diff --git a/.chloggen/deprecate-address.yaml b/.chloggen/deprecate-address.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2ebaab41b54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.chloggen/deprecate-address.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Use this changelog template to create an entry for release notes.
+
+# One of 'breaking', 'deprecation', 'new_component', 'enhancement', 'bug_fix'
+change_type: 'deprecation'
+
+# The name of the component, or a single word describing the area of concern, (e.g. otlpreceiver)
+component: service/telemetry
+
+# A brief description of the change.  Surround your text with quotes ("") if it needs to start with a backtick (`).
+note: Deprecate service::telemetry::metrics::address in favor of service::telemetry::metrics::readers.
+
+# One or more tracking issues or pull requests related to the change
+issues: [11205]
+
+# Optional: The change log or logs in which this entry should be included.
+# e.g. '[user]' or '[user, api]'
+# Include 'user' if the change is relevant to end users.
+# Include 'api' if there is a change to a library API.
+# Default: '[user]'
+change_logs: [user]
diff --git a/otelcol/collector_test.go b/otelcol/collector_test.go
index 7db8215eb39..6271969204d 100644
--- a/otelcol/collector_test.go
+++ b/otelcol/collector_test.go
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ func TestCollectorRun(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		file string
 	}{
-		{file: "otelcol-nometrics.yaml"},
+		{file: "otelcol-noreaders.yaml"},
 		{file: "otelcol-noaddress.yaml"},
 	}
 
