diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api.proto b/esphome/components/api/api.proto
index 88af5957e72..f1bc9b003ae 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api.proto
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api.proto
@@ -1760,7 +1760,7 @@ enum BluetoothDeviceRequestType {
 message BluetoothDeviceRequest {
   option (id) = 68;
   option (source) = SOURCE_CLIENT;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   BluetoothDeviceRequestType request_type = 2;
@@ -1771,7 +1771,7 @@ message BluetoothDeviceRequest {
 message BluetoothDeviceConnectionResponse {
   option (id) = 69;
   option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   bool connected = 2;
@@ -1782,7 +1782,7 @@ message BluetoothDeviceConnectionResponse {
 message BluetoothGATTGetServicesRequest {
   option (id) = 70;
   option (source) = SOURCE_CLIENT;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
 }
@@ -1826,7 +1826,7 @@ message BluetoothGATTService {
 message BluetoothGATTGetServicesResponse {
   option (id) = 71;
   option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   repeated BluetoothGATTService services = 2;
@@ -1835,7 +1835,7 @@ message BluetoothGATTGetServicesResponse {
 message BluetoothGATTGetServicesDoneResponse {
   option (id) = 72;
   option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
 }
@@ -1843,7 +1843,7 @@ message BluetoothGATTGetServicesDoneResponse {
 message BluetoothGATTReadRequest {
   option (id) = 73;
   option (source) = SOURCE_CLIENT;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   uint32 handle = 2;
@@ -1852,7 +1852,7 @@ message BluetoothGATTReadRequest {
 message BluetoothGATTReadResponse {
   option (id) = 74;
   option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   uint32 handle = 2;
@@ -1864,7 +1864,7 @@ message BluetoothGATTReadResponse {
 message BluetoothGATTWriteRequest {
   option (id) = 75;
   option (source) = SOURCE_CLIENT;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   uint32 handle = 2;
@@ -1876,7 +1876,7 @@ message BluetoothGATTWriteRequest {
 message BluetoothGATTReadDescriptorRequest {
   option (id) = 76;
   option (source) = SOURCE_CLIENT;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   uint32 handle = 2;
@@ -1885,7 +1885,7 @@ message BluetoothGATTReadDescriptorRequest {
 message BluetoothGATTWriteDescriptorRequest {
   option (id) = 77;
   option (source) = SOURCE_CLIENT;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   uint32 handle = 2;
@@ -1896,7 +1896,7 @@ message BluetoothGATTWriteDescriptorRequest {
 message BluetoothGATTNotifyRequest {
   option (id) = 78;
   option (source) = SOURCE_CLIENT;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   uint32 handle = 2;
@@ -1906,7 +1906,7 @@ message BluetoothGATTNotifyRequest {
 message BluetoothGATTNotifyDataResponse {
   option (id) = 79;
   option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   uint32 handle = 2;
@@ -1917,13 +1917,13 @@ message BluetoothGATTNotifyDataResponse {
 message SubscribeBluetoothConnectionsFreeRequest {
   option (id) = 80;
   option (source) = SOURCE_CLIENT;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 }
 
 message BluetoothConnectionsFreeResponse {
   option (id) = 81;
   option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint32 free = 1;
   uint32 limit = 2;
@@ -1936,7 +1936,7 @@ message BluetoothConnectionsFreeResponse {
 message BluetoothGATTErrorResponse {
   option (id) = 82;
   option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   uint32 handle = 2;
@@ -1946,7 +1946,7 @@ message BluetoothGATTErrorResponse {
 message BluetoothGATTWriteResponse {
   option (id) = 83;
   option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   uint32 handle = 2;
@@ -1955,7 +1955,7 @@ message BluetoothGATTWriteResponse {
 message BluetoothGATTNotifyResponse {
   option (id) = 84;
   option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   uint32 handle = 2;
@@ -1964,7 +1964,7 @@ message BluetoothGATTNotifyResponse {
 message BluetoothDevicePairingResponse {
   option (id) = 85;
   option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   bool paired = 2;
@@ -1974,7 +1974,7 @@ message BluetoothDevicePairingResponse {
 message BluetoothDeviceUnpairingResponse {
   option (id) = 86;
   option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   bool success = 2;
@@ -1990,7 +1990,7 @@ message UnsubscribeBluetoothLEAdvertisementsRequest {
 message BluetoothDeviceClearCacheResponse {
   option (id) = 88;
   option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   bool success = 2;
@@ -2807,7 +2807,7 @@ message SerialProxyRequestResponse {
 message BluetoothSetConnectionParamsRequest {
   option (id) = 145;
   option (source) = SOURCE_CLIENT;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   uint32 min_interval = 2;  // units of 1.25ms
@@ -2819,7 +2819,7 @@ message BluetoothSetConnectionParamsRequest {
 message BluetoothSetConnectionParamsResponse {
   option (id) = 146;
   option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
-  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY";
+  option (ifdef) = "USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS";
 
   uint64 address = 1;
   int32 error = 2;
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 19d2b14a321..afd7e696afc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -1236,6 +1236,7 @@ void APIConnection::on_subscribe_bluetooth_le_advertisements_request(
 void APIConnection::on_unsubscribe_bluetooth_le_advertisements_request() {
   bluetooth_proxy::global_bluetooth_proxy->unsubscribe_api_connection(this);
 }
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 void APIConnection::on_bluetooth_device_request(const BluetoothDeviceRequest &msg) {
   bluetooth_proxy::global_bluetooth_proxy->bluetooth_device_request(msg);
 }
@@ -1269,13 +1270,15 @@ void APIConnection::on_subscribe_bluetooth_connections_free_request() {
   }
 }
 
