diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6db0057..a8a48f0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -276,22 +276,14 @@ There are two linters included with the extension, solhint and solium / ethlint.
 
 ### Solhint
 
-To lint Solidity code you can use the Solhint linter https://github.com/protofire/solhint, the linter can be configured it using the following user settings:
+To lint Solidity code you can use the Solhint linter https://github.com/protofire/solhint, the linter is configured using `.solhint.json` files.
 
-```json
-"solidity.linter": "solhint",
-"solidity.solhintRules": {
-  "avoid-sha3": "warn"
-}
-```
-
-This extension supports `.solhint.json` configuration file. It must be placed to project root 
-directory. After any changes in `.solhint.json` it will be synchronized with current IDE 
-configuration. 
+This extension supports `.solhint.json` configuration files placed **anywhere in the project** (not only the root).  
+Solhint automatically merges configurations following the [official configuration scheme](https://github.com/protofire/solhint?tab=readme-ov-file#configuration), with support for [multiple config files](https://github.com/protofire/solhint?tab=readme-ov-file#multiple-configs).
 
 This is the default linter now.
 
-NOTE: Solhint plugins are not supported yet.
+NOTE: Solhint plugins are not supported yet. NOTE: The `solidity.solhintRules` setting is no longer supported.
 
 ### Solium / Ethlint
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f3be757..d084fdd 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -151,13 +151,6 @@
           "default": "solhint",
           "description": "Enables linting using either solium (ethlint) or solhint. Possible options 'solhint' and 'solium', the default is solhint"
         },
-        "solidity.solhintRules": {
-          "type": [
-            "object"
-          ],
-          "default": null,
-          "description": "Solhint linting validation rules"
-        },
         "solidity.solhintPackageDirectory": {
           "type": "string",
           "default": "",
diff --git a/src/server.ts b/src/server.ts
index 0b286dc..c0c0a70 100644
--- a/src/server.ts
+++ b/src/server.ts
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ interface SoliditySettings {
     nodemodulespackage: string;
     defaultCompiler: keyof compilerType;
     soliumRules: any;
-    solhintRules: any;
     solhintPackageDirectory: string;
     validationDelay: number;
     packageDefaultDependenciesDirectory: string|string[];
@@ -116,7 +115,6 @@ let compileUsingRemoteVersion = '';
 let compileUsingLocalVersion = '';
 let nodeModulePackage = '';
 let defaultCompiler = compilerType.embedded;
-let solhintDefaultRules = {};
 let soliumDefaultRules = {};
 let solhintPackageDirectory = '';
 let validationDelay = 1500;
@@ -302,7 +300,6 @@ function updateSoliditySettings(soliditySettings: SoliditySettings) {
     enabledAsYouTypeErrorCheck = soliditySettings.enabledAsYouTypeCompilationErrorCheck;
     compileUsingLocalVersion = soliditySettings.compileUsingLocalVersion;
     compileUsingRemoteVersion = soliditySettings.compileUsingRemoteVersion;
-    solhintDefaultRules = soliditySettings.solhintRules;
     soliumDefaultRules = soliditySettings.soliumRules;
     solhintPackageDirectory = soliditySettings.solhintPackageDirectory;
     validationDelay = soliditySettings.validationDelay;
@@ -336,7 +333,7 @@ function updateSoliditySettings(soliditySettings: SoliditySettings) {
 
     switch (linterName(soliditySettings)) {
         case 'solhint': {
-            linter = new SolhintService(rootPath, solhintDefaultRules, solhintPackageDirectory);
+            linter = new SolhintService(rootPath, solhintPackageDirectory);
             break;
         }
         case 'solium': {
@@ -602,7 +599,7 @@ function linterRules(settings: SoliditySettings) {
     if (_linterName === 'solium') {
         return settings.soliumRules;
     } else {
-        return settings.solhintRules;
+        return null;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/server/linter/solhint.ts b/src/server/linter/solhint.ts
index ff6d3d8..9272fd0 100644
--- a/src/server/linter/solhint.ts
+++ b/src/server/linter/solhint.ts
@@ -7,27 +7,27 @@ import { Diagnostic, Range, DiagnosticSeverity as Severity } from 'vscode-langua
 import Linter from './linter';
 
 export default class SolhintService implements Linter {
-    private config: ValidationConfig;
+    private rootPath: string;
     private linter: any;
 
