diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/experiences/middleware.ts b/packages/runtime/src/experiences/middleware.ts
index 4b28a50..5713782 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/experiences/middleware.ts
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/experiences/middleware.ts
@@ -126,16 +126,21 @@ export function createExperienceMiddleware(
             }
 
             const { placement, ...widgetParams } = parameters;
-            const resolved = resolveContainer(
-              widgetParams.container,
-              placement as Placement | undefined
-            );
+            const isHeadless = supportedWidget.headless;
+            const resolved = isHeadless
+              ? null
+              : resolveContainer(
+                  widgetParams.container,
+                  placement as Placement | undefined
+                );
 
-            if (!resolved) {
+            if (!isHeadless && !resolved) {
               return;
             }
 
-            cleanups.push(resolved.cleanup);
+            if (resolved) {
+              cleanups.push(resolved.cleanup);
+            }
 
             const newWidget = supportedWidget.widget;
             supportedWidget
@@ -144,7 +149,7 @@ export function createExperienceMiddleware(
                 if (newWidget) {
                   const params = {
                     ...(transformedParams as Record<string, unknown>),
-                    container: resolved.container,
+                    ...(resolved ? { container: resolved.container } : {}),
                   };
                   const widgets = newWidget(params);
                   parent.addWidgets(
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/experiences/types.ts b/packages/runtime/src/experiences/types.ts
index 5652165..bdc43d9 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/experiences/types.ts
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/experiences/types.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import type {
   Widget,
 } from 'instantsearch.js/es/types';
 import type { ChatWidget } from 'instantsearch.js/es/widgets/chat/chat';
+import type { ConfigureWidget } from 'instantsearch.js/es/widgets/configure/configure';
 
 export type Environment = 'prod' | 'beta';
 
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ type SupportedWidget<
   TApiParameters = ExperienceApiBlockParameters,
 > = {
   widget: (...args: any[]) => Widget | Array<IndexWidget | Widget>;
+  headless?: boolean;
   transformParams: (
     params: TApiParameters,
     options: {
@@ -43,6 +45,10 @@ export type ExperienceWidget = Widget & {
   $$widgetParams: ExperienceWidgetParams;
   $$supportedWidgets: {
     'ais.chat': SupportedWidget<Parameters<ChatWidget>[0]>;
+    'ais.configure': SupportedWidget<Parameters<ConfigureWidget>[0]>;
     'ais.autocomplete': SupportedWidget;
-  } & Record<'ais.chat' | 'ais.autocomplete' | (string & {}), SupportedWidget>;
+  } & Record<
+    'ais.chat' | 'ais.configure' | 'ais.autocomplete' | (string & {}),
+    SupportedWidget
+  >;
 };
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/experiences/widget.tsx b/packages/runtime/src/experiences/widget.tsx
index ecae85b..449e779 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/experiences/widget.tsx
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/experiences/widget.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import {
 } from 'instantsearch.js/es/lib/utils';
 import { getExperience } from './get-experience';
 import chat from 'instantsearch.js/es/widgets/chat/chat';
+import configure from 'instantsearch.js/es/widgets/configure/configure';
 import { EXPERIMENTAL_autocomplete } from 'instantsearch.js/es/widgets/autocomplete/autocomplete';
 
 import { renderTemplate, renderTool } from './renderer';
@@ -89,6 +90,17 @@ export default (function experience(widgetParams: ExperienceWidgetParams) {
           });
         },
       },
+      'ais.configure': {
+        widget: configure,
+        headless: true,
+        async transformParams(params) {
+          const { searchParameters } = params as typeof params & {
+            searchParameters?: Record<string, unknown>;
+          };
+
+          return { ...searchParameters };
+        },
+      },
       'ais.autocomplete': {
         widget: EXPERIMENTAL_autocomplete,
         async transformParams(params) {
diff --git a/packages/toolbar/__tests__/ai-tools.test.ts b/packages/toolbar/__tests__/ai-tools.test.ts
index 2006235..d085440 100644
--- a/packages/toolbar/__tests__/ai-tools.test.ts
+++ b/packages/toolbar/__tests__/ai-tools.test.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ describe('describeWidgetTypes', () => {
     expect(result).toContain('Autocomplete');
     expect(result).toContain('ais.chat');
     expect(result).toContain('Chat');
+    expect(result).toContain('ais.configure');
+    expect(result).toContain('Configure');
   });
 