diff --git a/otelcol/config_test.go b/otelcol/config_test.go
index 25b1417cd2c..c1e43afba69 100644
--- a/otelcol/config_test.go
+++ b/otelcol/config_test.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/config"
 	"go.uber.org/zap/zapcore"
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/component"
@@ -275,8 +276,17 @@ func generateConfig() *Config {
 					InitialFields:     map[string]any{"fieldKey": "filed-value"},
 				},
 				Metrics: telemetry.MetricsConfig{
-					Level:   configtelemetry.LevelNormal,
-					Address: ":8080",
+					Level: configtelemetry.LevelNormal,
+					Readers: []config.MetricReader{
+						{
+							Pull: &config.PullMetricReader{Exporter: config.MetricExporter{
+								Prometheus: &config.Prometheus{
+									Host: newPtr("localhost"),
+									Port: newPtr(8080),
+								},
+							}},
+						},
+					},
 				},
 			},
 			Extensions: []component.ID{component.MustNewID("nop")},
@@ -290,3 +300,7 @@ func generateConfig() *Config {
 		},
 	}
 }
+
+func newPtr[T int | string](str T) *T {
+	return &str
+}
diff --git a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-invalid-receiver-type.yaml b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-invalid-receiver-type.yaml
index 5837810fcca..7bcad410bb9 100644
--- a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-invalid-receiver-type.yaml
+++ b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-invalid-receiver-type.yaml
@@ -10,7 +10,12 @@ exporters:
 service:
   telemetry:
     metrics:
-      address: localhost:8888
+      readers:
+        - pull:
+            exporter:
+              prometheus:
+                host: "localhost"
+                port: 8888
   pipelines:
     traces:
       receivers: [nop_logs]
diff --git a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-invalid.yaml b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-invalid.yaml
index 133ce74d85b..dc48aee782f 100644
--- a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-invalid.yaml
+++ b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-invalid.yaml
@@ -10,7 +10,12 @@ exporters:
 service:
   telemetry:
     metrics:
-      address: localhost:8888
+      readers:
+        - pull:
+            exporter:
+              prometheus:
+                host: "localhost"
+                port: 8888
   pipelines:
     traces:
       receivers: [nop]
diff --git a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-invalidprop.yaml b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-invalidprop.yaml
index c84fbdbd017..4022c90cbea 100644
--- a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-invalidprop.yaml
+++ b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-invalidprop.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,12 @@ service:
       - "unknown"
       - "tracecontext"
     metrics:
-      address: localhost:8888
+      readers:
+        - pull:
+            exporter:
+              prometheus:
+                host: "localhost"
+                port: 8888
   pipelines:
     traces:
       receivers: [nop]
diff --git a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-noaddress.yaml b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-noaddress.yaml
index c363f848e53..9b93d0979cd 100644
--- a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-noaddress.yaml
+++ b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-noaddress.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,12 @@ exporters:
 service:
   telemetry:
     metrics:
-      address: ""
+      readers:
+        - pull:
+            exporter:
+              prometheus:
+                host: ""
+                port: 
   pipelines:
     metrics:
       receivers: [nop]
diff --git a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-nop.yaml b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-nop.yaml
index c83a07c536c..3d361b0afdd 100644
--- a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-nop.yaml
+++ b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-nop.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,12 @@ connectors:
 service:
   telemetry:
     metrics:
-      address: localhost:8888
+      readers:
+        - pull:
+            exporter:
+              prometheus:
+                host: "localhost"
+                port: 8888
   extensions: [nop]
   pipelines:
     traces:
diff --git a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-nometrics.yaml b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-noreaders.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from otelcol/testdata/otelcol-nometrics.yaml
rename to otelcol/testdata/otelcol-noreaders.yaml
diff --git a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-statuswatcher.yaml b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-statuswatcher.yaml
index 2dcc322d341..90970a234d7 100644
--- a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-statuswatcher.yaml
+++ b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-statuswatcher.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,12 @@ extensions:
 service:
   telemetry:
     metrics:
-      address: localhost:8888
+      readers:
+        - pull:
+            exporter:
+              prometheus:
+                host: "localhost"
+                port: 8888
   extensions: [statuswatcher]
   pipelines:
     traces:
diff --git a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-validprop.yaml b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-validprop.yaml
index 5c611333c17..1d478cabae9 100644
--- a/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-validprop.yaml
+++ b/otelcol/testdata/otelcol-validprop.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,12 @@ service:
         - "b3"
         - "tracecontext"
     metrics:
-      address: localhost:8888
+      readers:
+        - pull:
+            exporter:
+              prometheus:
+                host: "localhost"
+                port: 8888
   pipelines:
     traces:
       receivers: [nop]
diff --git a/otelcol/unmarshaler_test.go b/otelcol/unmarshaler_test.go
index 436d88c0c0f..9fdb0832491 100644
--- a/otelcol/unmarshaler_test.go
+++ b/otelcol/unmarshaler_test.go
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ func TestServiceUnmarshalError(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 				},
 			}),
-			expectError: "error decoding 'telemetry.logs.level': unrecognized level: \"UNKNOWN\"",
+			expectError: "error decoding 'telemetry': decoding failed due to the following error(s):\n\nerror decoding 'logs.level': unrecognized level: \"UNKNOWN\"",
 		},
 		{
 			name: "invalid-metrics-level",
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ func TestServiceUnmarshalError(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 				},
 			}),
-			expectError: "error decoding 'telemetry.metrics.level': unknown metrics level \"unknown\"",
+			expectError: "error decoding 'telemetry': decoding failed due to the following error(s):\n\nerror decoding 'metrics.level': unknown metrics level \"unknown\"",
 		},
 		{
 			name: "invalid-service-extensions-section",
@@ -204,8 +204,7 @@ func TestServiceUnmarshalError(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range testCases {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			err := tt.conf.Unmarshal(&service.Config{})
-			require.Error(t, err)
-			assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), tt.expectError)
+			require.ErrorContains(t, err, tt.expectError)
 		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/service/config_test.go b/service/config_test.go
index 2dd0246e734..413887de731 100644
--- a/service/config_test.go
+++ b/service/config_test.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/config"
 	"go.uber.org/zap/zapcore"
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/component"
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ func TestConfigValidate(t *testing.T) {
 			cfgFn: func() *Config {
 				cfg := generateConfig()
 				cfg.Telemetry.Metrics.Level = configtelemetry.LevelBasic
-				cfg.Telemetry.Metrics.Address = ""
+				cfg.Telemetry.Metrics.Readers = nil
 				return cfg
 			},
 			expected: nil,
@@ -96,8 +97,13 @@ func generateConfig() *Config {
 				InitialFields:     map[string]any{"fieldKey": "filed-value"},
 			},
 			Metrics: telemetry.MetricsConfig{
-				Level:   configtelemetry.LevelNormal,
-				Address: ":8080",
+				Level: configtelemetry.LevelNormal,
+				Readers: []config.MetricReader{{
+					Pull: &config.PullMetricReader{Exporter: config.MetricExporter{Prometheus: &config.Prometheus{
+						Host: newPtr("localhost"),
+						Port: newPtr(8080),
+					}}}},
+				},
 			},
 		},
 		Extensions: extensions.Config{component.MustNewID("nop")},
diff --git a/service/service.go b/service/service.go
index 83a8a12c848..ada723b7c90 100644
--- a/service/service.go
+++ b/service/service.go
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ func logsAboutMeterProvider(logger *zap.Logger, cfg telemetry.MetricsConfig, mp
 		return
 	}
 
