diff --git a/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp b/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
index 56806f2fa4..f463e87996 100644
--- a/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
@@ -98,47 +98,6 @@ void HOT Scheduler::set_timer_common_(Component *component, SchedulerItem::Type
   // Take lock early to protect scheduler_item_pool_ access
   LockGuard guard{this->lock_};
 
-  // Optimization: if we're updating a timeout that hasn't been added to heap yet, just update it in-place
-  // This avoids allocating a new item and cancelling/re-adding
-  if (type == SchedulerItem::TIMEOUT && !skip_cancel && name_cstr != nullptr) {
-#ifndef ESPHOME_THREAD_SINGLE
-    // Multi-threaded: defers go to defer_queue_
-    if (delay == 0 && this->try_update_defer_in_container_(this->defer_queue_, component, name_cstr, std::move(func))) {
-      return;
-    }
-#endif
-
-    // Check if we can update an existing timeout in to_add_
-    if (!this->to_add_.empty()) {
-      auto &last_item = this->to_add_.back();
-      // Check if last item in to_add_ matches and can be updated
-      if (last_item->component == component && last_item->type == SchedulerItem::TIMEOUT &&
-          !is_item_removed_(last_item.get()) && this->names_match_(last_item->get_name(), name_cstr)) {
-#ifdef ESPHOME_THREAD_SINGLE
-        // Single-threaded: defers can be in to_add_, only update callback
-        if (delay == 0 && last_item->interval == 0) {
-          last_item->callback = std::move(func);
-#ifdef ESPHOME_DEBUG_SCHEDULER
-          ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Updated existing defer in to_add_ for '%s/%s'", component->get_component_source(),
-                   name_cstr ? name_cstr : "(null)");
-#endif
-          return;
-        }
-#endif
-        // For regular timeouts, update callback and execution time
-        if (delay != 0) {
-          last_item->callback = std::move(func);
-          last_item->next_execution_ = now + delay;
-#ifdef ESPHOME_DEBUG_SCHEDULER
-          ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Updated existing timeout in to_add_ for '%s/%s'", component->get_component_source(),
-                   name_cstr ? name_cstr : "(null)");
-#endif
-          return;
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
   // Create and populate the scheduler item
   std::unique_ptr<SchedulerItem> item;
   if (!this->scheduler_item_pool_.empty()) {
diff --git a/esphome/core/scheduler.h b/esphome/core/scheduler.h
index ceb47e294c..e241e7a4ec 100644
--- a/esphome/core/scheduler.h
+++ b/esphome/core/scheduler.h
@@ -309,28 +309,6 @@ class Scheduler {
     return cancelled;
   }
 
-  // Template helper to try updating a defer in a container instead of allocating a new one
-  // Returns true if the defer was updated, false if not found
-  template<typename Container>
-  bool try_update_defer_in_container_(Container &container, Component *component, const char *name_cstr,
-                                      std::function<void()> &&func) {
-    if (container.empty()) {
-      return false;
-    }
-
-    auto &last_item = container.back();
-
-    // Check if last item is a matching defer (timeout with 0 delay) and names match
-    if (last_item->component != component || last_item->type != SchedulerItem::TIMEOUT || last_item->interval != 0 ||
-        is_item_removed_(last_item.get()) || !this->names_match_(last_item->get_name(), name_cstr)) {
-      return false;
-    }
-
-    // Same defer at the end - just update the callback, no allocation needed
-    last_item->callback = std::move(func);
-    return true;
-  }
-
   Mutex lock_;
   std::vector<std::unique_ptr<SchedulerItem>> items_;
   std::vector<std::unique_ptr<SchedulerItem>> to_add_;