diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp
index 07bd3f8a64..d9d3737791 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ namespace esphome::esp32_ble_client {
 
 static const char *const TAG = "esp32_ble_client";
 
+// Default connection parameters matching ESP-IDF's BTM_BLE_CONN_INT_*_DEF
+// These are conservative values that work well with most devices
+static const uint16_t DEFAULT_MIN_CONN_INTERVAL = 0x0A;  // 10 * 1.25ms = 12.5ms
+static const uint16_t DEFAULT_MAX_CONN_INTERVAL = 0x0C;  // 12 * 1.25ms = 15ms
+static const uint16_t DEFAULT_CONN_TIMEOUT = 600;        // 600 * 10ms = 6s
+
 // Intermediate connection parameters for standard operation
 // ESP-IDF defaults (12.5-15ms) are too slow for stable connections through WiFi-based BLE proxies,
 // causing disconnections. These medium parameters balance responsiveness with bandwidth usage.
@@ -111,8 +117,12 @@ void BLEClientBase::connect() {
            this->remote_addr_type_);
   this->paired_ = false;
 
-  // Open the connection without setting connection parameters
-  // Parameters will be set after connection is established if needed
+  // Set default connection parameters before connecting
+  // This ensures we use conservative parameters that work well with weak signal devices
+  // rather than potentially aggressive parameters from a previous connection
+  this->set_default_conn_params_();
+
+  // Open the connection with default parameters
   auto ret = esp_ble_gattc_open(this->gattc_if_, this->remote_bda_, this->remote_addr_type_, true);
   if (ret) {
     this->log_gattc_warning_("esp_ble_gattc_open", ret);
@@ -215,8 +225,8 @@ void BLEClientBase::log_warning_(const char *message) {
   ESP_LOGW(TAG, "[%d] [%s] %s", this->connection_index_, this->address_str_.c_str(), message);
 }
 
-void BLEClientBase::set_conn_params_(uint16_t min_interval, uint16_t max_interval, uint16_t latency, uint16_t timeout,
-                                     const char *param_type) {
+void BLEClientBase::update_conn_params_(uint16_t min_interval, uint16_t max_interval, uint16_t latency,
+                                        uint16_t timeout, const char *param_type) {
   esp_ble_conn_update_params_t conn_params = {{0}};
   memcpy(conn_params.bda, this->remote_bda_, sizeof(esp_bd_addr_t));
   conn_params.min_int = min_interval;
@@ -230,16 +240,33 @@ void BLEClientBase::set_conn_params_(uint16_t min_interval, uint16_t max_interva
   }
 }
 
+void BLEClientBase::set_conn_params_(uint16_t min_interval, uint16_t max_interval, uint16_t latency, uint16_t timeout,
+                                     const char *param_type) {
+  // Set preferred connection parameters before connecting
+  // These will be used when establishing the connection
+  this->log_connection_params_(param_type);
+  esp_err_t err = esp_ble_gap_set_prefer_conn_params(this->remote_bda_, min_interval, max_interval, latency, timeout);
+  if (err != ESP_OK) {
+    this->log_gattc_warning_("esp_ble_gap_set_prefer_conn_params", err);
+  }
+}
+
 void BLEClientBase::set_fast_conn_params_() {
   // Switch to fast connection parameters for service discovery
   // This improves discovery speed for devices with short timeouts
-  this->set_conn_params_(FAST_MIN_CONN_INTERVAL, FAST_MAX_CONN_INTERVAL, 0, FAST_CONN_TIMEOUT, "fast");
+  this->update_conn_params_(FAST_MIN_CONN_INTERVAL, FAST_MAX_CONN_INTERVAL, 0, FAST_CONN_TIMEOUT, "fast");
 }
 
 void BLEClientBase::set_medium_conn_params_() {
   // Set medium connection parameters for balanced performance
   // This balances performance with bandwidth usage for normal operation
-  this->set_conn_params_(MEDIUM_MIN_CONN_INTERVAL, MEDIUM_MAX_CONN_INTERVAL, 0, MEDIUM_CONN_TIMEOUT, "medium");
+  this->update_conn_params_(MEDIUM_MIN_CONN_INTERVAL, MEDIUM_MAX_CONN_INTERVAL, 0, MEDIUM_CONN_TIMEOUT, "medium");
+}
+
+void BLEClientBase::set_default_conn_params_() {
+  // Set default connection parameters before connecting
+  // These conservative values work well with most devices including weak signal ones
+  this->set_conn_params_(DEFAULT_MIN_CONN_INTERVAL, DEFAULT_MAX_CONN_INTERVAL, 0, DEFAULT_CONN_TIMEOUT, "default");
 }
 
 bool BLEClientBase::gattc_event_handler(esp_gattc_cb_event_t event, esp_gatt_if_t esp_gattc_if,
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.h b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.h
index d6eea0ff93..4fd1b28f19 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.h
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.h
@@ -133,10 +133,13 @@ class BLEClientBase : public espbt::ESPBTClient, public Component {
 
   void log_event_(const char *name);
   void log_gattc_event_(const char *name);
+  void update_conn_params_(uint16_t min_interval, uint16_t max_interval, uint16_t latency, uint16_t timeout,
+                           const char *param_type);
   void set_conn_params_(uint16_t min_interval, uint16_t max_interval, uint16_t latency, uint16_t timeout,
                         const char *param_type);
   void set_fast_conn_params_();
   void set_medium_conn_params_();
+  void set_default_conn_params_();
   void log_gattc_warning_(const char *operation, esp_gatt_status_t status);
   void log_gattc_warning_(const char *operation, esp_err_t err);
   void log_connection_params_(const char *param_type);