diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/core/test_config.py b/tests/unit_tests/core/test_config.py
index 921863e2bc..7d3b90794b 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/core/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/core/test_config.py
@@ -852,118 +852,3 @@ async def test_add_includes_overwrites_existing_files(
     mock_copy_file_if_changed.assert_called_once_with(
         str(include_file), str(Path(CORE.build_path) / "src" / "header.h")
     )
-
-
-# Tests for skip_external_update functionality
-
-
-@patch("esphome.yaml_util.load_yaml")
-@patch("esphome.components.packages.do_packages_pass")
-@patch("esphome.components.external_components.do_external_components_pass")
-def test_validate_config_skip_update_true(
-    mock_ext_pass: MagicMock, mock_pkg_pass: MagicMock, mock_load_yaml: MagicMock
-) -> None:
-    """Test that validate_config propagates skip_update=True."""
-    from esphome.config import validate_config
-    from esphome.const import CONF_EXTERNAL_COMPONENTS, CONF_PACKAGES
-
-    config_dict: dict[str, Any] = {
-        CONF_ESPHOME: {CONF_NAME: "test"},
-        CONF_PACKAGES: {"test": {}},
-        CONF_EXTERNAL_COMPONENTS: [{}],
-    }
-
-    # Mock do_packages_pass to return config unchanged
-    mock_pkg_pass.side_effect = lambda c, **kwargs: c
-
-    # Call validate_config with skip_external_update=True
-    validate_config(config_dict, {}, skip_external_update=True)
-
-    # Verify both were called with skip_update=True
-    mock_pkg_pass.assert_called_once()
-    assert mock_pkg_pass.call_args.kwargs.get("skip_update") is True
-
-    mock_ext_pass.assert_called_once()
-    assert mock_ext_pass.call_args.kwargs.get("skip_update") is True
-
-
-@patch("esphome.yaml_util.load_yaml")
-@patch("esphome.components.packages.do_packages_pass")
-@patch("esphome.components.external_components.do_external_components_pass")
-def test_validate_config_skip_update_false(
-    mock_ext_pass: MagicMock, mock_pkg_pass: MagicMock, mock_load_yaml: MagicMock
-) -> None:
-    """Test that validate_config propagates skip_update=False."""
-    from esphome.config import validate_config
-    from esphome.const import CONF_EXTERNAL_COMPONENTS, CONF_PACKAGES
-
-    config_dict: dict[str, Any] = {
-        CONF_ESPHOME: {CONF_NAME: "test"},
-        CONF_PACKAGES: {"test": {}},
-        CONF_EXTERNAL_COMPONENTS: [{}],
-    }
-
-    # Mock do_packages_pass to return config unchanged
-    mock_pkg_pass.side_effect = lambda c, **kwargs: c
-
-    # Call validate_config with skip_external_update=False
-    validate_config(config_dict, {}, skip_external_update=False)
-
-    # Verify both were called with skip_update=False
-    mock_pkg_pass.assert_called_once()
-    assert mock_pkg_pass.call_args.kwargs.get("skip_update") is False
-
-    mock_ext_pass.assert_called_once()
-    assert mock_ext_pass.call_args.kwargs.get("skip_update") is False
-
-
-@patch("esphome.yaml_util.load_yaml")
-@patch("esphome.components.packages.do_packages_pass")
-@patch("esphome.components.external_components.do_external_components_pass")
-def test_validate_config_default_false(
-    mock_ext_pass: MagicMock, mock_pkg_pass: MagicMock, mock_load_yaml: MagicMock
-) -> None:
-    """Test that validate_config defaults to skip_update=False."""
-    from esphome.config import validate_config
-    from esphome.const import CONF_EXTERNAL_COMPONENTS, CONF_PACKAGES
-
-    config_dict: dict[str, Any] = {
-        CONF_ESPHOME: {CONF_NAME: "test"},
-        CONF_PACKAGES: {"test": {}},
-        CONF_EXTERNAL_COMPONENTS: [{}],
-    }
-
-    # Mock do_packages_pass to return config unchanged
-    mock_pkg_pass.side_effect = lambda c, **kwargs: c
-
-    # Call validate_config without skip_external_update parameter
-    validate_config(config_dict, {})
-
-    # Verify both were called with skip_update=False (default)
-    mock_pkg_pass.assert_called_once()
-    assert mock_pkg_pass.call_args.kwargs.get("skip_update") is False
-
-    mock_ext_pass.assert_called_once()
-    assert mock_ext_pass.call_args.kwargs.get("skip_update") is False
-
-
-@patch("esphome.config.load_config")
-def test_read_config_skip_update_parameter(mock_load_config: MagicMock) -> None:
-    """Test that read_config passes skip_external_update correctly."""
-    from esphome.config import read_config
-
-    # Setup
-    CORE.config_path = "test.yaml"
-    mock_load_config.return_value = MagicMock(errors=[])
-
-    # Test with skip_external_update=True
-    read_config({}, skip_external_update=True)
-    mock_load_config.assert_called_with({}, True)
-
-    # Test with skip_external_update=False
-    read_config({}, skip_external_update=False)
-    mock_load_config.assert_called_with({}, False)
-
-    # Test default (should be False)
-    read_config({})
-    mock_load_config.assert_called_with({}, False)