diff --git a/docs/4.0/components/forms.md b/docs/4.0/components/forms.md
index c69bfe2ae2..e5a568b67b 100644
--- a/docs/4.0/components/forms.md
+++ b/docs/4.0/components/forms.md
@@ -899,31 +899,37 @@ Our example forms show native textual `<input>`s above, but form validation styl
 
 {% example html %}
 <form class="was-validated">
-  <div class="custom-control custom-checkbox">
+  <div class="custom-control custom-checkbox mb-3">
     <input type="checkbox" class="custom-control-input" id="customControlValidation1" required>
     <label class="custom-control-label" for="customControlValidation1">Check this custom checkbox</label>
+    <div class="invalid-feedback">Example invalid feedback text</div>
   </div>
 
   <div class="custom-control custom-radio">
     <input type="radio" class="custom-control-input" id="customControlValidation2" name="radio-stacked" required>
     <label class="custom-control-label" for="customControlValidation2">Toggle this custom radio</label>
   </div>
-  <div class="custom-control custom-radio">
+  <div class="custom-control custom-radio mb-3">
     <input type="radio" class="custom-control-input" id="customControlValidation3" name="radio-stacked" required>
     <label class="custom-control-label" for="customControlValidation3">Or toggle this other custom radio</label>
+    <div class="invalid-feedback">More example invalid feedback text</div>
   </div>
 
-  <select class="custom-select d-block my-3" required>
-    <option value="">Open this select menu</option>
-    <option value="1">One</option>
-    <option value="2">Two</option>
-    <option value="3">Three</option>
-  </select>
+  <div class="form-group">
+    <select class="custom-select" required>
+      <option value="">Open this select menu</option>
+      <option value="1">One</option>
+      <option value="2">Two</option>
+      <option value="3">Three</option>
+    </select>
+    <div class="invalid-feedback">Example invalid custom select feedback</div>
+  </div>
 
-  <label class="custom-file">
-    <input type="file" id="file" class="custom-file-input" required>
-    <span class="custom-file-control"></span>
-  </label>
+  <div class="custom-file">
+    <input type="file" class="custom-file-input" id="validatedCustomFile" required>
+    <label class="custom-file-label" for="validatedCustomFile">Choose file...</label>
+    <div class="invalid-feedback">Example invalid custom file feedback</div>  
+  </div>
 </form>
 {% endexample %}
 
@@ -1062,24 +1068,16 @@ As is the `size` attribute:
 
 ### File browser
 
-The file input is the most gnarly of the bunch and require additional JavaScript if you'd like to hook them up with functional *Choose file...* and selected file name text.
+The file input is the most gnarly of the bunch and requires additional JavaScript if you'd like to hook them up with functional *Choose file...* and selected file name text.
 
 {% example html %}
-<label class="custom-file">
-  <input type="file" id="file2" class="custom-file-input">
-  <span class="custom-file-control"></span>
-</label>
+<div class="custom-file">
+  <input type="file" class="custom-file-input" id="customFile">
+  <label class="custom-file-label" for="customFile">Choose file</label>
+</div>
 {% endexample %}
 
-Here's how it works:
-
-- We wrap the `<input>` in a `<label>` so the custom control properly triggers the file browser.
-- We hide the default file `<input>` via `opacity`.
-- We use `::after` to generate a custom background and directive (*Choose file...*).
-- We use `::before` to generate and position the *Browse* button.
-- We declare a `height` on the `<input>` for proper spacing for surrounding content.
-
-In other words, it's an entirely custom element, all generated via CSS.
+We hide the default file `<input>` via `opacity` and instead style the `<label>`. The button is generated and positioned with `::after`. Lastly, we declare a `width` and `height` on the `<input>` for proper spacing for surrounding content.
 