   it('includes widget descriptions and parameter descriptions', () => {
@@ -452,6 +454,45 @@ describe('getTools', () => {
 
       expect(result).toMatchObject({ index: 1 });
     });
+
+    it('adds configure widget with body placement and no container', async () => {
+      const experience: ExperienceApiResponse = { blocks: [] };
+      const callbacks = createCallbacks(experience);
+      const tools = getTools(callbacks);
+
+      const result = await tools.add_widget.execute!(
+        {
+          type: 'ais.configure',
+          parameters: { searchParameters: { hitsPerPage: 20 } },
+        },
+        { toolCallId: 'tc1', messages: [] }
+      );
+
+      expect(result).toMatchObject({
+        success: true,
+        index: 0,
+        type: 'ais.configure',
+        placement: 'body',
+        applied: expect.arrayContaining(['placement', 'searchParameters']),
+        rejected: [],
+      });
+      expect(callbacks.onAddBlock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('ais.configure');
+      expect(callbacks.onParameterChange).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        0,
+        'placement',
+        'body'
+      );
+      expect(callbacks.onParameterChange).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        0,
+        'searchParameters',
+        { hitsPerPage: 20 }
+      );
+      expect(callbacks.onParameterChange).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        0,
+        'container',
+        expect.anything()
+      );
+    });
   });
 
   describe('edit_widget', () => {
@@ -764,6 +805,40 @@ describe('getTools', () => {
         error: expect.stringContaining('indices 0–1'),
       });
     });
+
+    it('applies a json parameter (searchParameters) on configure', async () => {
+      const experience: ExperienceApiResponse = {
+        blocks: [
+          {
+            type: 'ais.configure',
+            parameters: { searchParameters: { hitsPerPage: 10 } },
+          },
+        ],
+      };
+      const callbacks = createCallbacks(experience);
+      const tools = getTools(callbacks);
+
+      const result = await tools.edit_widget.execute!(
+        {
+          index: 0,
+          parameters: {
+            searchParameters: { hitsPerPage: 20, filters: 'category:Books' },
+          },
+        },
+        { toolCallId: 'tc1', messages: [] }
+      );
+
+      expect(result).toMatchObject({
+        success: true,
+        applied: ['searchParameters'],
+        rejected: [],
+      });
+      expect(callbacks.onParameterChange).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        0,
+        'searchParameters',
+        { hitsPerPage: 20, filters: 'category:Books' }
+      );
+    });
   });
 