+void APIConnection::on_bluetooth_set_connection_params_request(const BluetoothSetConnectionParamsRequest &msg) {
+  bluetooth_proxy::global_bluetooth_proxy->bluetooth_set_connection_params(msg);
+}
+#endif
+
 void APIConnection::on_bluetooth_scanner_set_mode_request(const BluetoothScannerSetModeRequest &msg) {
   bluetooth_proxy::global_bluetooth_proxy->bluetooth_scanner_set_mode(
       msg.mode == enums::BluetoothScannerMode::BLUETOOTH_SCANNER_MODE_ACTIVE);
 }
-void APIConnection::on_bluetooth_set_connection_params_request(const BluetoothSetConnectionParamsRequest &msg) {
-  bluetooth_proxy::global_bluetooth_proxy->bluetooth_set_connection_params(msg);
-}
 #endif
 
 #ifdef USE_VOICE_ASSISTANT
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
index 9ca1b8b6a46..d548b921b39 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
@@ -183,6 +183,7 @@ class APIConnection final : public APIServerConnectionBase {
   void on_subscribe_bluetooth_le_advertisements_request(const SubscribeBluetoothLEAdvertisementsRequest &msg);
   void on_unsubscribe_bluetooth_le_advertisements_request();
 
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   void on_bluetooth_device_request(const BluetoothDeviceRequest &msg);
   void on_bluetooth_gatt_read_request(const BluetoothGATTReadRequest &msg);
   void on_bluetooth_gatt_write_request(const BluetoothGATTWriteRequest &msg);
@@ -191,8 +192,9 @@ class APIConnection final : public APIServerConnectionBase {
   void on_bluetooth_gatt_get_services_request(const BluetoothGATTGetServicesRequest &msg);
   void on_bluetooth_gatt_notify_request(const BluetoothGATTNotifyRequest &msg);
   void on_subscribe_bluetooth_connections_free_request();
-  void on_bluetooth_scanner_set_mode_request(const BluetoothScannerSetModeRequest &msg);
   void on_bluetooth_set_connection_params_request(const BluetoothSetConnectionParamsRequest &msg);
+#endif
+  void on_bluetooth_scanner_set_mode_request(const BluetoothScannerSetModeRequest &msg);
 
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_HOMEASSISTANT_TIME
@@ -390,7 +392,7 @@ class APIConnection final : public APIServerConnectionBase {
 #ifdef USE_API_NOISE
   bool send_noise_encryption_set_key_response_(const NoiseEncryptionSetKeyRequest &msg);
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   bool send_subscribe_bluetooth_connections_free_response_();
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_VOICE_ASSISTANT
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
index 5776ec5c62d..1b8c6b05bd7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
@@ -2482,6 +2482,8 @@ BluetoothLERawAdvertisementsResponse::calculate_size() const {
   }
   return size;
 }
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 bool BluetoothDeviceRequest::decode_varint(uint32_t field_id, proto_varint_value_t value) {
   switch (field_id) {
     case 1:
@@ -2858,6 +2860,8 @@ uint32_t BluetoothDeviceClearCacheResponse::calculate_size() const {
   size += ProtoSize::calc_int32(1, this->error);
   return size;
 }
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
 uint8_t *BluetoothScannerStateResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_PARAM) const {
   uint8_t *__restrict__ pos = buffer.get_pos();
   ProtoEncode::encode_uint32(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, 1, static_cast<uint32_t>(this->state));
@@ -4221,7 +4225,7 @@ uint32_t SerialProxyRequestResponse::calculate_size() const {
   return size;
 }
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 bool BluetoothSetConnectionParamsRequest::decode_varint(uint32_t field_id, proto_varint_value_t value) {
   switch (field_id) {
     case 1:
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
index f35f5510603..8335dae1f24 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ enum MediaPlayerFormatPurpose : uint32_t {
   MEDIA_PLAYER_FORMAT_PURPOSE_ANNOUNCEMENT = 1,
 };
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 enum BluetoothDeviceRequestType : uint32_t {
   BLUETOOTH_DEVICE_REQUEST_TYPE_CONNECT = 0,
   BLUETOOTH_DEVICE_REQUEST_TYPE_DISCONNECT = 1,
@@ -235,6 +235,8 @@ enum BluetoothDeviceRequestType : uint32_t {
   BLUETOOTH_DEVICE_REQUEST_TYPE_CONNECT_V3_WITHOUT_CACHE = 5,
   BLUETOOTH_DEVICE_REQUEST_TYPE_CLEAR_CACHE = 6,
 };
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
 enum BluetoothScannerState : uint32_t {
   BLUETOOTH_SCANNER_STATE_IDLE = 0,
   BLUETOOTH_SCANNER_STATE_STARTING = 1,
@@ -1999,6 +2001,8 @@ class BluetoothLERawAdvertisementsResponse final : public ProtoMessage {
 
  protected:
 };
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 class BluetoothDeviceRequest final : public ProtoDecodableMessage {
  public:
   static constexpr uint8_t MESSAGE_TYPE = 68;
@@ -2384,6 +2388,8 @@ class BluetoothDeviceClearCacheResponse final : public ProtoMessage {
 