 #### Translating or customizing the strings
 
diff --git a/scss/_custom-forms.scss b/scss/_custom-forms.scss
index 56093bc484..d99a86dc7f 100644
--- a/scss/_custom-forms.scss
+++ b/scss/_custom-forms.scss
@@ -225,7 +225,9 @@
 }
 
 .custom-file-input {
-  max-width: 100%;
+  position: relative;
+  z-index: 2;
+  width: 100%;
   height: $custom-file-height;
   margin: 0;
   opacity: 0;
@@ -238,49 +240,43 @@
       border-color: $custom-file-focus-border-color;
     }
   }
+
+  @each $lang, $value in $custom-file-text {
+    &:lang(#{$lang}) ~ .custom-file-label::after {
+      content: $value;
+    }
+  }
 }
 
-.custom-file-control {
+.custom-file-label {
   position: absolute;
   top: 0;
   right: 0;
   left: 0;
+  z-index: 1;
   height: $custom-file-height;
   padding: $custom-file-padding-y $custom-file-padding-x;
   line-height: $custom-file-line-height;
   color: $custom-file-color;
-  pointer-events: none;
-  user-select: none;
   background-color: $custom-file-bg;
   border: $custom-file-border-width solid $custom-file-border-color;
   @include border-radius($custom-file-border-radius);
   @include box-shadow($custom-file-box-shadow);
 
-  @each $lang, $text in map-get($custom-file-text, placeholder) {
-    &:lang(#{$lang}):empty::after {
-      content: $text;
-    }
-  }
-
-  &::before {
+  &::after {
     position: absolute;
-    top: -$custom-file-border-width;
-    right: -$custom-file-border-width;
-    bottom: -$custom-file-border-width;
-    z-index: 1;
+    top: 0;
+    right: 0;
+    bottom: 0;
+    z-index: 3;
     display: block;
-    height: $custom-file-height;
+    height: calc(#{$custom-file-height} - #{$custom-file-border-width} * 2);
     padding: $custom-file-padding-y $custom-file-padding-x;
     line-height: $custom-file-line-height;
     color: $custom-file-button-color;
+    content: "Browse";
     @include gradient-bg($custom-file-button-bg);
-    border: $custom-file-border-width solid $custom-file-border-color;
+    border-left: $custom-file-border-width solid $custom-file-border-color;
     @include border-radius(0 $custom-file-border-radius $custom-file-border-radius 0);
   }
-
-  @each $lang, $text in map-get($custom-file-text, button-label) {
-    &:lang(#{$lang})::before {
-      content: $text;
-    }
-  }
 }
diff --git a/scss/_variables.scss b/scss/_variables.scss
index 8355bf5b8f..0f299a436f 100644
--- a/scss/_variables.scss
+++ b/scss/_variables.scss
@@ -509,12 +509,7 @@ $custom-file-box-shadow:            $input-box-shadow !default;
 $custom-file-button-color:          $custom-file-color !default;
 $custom-file-button-bg:             $input-group-addon-bg !default;
 $custom-file-text: (
-  placeholder: (
-    en: "Choose file..."
-  ),
-  button-label: (
-    en: "Browse"
-  )
+  en: "Browse"
 ) !default;
 
 
diff --git a/scss/mixins/_forms.scss b/scss/mixins/_forms.scss
index ba1b16d6a1..d25df182df 100644
--- a/scss/mixins/_forms.scss
+++ b/scss/mixins/_forms.scss
@@ -88,11 +88,18 @@
           background-color: lighten($color, 25%);
         }
       }
+
+      ~ .#{$state}-feedback,
+      ~ .#{$state}-tooltip {
+        display: block;
+      }
+
       &:checked {
         ~ .custom-control-label::before {
           @include gradient-bg(lighten($color, 10%));
         }
       }
+
       &:focus {
         ~ .custom-control-label::before {
           box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px $body-bg, 0 0 0 $input-focus-width rgba($color, .25);
@@ -105,13 +112,19 @@
   .custom-file-input {
     .was-validated &:#{$state},
     &.is-#{$state} {
-      ~ .custom-file-control {
+      ~ .custom-file-label {
         border-color: $color;
 
         &::before { border-color: inherit; }
       }
+
+      ~ .#{$state}-feedback,
+      ~ .#{$state}-tooltip {
+        display: block;
+      }
+
       &:focus {
-        ~ .custom-file-control {
+        ~ .custom-file-label {
           box-shadow: 0 0 0 $input-focus-width rgba($color, .25);
         }
       }