+	//nolint
 	if len(cfg.Address) != 0 {
 		logger.Warn("service::telemetry::metrics::address is being deprecated in favor of service::telemetry::metrics::readers")
 	}
diff --git a/service/service_test.go b/service/service_test.go
index 07e8e52cadb..9febe667281 100644
--- a/service/service_test.go
+++ b/service/service_test.go
@@ -262,78 +262,6 @@ func TestServiceTelemetryCleanupOnError(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestServiceTelemetry(t *testing.T) {
-	for _, tc := range ownMetricsTestCases() {
-		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("ipv4_%s", tc.name), func(t *testing.T) {
-			testCollectorStartHelper(t, tc, "tcp4")
-		})
-		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("ipv6_%s", tc.name), func(t *testing.T) {
-			testCollectorStartHelper(t, tc, "tcp6")
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func testCollectorStartHelper(t *testing.T, tc ownMetricsTestCase, network string) {
-	var once sync.Once
-	loggingHookCalled := false
-	hook := func(zapcore.Entry) error {
-		once.Do(func() {
-			loggingHookCalled = true
-		})
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	var (
-		metricsAddr string
-		zpagesAddr  string
-	)
-	switch network {
-	case "tcp", "tcp4":
-		metricsAddr = testutil.GetAvailableLocalAddress(t)
-		zpagesAddr = testutil.GetAvailableLocalAddress(t)
-	case "tcp6":
-		metricsAddr = testutil.GetAvailableLocalIPv6Address(t)
-		zpagesAddr = testutil.GetAvailableLocalIPv6Address(t)
-	}
-	require.NotZero(t, metricsAddr, "network must be either of tcp, tcp4 or tcp6")
-	require.NotZero(t, zpagesAddr, "network must be either of tcp, tcp4 or tcp6")
-
-	set := newNopSettings()
-	set.BuildInfo = component.BuildInfo{Version: "test version", Command: otelCommand}
-	set.ExtensionsConfigs = map[component.ID]component.Config{
-		component.MustNewID("zpages"): &zpagesextension.Config{
-			ServerConfig: confighttp.ServerConfig{Endpoint: zpagesAddr},
-		},
-	}
-	set.ExtensionsFactories = map[component.Type]extension.Factory{component.MustNewType("zpages"): zpagesextension.NewFactory()}
-	set.LoggingOptions = []zap.Option{zap.Hooks(hook)}
-
-	cfg := newNopConfig()
-	cfg.Extensions = []component.ID{component.MustNewID("zpages")}
-	cfg.Telemetry.Metrics.Address = metricsAddr
-	cfg.Telemetry.Resource = make(map[string]*string)
-	// Include resource attributes under the service::telemetry::resource key.
-	for k, v := range tc.userDefinedResource {
-		cfg.Telemetry.Resource[k] = v
-	}
-
-	// Create a service, check for metrics, shutdown and repeat to ensure that telemetry can be started/shutdown and started again.
-	for i := 0; i < 2; i++ {
-		srv, err := New(context.Background(), set, cfg)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-
-		require.NoError(t, srv.Start(context.Background()))
-		// Sleep for 1 second to ensure the http server is started.
-		time.Sleep(1 * time.Second)
-		assert.True(t, loggingHookCalled)
-
-		assertResourceLabels(t, srv.telemetrySettings.Resource, tc.expectedLabels)
-		assertMetrics(t, metricsAddr, tc.expectedLabels)
-		assertZPages(t, zpagesAddr)
-		require.NoError(t, srv.Shutdown(context.Background()))
-	}
-}
-
-func TestServiceTelemetryWithReaders(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tc := range ownMetricsTestCases() {
 		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("ipv4_%s", tc.name), func(t *testing.T) {
 			testCollectorStartHelperWithReaders(t, tc, "tcp4")
@@ -381,7 +309,6 @@ func testCollectorStartHelperWithReaders(t *testing.T, tc ownMetricsTestCase, ne
 