  protected:
 };
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
 class BluetoothScannerStateResponse final : public ProtoMessage {
  public:
   static constexpr uint8_t MESSAGE_TYPE = 126;
@@ -3358,7 +3364,7 @@ class SerialProxyRequestResponse final : public ProtoMessage {
  protected:
 };
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 class BluetoothSetConnectionParamsRequest final : public ProtoDecodableMessage {
  public:
   static constexpr uint8_t MESSAGE_TYPE = 145;
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_defines.h b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_defines.h
index 8ebd60fb5d1..3603fac6d77 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_defines.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_defines.h
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "esphome/core/defines.h"
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#if defined(USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY) || defined(USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS)
 #ifndef USE_API_VARINT64
 #define USE_API_VARINT64
 #endif
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
index 17ce7fba45b..4d5829e45de 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ template<> const char *proto_enum_to_string<enums::MediaPlayerFormatPurpose>(enu
   }
 }
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 template<>
 const char *proto_enum_to_string<enums::BluetoothDeviceRequestType>(enums::BluetoothDeviceRequestType value) {
   switch (value) {
@@ -606,6 +606,8 @@ const char *proto_enum_to_string<enums::BluetoothDeviceRequestType>(enums::Bluet
       return ESPHOME_PSTR("UNKNOWN");
   }
 }
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
 template<> const char *proto_enum_to_string<enums::BluetoothScannerState>(enums::BluetoothScannerState value) {
   switch (value) {
     case enums::BLUETOOTH_SCANNER_STATE_IDLE:
@@ -2002,6 +2004,8 @@ const char *BluetoothLERawAdvertisementsResponse::dump_to(DumpBuffer &out) const
   }
   return out.c_str();
 }
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 const char *BluetoothDeviceRequest::dump_to(DumpBuffer &out) const {
   MessageDumpHelper helper(out, ESPHOME_PSTR("BluetoothDeviceRequest"));
   dump_field(out, ESPHOME_PSTR("address"), this->address);
@@ -2173,6 +2177,8 @@ const char *BluetoothDeviceClearCacheResponse::dump_to(DumpBuffer &out) const {
   dump_field(out, ESPHOME_PSTR("error"), this->error);
   return out.c_str();
 }
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
 const char *BluetoothScannerStateResponse::dump_to(DumpBuffer &out) const {
   MessageDumpHelper helper(out, ESPHOME_PSTR("BluetoothScannerStateResponse"));
   dump_field(out, ESPHOME_PSTR("state"), static_cast<enums::BluetoothScannerState>(this->state));
@@ -2764,7 +2770,7 @@ const char *SerialProxyRequestResponse::dump_to(DumpBuffer &out) const {
   return out.c_str();
 }
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 const char *BluetoothSetConnectionParamsRequest::dump_to(DumpBuffer &out) const {
   MessageDumpHelper helper(out, ESPHOME_PSTR("BluetoothSetConnectionParamsRequest"));
   dump_field(out, ESPHOME_PSTR("address"), this->address);
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
index 19dcbfb77cb..65c7b8858cc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const ui
       break;
     }
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
     case BluetoothDeviceRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE: {
       BluetoothDeviceRequest msg;
       msg.decode(msg_data, msg_size);
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const ui
       break;
     }
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
     case BluetoothGATTGetServicesRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE: {
       BluetoothGATTGetServicesRequest msg;
       msg.decode(msg_data, msg_size);
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const ui
       break;
     }
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
     case BluetoothGATTReadRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE: {
       BluetoothGATTReadRequest msg;
       msg.decode(msg_data, msg_size);
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const ui
       break;
     }
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
     case BluetoothGATTWriteRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE: {
       BluetoothGATTWriteRequest msg;
       msg.decode(msg_data, msg_size);
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const ui
       break;
     }
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
     case BluetoothGATTReadDescriptorRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE: {
       BluetoothGATTReadDescriptorRequest msg;
       msg.decode(msg_data, msg_size);
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const ui
       break;
     }
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
     case BluetoothGATTWriteDescriptorRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE: {
       BluetoothGATTWriteDescriptorRequest msg;
       msg.decode(msg_data, msg_size);
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const ui
       break;
     }
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
     case BluetoothGATTNotifyRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE: {
       BluetoothGATTNotifyRequest msg;
       msg.decode(msg_data, msg_size);
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const ui
       break;
     }
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
     case 80 /* SubscribeBluetoothConnectionsFreeRequest is empty */: {
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
       this->log_receive_message_(LOG_STR("on_subscribe_bluetooth_connections_free_request"));
@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const ui
       break;
     }
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
     case BluetoothSetConnectionParamsRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE: {
       BluetoothSetConnectionParamsRequest msg;
       msg.decode(msg_data, msg_size);
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.h b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.h
index 5ed78b3385c..6abdf7093e1 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.h
@@ -115,32 +115,32 @@ class APIServerConnectionBase {
   void on_subscribe_bluetooth_le_advertisements_request(const SubscribeBluetoothLEAdvertisementsRequest &value){};
 #endif
 
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   void on_bluetooth_device_request(const BluetoothDeviceRequest &value){};
 #endif
 
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   void on_bluetooth_gatt_get_services_request(const BluetoothGATTGetServicesRequest &value){};
 #endif
 
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   void on_bluetooth_gatt_read_request(const BluetoothGATTReadRequest &value){};
 #endif
 
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   void on_bluetooth_gatt_write_request(const BluetoothGATTWriteRequest &value){};
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   void on_bluetooth_gatt_read_descriptor_request(const BluetoothGATTReadDescriptorRequest &value){};
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   void on_bluetooth_gatt_write_descriptor_request(const BluetoothGATTWriteDescriptorRequest &value){};
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   void on_bluetooth_gatt_notify_request(const BluetoothGATTNotifyRequest &value){};
 #endif
 
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   void on_subscribe_bluetooth_connections_free_request(){};
 #endif
 
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ class APIServerConnectionBase {
   void on_serial_proxy_request(const SerialProxyRequest &value){};
 #endif
 