   describe('remove_widget', () => {
diff --git a/packages/toolbar/__tests__/configure.test.tsx b/packages/toolbar/__tests__/configure.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..685ab77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/toolbar/__tests__/configure.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+
+import { renderEditor } from './widget-test-utils';
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  document.body.innerHTML = '';
+});
+
+function render(params: Record<string, unknown> = {}) {
+  return renderEditor(params, 'ais.configure');
+}
+
+function getTextarea(
+  container: HTMLElement,
+  label: string
+): HTMLTextAreaElement {
+  const labels = Array.from(container.querySelectorAll('label'));
+  const target = labels.find((el) => {
+    return el.textContent?.trim() === label;
+  });
+
+  if (!target) {
+    throw new Error(`No label found with text "${label}"`);
+  }
+
+  const id = target.getAttribute('for');
+  const textarea = container.querySelector(`#${id}`);
+
+  if (!textarea) {
+    throw new Error(`No textarea found for label "${label}" (for="${id}")`);
+  }
+
+  return textarea as HTMLTextAreaElement;
+}
+
+function fireTextareaInput(textarea: HTMLTextAreaElement, value: string) {
+  Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(
+    HTMLTextAreaElement.prototype,
+    'value'
+  )!.set!.call(textarea, value);
+  textarea.dispatchEvent(new Event('input', { bubbles: true }));
+}
+
+describe('ais.configure field behavior', () => {
+  describe('json field (searchParameters)', () => {
+    it('renders the textarea with serialized JSON', () => {
+      const { container } = render({
+        searchParameters: { hitsPerPage: 20 },
+      });
+      const textarea = getTextarea(container, 'Search parameters');
+
+      expect(textarea.value).toContain('"hitsPerPage": 20');
+    });
+
+    it('sends the parsed object when valid JSON is entered', () => {
+      const { onParameterChange, container } = render({
+        searchParameters: {},
+      });
+      const textarea = getTextarea(container, 'Search parameters');
+
+      fireTextareaInput(textarea, '{"hitsPerPage": 10}');
+
+      expect(onParameterChange).toHaveBeenCalledWith('searchParameters', {
+        hitsPerPage: 10,
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('does not call onChange when invalid JSON is entered', () => {
+      const { onParameterChange, container } = render({
+        searchParameters: {},
+      });
+      const textarea = getTextarea(container, 'Search parameters');
+
+      fireTextareaInput(textarea, '{invalid}');
+
+      expect(onParameterChange).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('shows an error message for invalid JSON', async () => {
+      const { container } = render({ searchParameters: {} });
+      const textarea = getTextarea(container, 'Search parameters');
+
+      fireTextareaInput(textarea, '{invalid}');
+
+      // Wait for Preact to flush the state update
+      await new Promise((resolve) => {
+        return setTimeout(resolve, 10);
+      });
+
+      const errorText = container.textContent ?? '';
+
+      expect(errorText).toContain('Invalid JSON');
+    });
+
+    it('renders an empty object when searchParameters is absent', () => {
+      const { container } = render();
+      const textarea = getTextarea(container, 'Search parameters');
+
+      expect(textarea.value).toBe('{}');
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/toolbar/__tests__/parse-json-object.test.ts b/packages/toolbar/__tests__/parse-json-object.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2fa6d1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/toolbar/__tests__/parse-json-object.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+
+import { parseJsonObject } from '../src/utils/parse-json-object';
+
+describe('parseJsonObject', () => {
+  it('returns the parsed object for a valid JSON object string', () => {
+    expect(parseJsonObject('{"hitsPerPage": 20}')).toEqual({
+      success: true,
+      value: { hitsPerPage: 20 },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('returns the parsed object for a deeply nested object', () => {
+    const input = JSON.stringify({
+      filters: { category: { nested: { deep: true } } },
+      hitsPerPage: 10,
+    });
+
+    expect(parseJsonObject(input)).toEqual({
+      success: true,
+      value: {
+        filters: { category: { nested: { deep: true } } },
+        hitsPerPage: 10,
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('returns an error for a JSON array', () => {
+    expect(parseJsonObject('[1, 2, 3]')).toEqual({
+      success: false,
+      error: 'Must be a JSON object',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('returns an error for a JSON string primitive', () => {
+    expect(parseJsonObject('"hello"')).toEqual({
+      success: false,
+      error: 'Must be a JSON object',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('returns an error for a JSON number primitive', () => {
+    expect(parseJsonObject('42')).toEqual({
+      success: false,
+      error: 'Must be a JSON object',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('returns an error for JSON null', () => {
+    expect(parseJsonObject('null')).toEqual({
+      success: false,
+      error: 'Must be a JSON object',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('returns an error for invalid JSON', () => {
+    expect(parseJsonObject('{not valid json}')).toEqual({
+      success: false,
+      error: 'Invalid JSON',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('returns an error for an empty string', () => {
+    expect(parseJsonObject('')).toEqual({
+      success: false,