 	cfg := newNopConfig()
 	cfg.Extensions = []component.ID{component.MustNewID("zpages")}
-	cfg.Telemetry.Metrics.Address = ""
 	cfg.Telemetry.Metrics.Readers = []config.MetricReader{
 		{
 			Pull: &config.PullMetricReader{
@@ -715,8 +642,13 @@ func newNopConfigPipelineConfigs(pipelineCfgs pipelines.ConfigWithPipelineID) Co
 				InitialFields:     map[string]any(nil),
 			},
 			Metrics: telemetry.MetricsConfig{
-				Level:   configtelemetry.LevelBasic,
-				Address: "localhost:8888",
+				Level: configtelemetry.LevelBasic,
+				Readers: []config.MetricReader{{
+					Pull: &config.PullMetricReader{Exporter: config.MetricExporter{Prometheus: &config.Prometheus{
+						Host: newPtr("localhost"),
+						Port: newPtr(8888),
+					}}}},
+				},
 			},
 		},
 	}
@@ -748,3 +680,7 @@ func newConfigWatcherExtensionFactory(name component.Type) extension.Factory {
 		component.StabilityLevelDevelopment,
 	)
 }
+
+func newPtr[T int | string](str T) *T {
+	return &str
+}
diff --git a/service/telemetry/config.go b/service/telemetry/config.go
index 197adf491aa..79719876e43 100644
--- a/service/telemetry/config.go
+++ b/service/telemetry/config.go
@@ -5,14 +5,27 @@ package telemetry // import "go.opentelemetry.io/collector/service/telemetry"
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"net"
+	"strconv"
 	"time"
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/config"
 	"go.uber.org/zap/zapcore"
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/config/configtelemetry"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/confmap"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/featuregate"
 )
 
+var _ confmap.Unmarshaler = (*Config)(nil)
+
+var disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetryFeatureGate = featuregate.GlobalRegistry().MustRegister(
+	"telemetry.disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetry",
+	featuregate.StageAlpha,
+	featuregate.WithRegisterFromVersion("v0.110.0"),
+	featuregate.WithRegisterToVersion("v0.114.0"),
+	featuregate.WithRegisterDescription("controls whether the deprecated address field for internal telemetry is still supported"))
+
 // Config defines the configurable settings for service telemetry.
 type Config struct {
 	Logs    LogsConfig    `mapstructure:"logs"`
@@ -119,7 +132,7 @@ type MetricsConfig struct {
 	//  - "detailed" adds dimensions and views to the previous levels.
 	Level configtelemetry.Level `mapstructure:"level"`
 
-	// Address is the [address]:port that metrics exposition should be bound to.
+	// Deprecated: [v0.110.0] use readers configuration.
 	Address string `mapstructure:"address"`
 
 	// Readers allow configuration of metric readers to emit metrics to
@@ -143,11 +156,52 @@ type TracesConfig struct {
 	Processors []config.SpanProcessor `mapstructure:"processors"`
 }
 
+func (c *Config) Unmarshal(conf *confmap.Conf) error {
+	if err := conf.Unmarshal(c); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// If the support for "metrics::address" is disabled, nothing to do.
+	// TODO: when this gate is marked stable remove the whole Unmarshal definition.
+	if disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetryFeatureGate.IsEnabled() {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if len(c.Metrics.Address) != 0 {
+		host, port, err := net.SplitHostPort(c.Metrics.Address)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failing to parse metrics address %q: %w", c.Metrics.Address, err)
+		}
+		portInt, err := strconv.Atoi(port)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failing to extract the port from the metrics address %q: %w", c.Metrics.Address, err)
+		}
+
+		// User did not overwrite readers, so we will remove the default configured reader.
+		if !conf.IsSet("metrics::readers") {
+			c.Metrics.Readers = nil
+		}
+
+		c.Metrics.Readers = append(c.Metrics.Readers, config.MetricReader{
+			Pull: &config.PullMetricReader{
+				Exporter: config.MetricExporter{
+					Prometheus: &config.Prometheus{
+						Host: &host,
+						Port: &portInt,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		})
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // Validate checks whether the current configuration is valid
 func (c *Config) Validate() error {
-	// Check when service telemetry metric level is not none, the metrics address should not be empty
-	if c.Metrics.Level != configtelemetry.LevelNone && c.Metrics.Address == "" && len(c.Metrics.Readers) == 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("collector telemetry metric address or reader should exist when metric level is not none")
+	// Check when service telemetry metric level is not none, the metrics readers should not be empty
+	if c.Metrics.Level != configtelemetry.LevelNone && len(c.Metrics.Readers) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("collector telemetry metrics reader should exist when metric level is not none")
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/service/telemetry/config_test.go b/service/telemetry/config_test.go
index 5417347c772..d6645a88a06 100644
--- a/service/telemetry/config_test.go
+++ b/service/telemetry/config_test.go
@@ -4,15 +4,95 @@
 package telemetry
 
 import (
+	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/config"
 