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   void on_bluetooth_set_connection_params_request(const BluetoothSetConnectionParamsRequest &value){};
 #endif
 };
diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection.cpp
index a7e9825e56d..a001729083c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include <esp_gattc_api.h>
 #endif
 
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 
 #include "esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ BatchClose close_service_batch(api::BluetoothGATTGetServicesResponse &resp, size
 
 }  // namespace esphome::bluetooth_connection
 
-#endif  // BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#endif  // USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 
 #if defined(USE_ESP32) && defined(USE_BLE_GATT_CLIENT)
 namespace esphome::bluetooth_connection {
diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection.h b/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection.h
index bcfbdaa6cf6..b21d997b4fc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection.h
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection.h
@@ -16,16 +16,14 @@
 #include <esp_err.h>
 #endif
 
-// The connection-aware API request handlers are compiled: a GATT backend is
-// wired by codegen (one slot per connection). This is the single spelling of
-// that predicate - the hub wrapper and the API request handlers gate on it.
-// The wrapper serves the proxy's API surface, so it compiles only when a
-// backend AND the proxy are present. The address-scoped maintenance functions
-// below are only reached from that gated surface; their #else stubs just
-// keep this header parsing on arms without a backend.
-#if defined(USE_BLE_GATT_CLIENT) && defined(USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY)
-#define BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
-#endif
+// USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS is the single spelling of "this build has
+// proxy connection slots": codegen emits it per configured slot, and each
+// slot brings a GATT backend, so it also implies USE_BLE_GATT_CLIENT (not
+// the converse: a backend can exist without proxy slots). The hub
+// wrapper, the proxy's connection surface and the API's connection messages
+// all gate on it. The address-scoped maintenance functions below are only
+// reached from that gated surface; the #else stubs just keep this header
+// parsing on arms without a backend.
 
 namespace esphome::api {
 class BluetoothGATTGetServicesResponse;
@@ -154,7 +152,7 @@ inline void fill_gatt_uuid(std::array<uint64_t, 2> &uuid_128, uint32_t &short_uu
   }
 }
 
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 /// Result of close_service_batch: keep filling the batch or send it now.
 /// An oversized service is packed alone; a failed (backpressured) send is
 /// retried from the batch start, so no service is silently skipped.
@@ -166,6 +164,6 @@ enum class BatchClose : uint8_t { CONTINUE, SEND };
 /// cannot drift.
 BatchClose close_service_batch(api::BluetoothGATTGetServicesResponse &resp, size_t &current_size, int16_t &send_service,
                                uint8_t connection_index, const char *address_str);
-#endif  // BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#endif  // USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 
 }  // namespace esphome::bluetooth_connection
diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_bluedroid.cpp b/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_bluedroid.cpp
index 99a6a312ecb..076c77b18e1 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_bluedroid.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_bluedroid.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 // The in-place streamer serves the proxy's service-discovery API; backend-only
 // builds compile without the proxy headers or the streamer.
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 #include "bluetooth_connection.h"
 #include "bluetooth_connection_hub.h"
 
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ void BluedroidGattClient::deliver_pending_search_() {
   this->listener_->on_service_discovery_done(this->search_status_);
 }
 
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 // The wrapper's compile-time streamer detection must keep finding this
 // method; a signature drift would silently fall back to the table streamer,
 // which proxy builds compile without a materializer.
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ void BluedroidGattClient::stream_service_batch(BluetoothConnection &conn) {
   }
   conn.batch_stalled_ = false;
 }
-#endif  // USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#endif  // USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 
 // ---- events ----
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_bluedroid.h b/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_bluedroid.h
index 19b89ea5cd7..0d0b4fed5b6 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_bluedroid.h
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_bluedroid.h
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 namespace esphome::bluetooth_connection {
 
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 class BluetoothConnection;
 #endif
 
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class BluedroidGattClient final : public esp32_ble_tracker::ESPBTClient, public
   ble_device_base::GattServiceTable get_service_table() { return {}; }
   void release_services();
 
-#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   /// In-place service streamer (the proxy wrapper detects and prefers it):
   /// builds one api response batch directly from Bluedroid's cached database,
   /// so the streaming peak is the response itself - the old esp32 model.
diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_hub.cpp b/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_hub.cpp
index 8707637e9d9..50267e7c731 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_hub.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_hub.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 // request; timeouts, disconnects and errors raise instead of caching.
 #include "bluetooth_connection_hub.h"
 
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 
 #include "esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h"
 #include "esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.h"
@@ -560,4 +560,4 @@ void BluetoothConnection::send_service_for_discovery_() {
 
 }  // namespace esphome::bluetooth_connection
 
-#endif  // BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#endif  // USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_hub.h b/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_hub.h
index 3553f8bf00a..f87d545f7df 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_hub.h
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection_hub.h
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 // The wrapper exists to serve the proxy's API surface; direct consumers
 // drive the backend themselves, so backend-only builds compile this header
 // empty.
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 
 #include "esphome/components/ble_device_base/ble_client_state.h"
 #include "bluetooth_connection_gatt_backend.h"
@@ -271,4 +271,4 @@ static_assert(sizeof(void *) != 4 || sizeof(BluetoothConnection) <= 56,
 
