f 100644
--- a/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/ServiceNameConfiguratorTests.cs
+++ b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/ServiceNameConfiguratorTests.cs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 namespace OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests.Configurations;
 
+[Collection("Non-Parallel Collection")]
 public class ServiceNameConfiguratorTests
 {
     private const string ServiceName = "service.name";
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ public class ServiceNameConfiguratorTests
     [Fact]
     public void GetFallbackServiceName()
     {
-        var resourceBuilder = ResourceConfigurator.CreateResourceBuilder(new List<ResourceDetector>());
+        var resourceBuilder = ResourceConfigurator.CreateResourceBuilder(new ResourceSettings());
         var resource = resourceBuilder.Build();
 
         var serviceName = resource.Attributes.FirstOrDefault(a => a.Key == ServiceName).Value as string;
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ public void ServiceName_Retained_EnvVarSet()
         {
             Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(OtelServiceVariable, setServiceName);
 
-            var resourceBuilder = ResourceConfigurator.CreateResourceBuilder(Array.Empty<ResourceDetector>());
+            var resourceBuilder = ResourceConfigurator.CreateResourceBuilder(new ResourceSettings());
             var resource = resourceBuilder.Build();
 
             var serviceName = resource.Attributes.FirstOrDefault(a => a.Key == ServiceName).Value as string;
diff --git a/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/SettingsTests.cs b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/SettingsTests.cs
index 5a6d530e09..d7b6845017 100644
--- a/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/SettingsTests.cs
+++ b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/Configurations/SettingsTests.cs
@@ -31,10 +31,19 @@ internal void GeneralSettings_DefaultValues()
         var settings = Settings.FromDefaultSources<GeneralSettings>(false);
 
         Assert.Empty(settings.Plugins);
-        Assert.NotEmpty(settings.EnabledResourceDetectors);
         Assert.False(settings.FlushOnUnhandledException);
     }
 
+    [Fact]
+    internal void ResourceSettings_DefaultValues()
+    {
+        var settings = Settings.FromDefaultSources<ResourceSettings>(false);
+
+        Assert.NotEmpty(settings.EnabledDetectors);
+        Assert.True(settings.EnvironmentalVariablesDetectorEnabled);
+        Assert.Empty(settings.Resources);
+    }
+
     [Fact]
     internal void TracerSettings_DefaultValues()
     {
@@ -401,14 +410,14 @@ internal void FlushOnUnhandledException_DependsOnCorrespondingEnvVariable(string
     [InlineData("PROCESS", ResourceDetector.Process)]
     [InlineData("OPERATINGSYSTEM", ResourceDetector.OperatingSystem)]
     [InlineData("HOST", ResourceDetector.Host)]
-    internal void GeneralSettings_Instrumentations_SupportedValues(string resourceDetector, ResourceDetector expectedResourceDetector)
+    internal void ResourceSettings_ResourceDetectors_SupportedValues(string resourceDetector, ResourceDetector expectedResourceDetector)
     {
         Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(ConfigurationKeys.ResourceDetectorEnabled, "false");
         Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(string.Format(ConfigurationKeys.EnabledResourceDetectorTemplate, resourceDetector), "true");
 
-        var settings = Settings.FromDefaultSources<GeneralSettings>(false);
+        var settings = Settings.FromDefaultSources<ResourceSettings>(false);
 
-        Assert.Equal([expectedResourceDetector], settings.EnabledResourceDetectors);
+        Assert.Equal([expectedResourceDetector], settings.EnabledDetectors);
     }
 
     private static void ClearEnvVars()
diff --git a/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests.csproj b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests.csproj
index 3323675c6f..0aa0bc3fb7 100644
--- a/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests.csproj
+++ b/test/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests/OpenTelemetry.AutoInstrumentation.Tests.csproj
@@ -11,4 +11,13 @@
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\tools\DependencyListGenerator\DependencyListGenerator.csproj" Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'net9.0' " />
   </ItemGroup>
 
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <None Update="Configurations\FileBased\Files\TestFile.yaml">
+      <CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
+    </None>
+    <None Update="Configurations\FileBased\Files\TestFileEnvVars.yaml">
+      <CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
+    </None>
+  </ItemGroup>
+
 </Project>