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/component/componenttest"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/config/configtelemetry"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/confmap"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/confmap/confmaptest"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/featuregate"
 )
 
-func TestLoadConfig(t *testing.T) {
+func TestComponentConfigStruct(t *testing.T) {
+	require.NoError(t, componenttest.CheckConfigStruct(NewFactory().CreateDefaultConfig()))
+}
+
+func TestUnmarshalDefaultConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	factory := NewFactory()
+	cfg := factory.CreateDefaultConfig()
+	require.NoError(t, confmap.New().Unmarshal(&cfg))
+	assert.Equal(t, factory.CreateDefaultConfig(), cfg)
+}
+
+func TestUnmarshalConfigDeprecatedAddress(t *testing.T) {
+	prev := disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetryFeatureGate.IsEnabled()
+	require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetryFeatureGate.ID(), false))
+	defer func() {
+		// Restore previous value.
+		require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetryFeatureGate.ID(), prev))
+	}()
+	cm, err := confmaptest.LoadConf(filepath.Join("testdata", "config_deprecated_address.yaml"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	cfg := NewFactory().CreateDefaultConfig()
+	require.NoError(t, cm.Unmarshal(&cfg))
+	require.Len(t, cfg.(*Config).Metrics.Readers, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "", *cfg.(*Config).Metrics.Readers[0].Pull.Exporter.Prometheus.Host)
+	assert.Equal(t, 6666, *cfg.(*Config).Metrics.Readers[0].Pull.Exporter.Prometheus.Port)
+}
+
+func TestUnmarshalConfigDeprecatedAddressGateEnabled(t *testing.T) {
+	prev := disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetryFeatureGate.IsEnabled()
+	require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetryFeatureGate.ID(), true))
+	defer func() {
+		// Restore previous value.
+		require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetryFeatureGate.ID(), prev))
+	}()
+	cm, err := confmaptest.LoadConf(filepath.Join("testdata", "config_deprecated_address.yaml"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	cfg := NewFactory().CreateDefaultConfig()
+	require.NoError(t, cm.Unmarshal(&cfg))
+	require.Len(t, cfg.(*Config).Metrics.Readers, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "", *cfg.(*Config).Metrics.Readers[0].Pull.Exporter.Prometheus.Host)
+	assert.Equal(t, 8888, *cfg.(*Config).Metrics.Readers[0].Pull.Exporter.Prometheus.Port)
+}
+
+func TestUnmarshalConfigInvalidDeprecatedAddress(t *testing.T) {
+	prev := disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetryFeatureGate.IsEnabled()
+	require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetryFeatureGate.ID(), false))
+	defer func() {
+		// Restore previous value.
+		require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetryFeatureGate.ID(), prev))
+	}()
+	cm, err := confmaptest.LoadConf(filepath.Join("testdata", "config_invalid_deprecated_address.yaml"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	cfg := NewFactory().CreateDefaultConfig()
+	require.Error(t, cm.Unmarshal(&cfg))
+}
+
+func TestUnmarshalConfigDeprecatedAddressAndReaders(t *testing.T) {
+	prev := disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetryFeatureGate.IsEnabled()
+	require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetryFeatureGate.ID(), false))
+	defer func() {
+		// Restore previous value.
+		require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(disableAddressFieldForInternalTelemetryFeatureGate.ID(), prev))
+	}()
+	cm, err := confmaptest.LoadConf(filepath.Join("testdata", "config_deprecated_address_and_readers.yaml"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	cfg := NewFactory().CreateDefaultConfig()
+	require.NoError(t, cm.Unmarshal(&cfg))
+	require.Len(t, cfg.(*Config).Metrics.Readers, 2)
+	assert.Equal(t, "localhost", *cfg.(*Config).Metrics.Readers[0].Pull.Exporter.Prometheus.Host)
+	assert.Equal(t, 9999, *cfg.(*Config).Metrics.Readers[0].Pull.Exporter.Prometheus.Port)
+	assert.Equal(t, "192.168.0.1", *cfg.(*Config).Metrics.Readers[1].Pull.Exporter.Prometheus.Host)
+	assert.Equal(t, 6666, *cfg.(*Config).Metrics.Readers[1].Pull.Exporter.Prometheus.Port)
+}
+
+func TestConfigValidate(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name    string
 		cfg     *Config
@@ -22,8 +102,13 @@ func TestLoadConfig(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "basic metric telemetry",
 			cfg: &Config{
 				Metrics: MetricsConfig{
-					Level:   configtelemetry.LevelBasic,
-					Address: "127.0.0.1:3333",
+					Level: configtelemetry.LevelBasic,
+					Readers: []config.MetricReader{{
+						Pull: &config.PullMetricReader{Exporter: config.MetricExporter{Prometheus: &config.Prometheus{
+							Host: newPtr("127.0.0.1"),
+							Port: newPtr(3333),
+						}}}},
+					},
 				},
 			},
 			success: true,
@@ -33,32 +118,20 @@ func TestLoadConfig(t *testing.T) {
 			cfg: &Config{
 				Metrics: MetricsConfig{
 					Level:   configtelemetry.LevelBasic,
-					Address: "",
+					Readers: nil,
 				},
 			},
 			success: false,
 		},
-		{
-			name: "valid metric telemetry with metric readers",
-			cfg: &Config{
-				Metrics: MetricsConfig{
-					Level: configtelemetry.LevelBasic,
-					Readers: []config.MetricReader{
-						{Pull: &config.PullMetricReader{}},
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			success: true,
-		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			err := tt.cfg.Validate()
 			if tt.success {
-				assert.NoError(t, err)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
 			} else {
-				assert.Error(t, err)
+				require.Error(t, err)
 			}
 		})
 	}
diff --git a/service/telemetry/factory.go b/service/telemetry/factory.go
index 474c245c22d..24802271e31 100644
--- a/service/telemetry/factory.go
+++ b/service/telemetry/factory.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"time"
 