 }  // namespace esphome::bluetooth_connection
 
-#endif  // BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#endif  // USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/__init__.py b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/__init__.py
index cc7aed6be23..95f71fc8eab 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/__init__.py
@@ -208,6 +208,11 @@ async def _connections_to_code(var: cg.MockObj, config: ConfigType) -> None:
     # this define whenever a proxy is present (zero on advertisement-only
     # hubs); sized here so it can never diverge from the loop below.
     cg.add_define("BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS", len(connections))
+    if connections:
+        # Gates the connection and GATT half of the API surface. A proxy
+        # without slots omits FEATURE_ACTIVE_CONNECTIONS, so a client never
+        # sends those requests and their handlers and encoders are dead.
+        cg.add_define("USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS")
     for connection_conf in connections:
         backend = await bluetooth_connection.new_gatt_backend(connection_conf)
         connection = cg.new_Pvariable(connection_conf[CONF_ID])
diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.cpp b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.cpp
index 0cf8483cea8..75830e83ef9 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.cpp
@@ -70,9 +70,10 @@ void BluetoothProxy::send_polled_scanner_state_() {
 #endif  // USE_BLE_SCANNER_STATE_CALLBACK
 
 void BluetoothProxy::setup() {
-  // BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS is 0 on an advertisement-only proxy.
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   this->connections_free_response_.limit = BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS;
   this->connections_free_response_.free = BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS;
+#endif
 
   // Capture the configured scan mode from YAML before any API changes
   this->configured_scan_active_ = this->hub_->scan_active();
@@ -111,7 +112,7 @@ void BluetoothProxy::on_raw_advertisement_(const ble_device_base::RawAdvertiseme
   }
 }
 
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 void BluetoothProxy::log_connection_request_ignored_(BluetoothConnection *connection, ClientState state) {
   ESP_LOGW(TAG, "[%d] [%s] Connection request ignored, state: %s", connection->get_connection_index(),
            connection->address_str(), ble_device_base::client_state_to_string(state));
@@ -120,8 +121,9 @@ void BluetoothProxy::log_connection_request_ignored_(BluetoothConnection *connec
 void BluetoothProxy::log_connection_info_(BluetoothConnection *connection, const char *message) {
   ESP_LOGI(TAG, "[%d] [%s] Connecting %s", connection->get_connection_index(), connection->address_str(), message);
 }
-#endif  // BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#endif  // USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 void BluetoothProxy::log_reply_dropped_(const char *what, uint64_t address) {
   ESP_LOGW(TAG, "%s reply for %012" PRIX64 " dropped, TCP buffer full", what, address);
 }
@@ -146,6 +148,7 @@ void BluetoothProxy::handle_gatt_not_connected_(uint64_t address, uint16_t handl
     this->log_reply_dropped_("Not-connected", address);
   }
 }
+#endif
 
 void BluetoothProxy::log_advertisement_flush_() {
   ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Sent batch of %u BLE advertisements", this->response_.advertisements_len);
@@ -159,7 +162,7 @@ void BluetoothProxy::dump_config() {
   this->get_bluetooth_mac_address_pretty(mac_str);
   const char *mac_out = mac_str[0] != '\0' ? mac_str : "unavailable (adapter not up yet)";
   const char *scan_mode = this->configured_scan_active_ ? "active" : "passive";
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG,
                 "Bluetooth Proxy:\n"
                 "  Active: %s\n"
@@ -177,12 +180,9 @@ void BluetoothProxy::dump_config() {
 #endif
 }
 
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 
-// maybe_unused: in a passive proxy (active: false) MAX is 0, the body is removed, and connection is unused.
-void BluetoothProxy::register_connection([[maybe_unused]] BluetoothConnection *connection) {
-// Guard the always-false comparison (-Wtype-limits) in a passive proxy (active: false), where MAX is 0.
-#if BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS > 0
+void BluetoothProxy::register_connection(BluetoothConnection *connection) {
   if (this->connection_count_ >= BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS) {
     // Cannot happen with codegen-sized registration; a silent drop would
     // surface later as a null proxy_ dereference, so refuse loudly.
@@ -193,7 +193,6 @@ void BluetoothProxy::register_connection([[maybe_unused]] BluetoothConnection *c
   connection->connection_index_ = this->connection_count_;
   this->connections_[this->connection_count_++] = connection;
   connection->proxy_ = this;
-#endif
 }
 
 void BluetoothProxy::log_slot_accounting_mismatch_() { ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Connection slot free-count mismatch, clamped"); }
@@ -549,7 +548,7 @@ void BluetoothProxy::bluetooth_set_connection_params(const api::BluetoothSetConn
   }
 }
 
-#endif  // BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#endif  // USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 
 #ifdef USE_ESP32
 
@@ -592,7 +591,7 @@ void BluetoothProxy::bluetooth_scanner_set_mode(bool active) {
 #endif  // USE_ESP32
 
 void BluetoothProxy::loop() {
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   // Stream pending service-discovery batches every iteration; the streamer
   // handles a vanished API connection itself.
   for (uint8_t i = 0; i < this->connection_count_; i++) {
@@ -606,6 +605,7 @@ void BluetoothProxy::loop() {
     return;
   this->last_advertisement_flush_time_ = now;
 
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   if (this->connections_free_pending_ && this->api_connection_ != nullptr) {
     // Resend a dropped slot-state update, paced by the 100 ms gate so the
     // retry does not hammer the congestion it exists to survive. Every build
@@ -614,9 +614,10 @@ void BluetoothProxy::loop() {
     this->connections_free_pending_ = false;
     this->send_connections_free(this->api_connection_);
   }
+#endif
 
   if (!api::global_api_server->is_connected() || this->api_connection_ == nullptr) {
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
     // The API subscriber is gone: tear down any connections it left behind
     // (disconnect() on an already-disconnecting slot is a no-op).
     for (uint8_t i = 0; i < this->connection_count_; i++) {
@@ -629,7 +630,7 @@ void BluetoothProxy::loop() {
     return;
   }
 