+      error: 'Invalid JSON',
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/toolbar/__tests__/toolbar.test.ts b/packages/toolbar/__tests__/toolbar.test.ts
index c7b8fdd..a24aee0 100644
--- a/packages/toolbar/__tests__/toolbar.test.ts
+++ b/packages/toolbar/__tests__/toolbar.test.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ describe('toolbar', () => {
         const popoverText = host.shadowRoot?.innerHTML ?? '';
         expect(popoverText).toContain('Autocomplete');
         expect(popoverText).toContain('Chat');
+        expect(popoverText).toContain('Configure');
         expect(popoverText).toContain('Hits');
         expect(popoverText).toContain('Coming Soon');
       });
diff --git a/packages/toolbar/src/components/block-editor.tsx b/packages/toolbar/src/components/block-editor.tsx
index e941d7a..a48c208 100644
--- a/packages/toolbar/src/components/block-editor.tsx
+++ b/packages/toolbar/src/components/block-editor.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import type { ExperienceApiBlockParameters, Placement } from '../types';
 import { WIDGET_TYPES } from '../widget-types';
 import { CssVariablesEditor } from './fields/css-variables-editor';
+import { JsonField } from './fields/json-field';
 import { NumberField } from './fields/number-field';
 import { ObjectField } from './fields/object-field';
 import { PlacementField } from './fields/placement-field';
@@ -163,6 +164,21 @@ export function BlockEditor({
                 onPickElement={onPickElement}
               />
             );
+          case 'json':
+            return (
+              <JsonField
+                key={key}
+                label={override.label}
+                value={
+                  typeof value === 'object' && value !== null
+                    ? (value as Record<string, unknown>)
+                    : {}
+                }
+                onChange={(newValue) => {
+                  return onParameterChange(key, newValue);
+                }}
+              />
+            );
           case 'object': {
             const enabled = typeof value === 'object' && value !== null;
             const objectValue = enabled
diff --git a/packages/toolbar/src/components/fields/json-field.tsx b/packages/toolbar/src/components/fields/json-field.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8928c2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/toolbar/src/components/fields/json-field.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import { useId, useState } from 'preact/hooks';
+
+import { cn } from '../../lib/utils';
+import { parseJsonObject } from '../../utils/parse-json-object';
+import { Label } from '../ui/label';
+
+type JsonFieldProps = {
+  label: string;
+  value: Record<string, unknown>;
+  onChange: (value: Record<string, unknown>) => void;
+};
+
+export function JsonField({ label, value, onChange }: JsonFieldProps) {
+  const id = useId();
+  const [text, setText] = useState(() => {
+    return JSON.stringify(value, null, 2);
+  });
+  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+
+  function onInput(newText: string) {
+    setText(newText);
+
+    const result = parseJsonObject(newText);
+
+    if (!result.success) {
+      setError(result.error);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    setError(null);
+    onChange(result.value);
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div class="group space-y-1">
+      <Label htmlFor={id}>{label}</Label>
+      <textarea
+        id={id}
+        value={text}
+        onInput={(event) => {
+          return onInput((event.target as HTMLTextAreaElement).value);
+        }}
+        rows={6}
+        class={cn(
+          'placeholder:text-muted-foreground border-input flex w-full min-w-0 rounded-md border bg-transparent px-3 py-2 font-mono text-xs shadow-xs transition-[color,box-shadow] outline-none disabled:pointer-events-none disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-50',
+          'focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px]',
+          'resize-y',
+          error && 'border-red-500'
+        )}
+      />
+      {error && <p class="text-xs text-red-500">{error}</p>}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/packages/toolbar/src/utils/parse-json-object.ts b/packages/toolbar/src/utils/parse-json-object.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d1aa760
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/toolbar/src/utils/parse-json-object.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+type ParseJsonObjectSuccess = {
+  success: true;
+  value: Record<string, unknown>;
+};
+
+type ParseJsonObjectError = {
+  success: false;
+  error: string;
+};
+
+export type ParseJsonObjectResult =
+  | ParseJsonObjectSuccess
+  | ParseJsonObjectError;
+
+export function parseJsonObject(input: string): ParseJsonObjectResult {
+  let parsed: unknown;
+
+  try {
+    parsed = JSON.parse(input);
+  } catch {
+    return { success: false, error: 'Invalid JSON' };
+  }
+
+  if (typeof parsed !== 'object' || parsed === null || Array.isArray(parsed)) {
+    return { success: false, error: 'Must be a JSON object' };
+  }
+
+  return { success: true, value: parsed as Record<string, unknown> };
+}
diff --git a/packages/toolbar/src/widget-types.tsx b/packages/toolbar/src/widget-types.tsx
index 873cc92..1ee17f3 100644
--- a/packages/toolbar/src/widget-types.tsx
+++ b/packages/toolbar/src/widget-types.tsx
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ export type FieldOverride =
       defaultValue: Record<string, unknown>;
       disabledValue?: false | undefined;
       fields: Array<{ key: string; label: string }>;
-    };
+    }
+  | { type: 'json'; label: string };
 