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/config"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
@@ -99,8 +100,17 @@ func createDefaultConfig() component.Config {
 			InitialFields:     map[string]any(nil),
 		},
 		Metrics: MetricsConfig{
-			Level:   configtelemetry.LevelNormal,
-			Address: ":8888",
+			Level: configtelemetry.LevelNormal,
+			Readers: []config.MetricReader{{
+				Pull: &config.PullMetricReader{Exporter: config.MetricExporter{Prometheus: &config.Prometheus{
+					Host: newPtr(""),
+					Port: newPtr(8888),
+				}}}},
+			},
 		},
 	}
 }
+
+func newPtr[T int | string](str T) *T {
+	return &str
+}
diff --git a/service/telemetry/factory_test.go b/service/telemetry/factory_test.go
index f777f8dbbdc..75f4196c6ce 100644
--- a/service/telemetry/factory_test.go
+++ b/service/telemetry/factory_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/config"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 	"go.uber.org/zap/zapcore"
 
@@ -30,8 +31,13 @@ func TestTelemetryConfiguration(t *testing.T) {
 					Encoding: "console",
 				},
 				Metrics: MetricsConfig{
-					Level:   configtelemetry.LevelBasic,
-					Address: "127.0.0.1:3333",
+					Level: configtelemetry.LevelBasic,
+					Readers: []config.MetricReader{{
+						Pull: &config.PullMetricReader{Exporter: config.MetricExporter{Prometheus: &config.Prometheus{
+							Host: newPtr("127.0.0.1"),
+							Port: newPtr(3333),
+						}}}},
+					},
 				},
 			},
 			success: true,
@@ -43,8 +49,13 @@ func TestTelemetryConfiguration(t *testing.T) {
 					Level: zapcore.DebugLevel,
 				},
 				Metrics: MetricsConfig{
-					Level:   configtelemetry.LevelBasic,
-					Address: "127.0.0.1:3333",
+					Level: configtelemetry.LevelBasic,
+					Readers: []config.MetricReader{{
+						Pull: &config.PullMetricReader{Exporter: config.MetricExporter{Prometheus: &config.Prometheus{
+							Host: newPtr("127.0.0.1"),
+							Port: newPtr(3333),
+						}}}},
+					},
 				},
 			},
 			success: false,
diff --git a/service/telemetry/metrics.go b/service/telemetry/metrics.go
index 76b0a758b5a..a3be9169c7c 100644
--- a/service/telemetry/metrics.go
+++ b/service/telemetry/metrics.go
@@ -5,12 +5,9 @@ package telemetry // import "go.opentelemetry.io/collector/service/telemetry"
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"net"
 	"net/http"
-	"strconv"
 	"sync"
 