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   // Paced retries of owed per-slot notifications; subscriber swaps clear
   // stale latches before this runs.
   for (uint8_t i = 0; i < this->connection_count_; i++) {
@@ -670,28 +671,10 @@ void BluetoothProxy::loop() {
   this->flush_pending_advertisements_();
 }
 
-#ifndef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
-
-// Advertisement-only proxy: no connection backend on this platform, or
-// active: false. get_feature_flags() then omits FEATURE_ACTIVE_CONNECTIONS,
-// so a client treats the proxy as passive and never sends a connection or
-// GATT request. These exist only because the api layer dispatches them
-// unconditionally; answering would link response encoders this build has no
-// use for.
-
-void BluetoothProxy::bluetooth_device_request(const api::BluetoothDeviceRequest &msg) {}
-void BluetoothProxy::bluetooth_gatt_read(const api::BluetoothGATTReadRequest &msg) {}
-void BluetoothProxy::bluetooth_gatt_write(const api::BluetoothGATTWriteRequest &msg) {}
-void BluetoothProxy::bluetooth_gatt_read_descriptor(const api::BluetoothGATTReadDescriptorRequest &msg) {}
-void BluetoothProxy::bluetooth_gatt_write_descriptor(const api::BluetoothGATTWriteDescriptorRequest &msg) {}
-void BluetoothProxy::bluetooth_gatt_send_services(const api::BluetoothGATTGetServicesRequest &msg) {}
-void BluetoothProxy::bluetooth_gatt_notify(const api::BluetoothGATTNotifyRequest &msg) {}
-void BluetoothProxy::bluetooth_set_connection_params(const api::BluetoothSetConnectionParamsRequest &msg) {}
-
-#endif  // !BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
-
 void BluetoothProxy::reset_owed_replies_() {
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   this->connections_free_pending_ = false;
+#endif
 #ifdef USE_BLE_SCANNER_STATE_CALLBACK
   // Owed on unsubscribe; on subscribe the trailing send_scanner_state_()
   // re-drives it from the hub, so clearing it there is free.
@@ -703,7 +686,7 @@ void BluetoothProxy::reset_owed_replies_() {
   // detector runs, and a re-subscribe re-arms this anyway.
   this->last_scan_running_ = !this->hub_->scan_running();
 #endif
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   this->pending_unpairing_.clear();
   this->pending_disconnections_.fill({});
   for (uint8_t i = 0; i < this->connection_count_; i++) {
@@ -752,6 +735,7 @@ void BluetoothProxy::unsubscribe_api_connection(api::APIConnection *api_connecti
   this->reset_owed_replies_();
 }
 
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 void BluetoothProxy::send_connections_free() {
   if (this->api_connection_ != nullptr) {
     this->send_connections_free(this->api_connection_);
@@ -797,7 +781,6 @@ bool BluetoothProxy::send_gatt_error(uint64_t address, uint16_t handle, conn_err
   return this->api_connection_->send_message(call);
 }
 
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
 void BluetoothProxy::send_device_pairing(uint64_t address, bool paired, conn_err_t error) {
   if (this->api_connection_ == nullptr)
     return;
@@ -859,7 +842,7 @@ void BluetoothProxy::send_device_clear_cache(uint64_t address, bool success, con
     this->log_reply_dropped_("Clear-cache", address);
   }
 }
-#endif
+#endif  // USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 
 BluetoothProxy *global_bluetooth_proxy = nullptr;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.h b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.h
index de70b35aafb..e5f3a259a11 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.h
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ using bluetooth_connection::DONE_SENDING_SERVICES;
 using bluetooth_connection::INIT_SENDING_SERVICES;
 using bluetooth_connection::SERVICES_DONE_PENDING;
 
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 using BluetoothConnection = bluetooth_connection::BluetoothConnection;
 using ClientState = ble_device_base::ClientState;
 #endif
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ enum BluetoothProxySubscriptionFlag : uint32_t {
   SUBSCRIPTION_RAW_ADVERTISEMENTS = 1 << 0,
 };
 
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 /// One owed address-keyed reply in a single word: 48-bit address low, 16-bit
 /// error on top. Every error that reaches it fits int16_t.
 class PendingReply {
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ static_assert(PendingReply{}.empty());
 #endif
 
 class BluetoothProxy final : public Component {
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   // Allow the connection to update connections_free_response_
   friend bluetooth_connection::BluetoothConnection;
 #endif
@@ -109,9 +109,9 @@ class BluetoothProxy final : public Component {
   void setup() override;
   void loop() override;
 
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   void register_connection(BluetoothConnection *connection);
-#endif  // BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#endif  // USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 #ifndef USE_ESP32
   // Run after the hub's setup() (the trackers use AFTER_WIFI): setup() below
   // snapshots scan_active()/scan_running() and installs the raw callback, and
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ class BluetoothProxy final : public Component {
   float get_setup_priority() const override { return setup_priority::AFTER_WIFI - 1.0f; }
 #endif  // !USE_ESP32
 
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   void bluetooth_device_request(const api::BluetoothDeviceRequest &msg);
   void bluetooth_gatt_read(const api::BluetoothGATTReadRequest &msg);
   void bluetooth_gatt_write(const api::BluetoothGATTWriteRequest &msg);
@@ -128,6 +129,7 @@ class BluetoothProxy final : public Component {
   void bluetooth_gatt_send_services(const api::BluetoothGATTGetServicesRequest &msg);
   void bluetooth_gatt_notify(const api::BluetoothGATTNotifyRequest &msg);
   void bluetooth_set_connection_params(const api::BluetoothSetConnectionParamsRequest &msg);
+#endif
 
   void subscribe_api_connection(api::APIConnection *api_connection, uint32_t flags);
   void unsubscribe_api_connection(api::APIConnection *api_connection);
@@ -137,6 +139,7 @@ class BluetoothProxy final : public Component {
     return this->api_connection_ != nullptr && this->api_connection_->client_supports_api_version(1, 12);
   }
 