-    constructor(rootPath: string, rules: any, packageDirectory: string) {
-        this.config = new ValidationConfig(rootPath, rules);
+    constructor(rootPath: string, packageDirectory: string) {
+        this.rootPath = rootPath;
         this.linter = packageDirectory ? require(path.join(rootPath, packageDirectory)) : linter_;
     }
 
     public loadFileConfig(rootPath: string) {
-        this.config.loadFileConfig(rootPath);
+      // No-op: configuration is handled by solhint processFile
     }
 
     public setIdeRules(rules: any) {
-        this.config.setIdeRules(rules);
+      // No-op: IDE rules are not supported anymore
     }
 
     public validate(filePath: string, documentText: string): Diagnostic[] {
-        return this.linter
-            .processStr(documentText, this.config.build(), filePath)
-            .messages
-            .map(e => this.toDiagnostic(e));
+        const result = this.rootPath
+          ? this.linter.processFile(filePath, undefined, this.rootPath)
+          : this.linter.processFile(filePath);
+        return (result.messages || []).map((e) => this.toDiagnostic(e));
     }
 
     private toDiagnostic(error) {
@@ -53,71 +53,3 @@ export default class SolhintService implements Linter {
         };
     }
 }
-
-
-class ValidationConfig {
-    public static readonly DEFAULT_RULES = {'func-visibility': false};
-    public static readonly EMPTY_CONFIG = {rules: {}};
-
-    private ideRules: any;
-    private fileConfig: any;
-    private currentWatchFile: string;
-
-    constructor(rootPath: string, ideRules: any) {
-        this.setIdeRules(ideRules);
-        this.loadFileConfig(rootPath);
-    }
-
-    public setIdeRules(rules: any) {
-        this.ideRules = rules || {};
-    }
-
-    public build() {
-        let extendsConfig = ['solhint:recommended'];
-        if (this.fileConfig.extends !== 'undefined' && this.fileConfig.extends !== null) {
-            extendsConfig = this.fileConfig.extends;
-        }
-
-        let pluginsConfig = [];
-        if (this.fileConfig.plugins !== 'undefined' && this.fileConfig.plugins !== null) {
-            console.log(`pluginsConfig: ${this.fileConfig.plugins}`);
-            pluginsConfig = this.fileConfig.plugins;
-        }
-
-        return {
-            extends: extendsConfig,
-            plugins: pluginsConfig,
-            rules: Object.assign(
-                ValidationConfig.DEFAULT_RULES,
-                this.ideRules,
-                this.fileConfig.rules,
-            ),
-        };
-    }
-
-    public isRootPathSet(rootPath: string): boolean {
-        return typeof rootPath !== 'undefined' && rootPath !== null;
-    }
-
-    public loadFileConfig(rootPath: string) {
-
-        if (this.isRootPathSet(rootPath)) {
-            const filePath = `${rootPath}/.solhint.json`;
-            const readConfig = this.readFileConfig.bind(this, filePath);
-
-            readConfig();
-            this.currentWatchFile = filePath;
-            // fs.watchFile(filePath, {persistent: false}, readConfig);
-        } else {
-            this.fileConfig = ValidationConfig.EMPTY_CONFIG;
-        }
-    }
-
-    private readFileConfig(filePath: string) {
-        this.fileConfig = ValidationConfig.EMPTY_CONFIG;
-        if (fs.existsSync(filePath)) {
-            this.fileConfig = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(filePath, 'utf-8'));
-        }
-    }
-
-}