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/config"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/noop"
 	sdkmetric "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric"
@@ -40,34 +37,10 @@ type meterProviderSettings struct {
 }
 
 func newMeterProvider(set meterProviderSettings, disableHighCardinality bool) (metric.MeterProvider, error) {
-	if set.cfg.Level == configtelemetry.LevelNone || (set.cfg.Address == "" && len(set.cfg.Readers) == 0) {
+	if set.cfg.Level == configtelemetry.LevelNone || len(set.cfg.Readers) == 0 {
 		return noop.NewMeterProvider(), nil
 	}
 
-	if len(set.cfg.Address) != 0 {
-		host, port, err := net.SplitHostPort(set.cfg.Address)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		portInt, err := strconv.Atoi(port)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		if set.cfg.Readers == nil {
-			set.cfg.Readers = []config.MetricReader{}
-		}
-		set.cfg.Readers = append(set.cfg.Readers, config.MetricReader{
-			Pull: &config.PullMetricReader{
-				Exporter: config.MetricExporter{
-					Prometheus: &config.Prometheus{
-						Host: &host,
-						Port: &portInt,
-					},
-				},
-			},
-		})
-	}
-
 	mp := &meterProvider{}
 	var opts []sdkmetric.Option
 	for _, reader := range set.cfg.Readers {
diff --git a/service/telemetry/metrics_test.go b/service/telemetry/metrics_test.go
index f3bb140b1f3..3446ad219d6 100644
--- a/service/telemetry/metrics_test.go
+++ b/service/telemetry/metrics_test.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import (
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/component"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/config/configtelemetry"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/internal/testutil"
 	semconv "go.opentelemetry.io/collector/semconv/v1.18.0"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/service/internal/promtest"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/service/internal/resource"
@@ -208,8 +207,10 @@ func TestTelemetryInit(t *testing.T) {
 						semconv.AttributeServiceInstanceID: &testInstanceID,
 					},
 					Metrics: MetricsConfig{
-						Level:   configtelemetry.LevelDetailed,
-						Address: testutil.GetAvailableLocalAddress(t),
+						Level: configtelemetry.LevelDetailed,
+						Readers: []config.MetricReader{{
+							Pull: &config.PullMetricReader{Exporter: config.MetricExporter{Prometheus: promtest.GetAvailableLocalAddressPrometheus(t)}},
+						}},
 					},
 				}
 			}
@@ -276,5 +277,4 @@ func getMetricsFromPrometheus(t *testing.T, handler http.Handler) map[string]*io
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	return parsed
-
 }
diff --git a/service/telemetry/testdata/config_deprecated_address.yaml b/service/telemetry/testdata/config_deprecated_address.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9e494928b2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/service/telemetry/testdata/config_deprecated_address.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+logs:
+  level: "info"
+metrics:
+  level: "basic"
+  readers:
+    - pull:
+        exporter:
+          prometheus:
+            host: ""
+            port: 6666
diff --git a/service/telemetry/testdata/config_deprecated_address_and_readers.yaml b/service/telemetry/testdata/config_deprecated_address_and_readers.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..987b9f5a7d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/service/telemetry/testdata/config_deprecated_address_and_readers.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+logs:
+  level: "info"
+metrics:
+  level: "basic"
+  address: "192.168.0.1:6666"
+  readers:
+    - pull:
+        exporter:
+          prometheus:
+            host: "localhost"
+            port: 9999
diff --git a/service/telemetry/testdata/config_invalid_deprecated_address.yaml b/service/telemetry/testdata/config_invalid_deprecated_address.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fd81b91ad19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/service/telemetry/testdata/config_invalid_deprecated_address.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+logs:
+  level: "info"
+metrics:
+  level: "basic"
+  address: "1212:212121:2121"