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   /// False only when a subscriber refused the frame; true = delivered or
   /// nobody subscribed. Refusals latch in send_device_disconnected_() and
   /// send_connected_reply_(); other callers report via log_reply_dropped_().
@@ -147,7 +150,6 @@ class BluetoothProxy final : public Component {
   bool send_gatt_services_done(uint64_t address);
   /// False only when the API refused the frame, so the reply is still owed.
   bool send_gatt_error(uint64_t address, uint16_t handle, conn_err_t error);
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
   void send_device_pairing(uint64_t address, bool paired, conn_err_t error = CONN_OK);
   /// No default error: the drain rebuilds success as (error == CONN_OK), so a
   /// caller that omitted it would have a reported failure resent as a success.
@@ -243,22 +245,17 @@ class BluetoothProxy final : public Component {
   }
   void log_advertisement_flush_();
 
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   BluetoothConnection *get_connection_(uint64_t address, bool reserve);
   void log_connection_request_ignored_(BluetoothConnection *connection, ClientState state);
   void log_connection_info_(BluetoothConnection *connection, const char *message);
-#endif
   void log_not_connected_gatt_(const char *action, const char *type);
   void handle_gatt_not_connected_(uint64_t address, uint16_t handle, const char *action, const char *type);
 
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
   /// Keep the pre-allocated connections-free message in step when a
   /// connection slot changes address (0 = free). Called from the connection
   /// classes' set_address().
-  // maybe_unused + guard: in a passive proxy (active: false) MAX is 0, the
-  // body is removed, and the free < MAX compare would trip -Wtype-limits.
-  void update_address_slot_([[maybe_unused]] uint64_t old_address, [[maybe_unused]] uint64_t new_address) {
-#if BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS > 0
+  void update_address_slot_(uint64_t old_address, uint64_t new_address) {
     auto &resp = this->connections_free_response_;
     if (new_address == 0 && old_address != 0) {
       if (resp.free < BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS) {
@@ -275,7 +272,6 @@ class BluetoothProxy final : public Component {
       }
       this->replace_allocated_slot_(0, new_address);
     }
-#endif  // BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS > 0
   }
   void replace_allocated_slot_(uint64_t find_value, uint64_t set_value);
   void log_slot_accounting_mismatch_();
@@ -305,18 +301,20 @@ class BluetoothProxy final : public Component {
   /// Drops state only, never sends: api_connection_ is the departing
   /// subscriber on subscribe and nullptr on unsubscribe.
   void reset_owed_replies_();
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   /// Report a reply we deliberately do not latch, so no drop is silent.
   void log_reply_dropped_(const char *what, uint64_t address);
   /// A latched reply's leading edge; the drain's re-refusals stay quiet.
   void log_reply_deferred_(const char *what, uint64_t address);
   /// A latched reply lost to a newer one for a different address.
   void log_reply_displaced_(const char *what, uint64_t owed, uint64_t address);
+#endif
 
   // Memory optimized layout for 32-bit systems
   // Group 1: Pointers (4 bytes each, naturally aligned)
   api::APIConnection *api_connection_{nullptr};
 
-#ifdef BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   // Group 2: Fixed-size array of connection pointers
   std::array<BluetoothConnection *, BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS> connections_{};
   // Address-keyed pool of owed freed-slot notifications; loop() resends.
@@ -336,16 +334,20 @@ class BluetoothProxy final : public Component {
   // BLE advertisement batching
   api::BluetoothLERawAdvertisementsResponse response_;
 
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   // Pre-allocated response message - always ready to send
   api::BluetoothConnectionsFreeResponse connections_free_response_;
+#endif
 
   // Group 4: 1-byte types grouped together
   bool active_;
+#ifdef USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
   // A dropped send (full TCP buffer) would leave the API client with a stale
   // slot state forever; the cached response is current by construction, so
   // retrying it from loop() is an idempotent resync.
   bool connections_free_pending_{false};
   uint8_t connection_count_{0};
+#endif
   bool configured_scan_active_{false};  // Configured scan mode from YAML
 #ifdef USE_BLE_SCANNER_STATE_CALLBACK
   // A dropped push (full TX buffer) is re-queried from the hub and resent
diff --git a/esphome/core/defines.h b/esphome/core/defines.h
index 21cea317497..26b9025d967 100644
--- a/esphome/core/defines.h
+++ b/esphome/core/defines.h
@@ -267,8 +267,10 @@
 #ifdef USE_ESP32
 #define USE_BLE_SCANNER_STATE_CALLBACK
 #define BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS 3
+#define USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 #elif defined(USE_RP2)
 #define BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS 3
+#define USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS
 #else
 #define BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS 0
 #endif
diff --git a/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py b/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
index 451cd9ac1ff..f4eff4a254b 100755
--- a/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
+++ b/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
@@ -2401,7 +2401,10 @@ def get_varint64_ifdef(
         # At least one 64-bit varint field is unconditional, so the guard must be unconditional.
         return True, None
     ifdefs.discard(None)
-    return True, ifdefs.pop() if len(ifdefs) == 1 else None
+    # Several guards: the define is needed under any of them, so emit the union.
+    # Falling back to unconditional would pull 64-bit varint support into builds
+    # that have none of them.
+    return True, " || ".join(sorted(ifdefs))
 