 export type WidgetTypeConfig = {
   label: string;
@@ -205,6 +206,21 @@ const TRENDING_ICON = (
   </svg>
 );
 
+const CONFIGURE_ICON = (
+  <svg
+    class="size-4 shrink-0"
+    viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+    fill="none"
+    stroke="currentColor"
+    stroke-width="2"
+    stroke-linecap="round"
+    stroke-linejoin="round"
+  >
+    <path d="M12.22 2h-.44a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v.18a2 2 0 0 1-1 1.73l-.43.25a2 2 0 0 1-2 0l-.15-.08a2 2 0 0 0-2.73.73l-.22.38a2 2 0 0 0 .73 2.73l.15.1a2 2 0 0 1 1 1.72v.51a2 2 0 0 1-1 1.74l-.15.09a2 2 0 0 0-.73 2.73l.22.38a2 2 0 0 0 2.73.73l.15-.08a2 2 0 0 1 2 0l.43.25a2 2 0 0 1 1 1.73V20a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h.44a2 2 0 0 0 2-2v-.18a2 2 0 0 1 1-1.73l.43-.25a2 2 0 0 1 2 0l.15.08a2 2 0 0 0 2.73-.73l.22-.39a2 2 0 0 0-.73-2.73l-.15-.08a2 2 0 0 1-1-1.74v-.5a2 2 0 0 1 1-1.74l.15-.09a2 2 0 0 0 .73-2.73l-.22-.38a2 2 0 0 0-2.73-.73l-.15.08a2 2 0 0 1-2 0l-.43-.25a2 2 0 0 1-1-1.73V4a2 2 0 0 0-2-2z" />
+    <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3" />
+  </svg>
+);
+
 const CART_ICON = (
   <svg
     class="size-4 shrink-0"
@@ -291,6 +307,26 @@ export const WIDGET_TYPES: Record<string, WidgetTypeConfig> = {
       agentId: 'The ID of the Algolia Agent Studio agent to power the chat.',
     },
   },
+  'ais.configure': {
+    label: 'Configure',
+    description:
+      'A headless widget that sets default Algolia search parameters without rendering any UI.',
+    enabled: true,
+    icon: CONFIGURE_ICON,
+    defaultParameters: {
+      container: '',
+      placement: 'body',
+      searchParameters: {},
+    },
+    fieldOrder: ['searchParameters'],
+    fieldOverrides: {
+      searchParameters: { type: 'json', label: 'Search parameters' },
+    },
+    paramDescriptions: {
+      searchParameters:
+        'Algolia search parameters as JSON (e.g. {"hitsPerPage": 20, "filters": "category:Books"}).',
+    },
+  },
   'ais.hits': {
     label: 'Hits',
     enabled: false,