 
 def build_enum_type(desc, enum_ifdef_map) -> tuple[str, str, str]:
diff --git a/tests/components/bluetooth_connection/__init__.py b/tests/components/bluetooth_connection/__init__.py
index eb6e174c0cd..9c1ad4e74d4 100644
--- a/tests/components/bluetooth_connection/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/components/bluetooth_connection/__init__.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from tests.testing_helpers import ComponentManifestOverride
 
 
 def override_manifest(manifest: ComponentManifestOverride) -> None:
-    # close_service_batch compiles only under BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT;
+    # close_service_batch compiles only under USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS;
     # emit the backend define so the host build exercises it.
     async def to_code_testing(config):
         # These defines are global to the merged host test binary; safe
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ def override_manifest(manifest: ComponentManifestOverride) -> None:
         cg.add_define("USE_BLE_GATT_CLIENT")
         cg.add_define("USE_BLE_GATT_CLIENT_STUB_BACKEND")
         cg.add_define("USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY")
+        # Gates the connection half of the API surface, which is what
+        # close_service_batch and the GATT response types live behind.
+        cg.add_define("USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS")
         cg.add_define("BLUETOOTH_PROXY_ADVERTISEMENT_BATCH_SIZE", 16)
         cg.add_define("BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS", 1)
 
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/components/api/test_api_protobuf_generator.py b/tests/unit_tests/components/api/test_api_protobuf_generator.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2a07cbd49c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/components/api/test_api_protobuf_generator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+"""Unit tests for script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py generator logic.
+
+ci-api-proto.yml only checks that the committed output matches what the
+generator currently produces, so a semantic regression in the generator would
+be committed and matched without anything failing. These tests pin the
+semantics directly.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+import sys
+
+import pytest
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).parents[4] / "script" / "api_protobuf"))
+
+from api_protobuf import _make_ifdef_line, get_varint64_ifdef  # noqa: E402
+from google.protobuf import descriptor_pb2  # noqa: E402
+
+
+def _file_with_messages(
+    *messages: tuple[str, int, bool],
+) -> descriptor_pb2.FileDescriptorProto:
+    """Build a FileDescriptorProto with one single-field message per entry.
+
+    Each entry is (message_name, field_type, deprecated).
+    """
+    file_desc = descriptor_pb2.FileDescriptorProto(name="test.proto")
+    for name, field_type, deprecated in messages:
+        msg = file_desc.message_type.add(name=name)
+        field = msg.field.add(name="value", number=1, type=field_type)
+        field.options.deprecated = deprecated
+    return file_desc
+
+
+UINT64 = descriptor_pb2.FieldDescriptorProto.TYPE_UINT64
+INT64 = descriptor_pb2.FieldDescriptorProto.TYPE_INT64
+SINT64 = descriptor_pb2.FieldDescriptorProto.TYPE_SINT64
+UINT32 = descriptor_pb2.FieldDescriptorProto.TYPE_UINT32
+FIXED64 = descriptor_pb2.FieldDescriptorProto.TYPE_FIXED64
+
+
+def test_no_varint64_fields() -> None:
+    file_desc = _file_with_messages(("A", UINT32, False), ("B", FIXED64, False))
+    assert get_varint64_ifdef(file_desc, {}) == (False, None)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("field_type", [UINT64, INT64, SINT64])
+def test_single_guard_is_kept(field_type: int) -> None:
+    file_desc = _file_with_messages(("A", field_type, False))
+    assert get_varint64_ifdef(file_desc, {"A": "USE_X"}) == (True, "USE_X")
+
+
+def test_two_guards_emit_the_union() -> None:
+    # The regression this pins: multiple guards used to collapse to
+    # unconditional, pulling 64-bit varint support into unrelated builds.
+    file_desc = _file_with_messages(("A", UINT64, False), ("B", INT64, False))
+    guards = {"A": "USE_X", "B": "USE_Y"}
+    assert get_varint64_ifdef(file_desc, guards) == (True, "USE_X || USE_Y")
+
+
+def test_union_is_sorted_for_deterministic_output() -> None:
+    file_desc = _file_with_messages(("B", UINT64, False), ("A", INT64, False))
+    guards = {"B": "USE_Y", "A": "USE_X"}
+    assert get_varint64_ifdef(file_desc, guards) == (True, "USE_X || USE_Y")
+
+
+def test_any_unconditional_message_wins() -> None:
+    file_desc = _file_with_messages(("A", UINT64, False), ("B", INT64, False))
+    assert get_varint64_ifdef(file_desc, {"A": "USE_X"}) == (True, None)
+
+
+def test_deprecated_fields_and_messages_are_ignored() -> None:
+    file_desc = _file_with_messages(("A", UINT64, True), ("B", INT64, False))
+    file_desc.message_type[1].options.deprecated = True
+    assert get_varint64_ifdef(file_desc, {"A": "USE_X", "B": "USE_Y"}) == (False, None)
+
+
+def test_make_ifdef_line_simple_identifier() -> None:
+    assert _make_ifdef_line("USE_X") == "#ifdef USE_X"
+
+
+def test_make_ifdef_line_union_wraps_each_identifier() -> None:
+    # The second half of the varint64 union guard: compound conditions must
+    # become #if defined(A) || defined(B), never #ifdef of the raw string.
+    assert _make_ifdef_line("USE_X || USE_Y") == "#if defined(USE_X) || defined(USE_Y)"
+
+
+def test_make_ifdef_line_conjunction_and_negation() -> None:
+    assert (
+        _make_ifdef_line("USE_X && !USE_Y") == "#if defined(USE_X) && !defined(USE_Y)"
+    )