diff --git a/esphome/components/captive_portal/captive_portal.cpp b/esphome/components/captive_portal/captive_portal.cpp
index b70fa4d0ca..459ac557c8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/captive_portal/captive_portal.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/captive_portal/captive_portal.cpp
@@ -51,11 +51,7 @@ void CaptivePortal::handle_wifisave(AsyncWebServerRequest *request) {
   ESP_LOGI(TAG, "  SSID='%s'", ssid.c_str());
   ESP_LOGI(TAG, "  Password=" LOG_SECRET("'%s'"), psk.c_str());
   // Defer save to main loop thread to avoid NVS operations from HTTP thread
-  this->defer([ssid, psk]() {
-    wifi::global_wifi_component->save_wifi_sta(ssid, psk);
-    // Trigger connection attempt (exits cooldown if needed)
-    wifi::global_wifi_component->connect_soon();
-  });
+  this->defer([ssid, psk]() { wifi::global_wifi_component->save_wifi_sta(ssid, psk); });
   request->redirect(ESPHOME_F("/?save"));
 }
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_improv/esp32_improv_component.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_improv/esp32_improv_component.cpp
index c456ad7d33..398b1d4251 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_improv/esp32_improv_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_improv/esp32_improv_component.cpp
@@ -381,8 +381,6 @@ void ESP32ImprovComponent::check_wifi_connection_() {
 
   if (this->state_ == improv::STATE_PROVISIONING) {
     wifi::global_wifi_component->save_wifi_sta(this->connecting_sta_.get_ssid(), this->connecting_sta_.get_password());
-    // Trigger connection attempt (exits cooldown if needed, no-op if already connected)
-    wifi::global_wifi_component->connect_soon();
     this->connecting_sta_ = {};
     this->cancel_timeout("wifi-connect-timeout");
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/improv_serial/improv_serial_component.cpp b/esphome/components/improv_serial/improv_serial_component.cpp
index 51f8c8b839..70260eeab3 100644
--- a/esphome/components/improv_serial/improv_serial_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/improv_serial/improv_serial_component.cpp
@@ -50,8 +50,6 @@ void ImprovSerialComponent::loop() {
     if (wifi::global_wifi_component->is_connected()) {
       wifi::global_wifi_component->save_wifi_sta(this->connecting_sta_.get_ssid(),
                                                  this->connecting_sta_.get_password());
-      // Trigger connection attempt (exits cooldown if needed, no-op if already connected)
-      wifi::global_wifi_component->connect_soon();
       this->connecting_sta_ = {};
       this->cancel_timeout("wifi-connect-timeout");
       this->set_state_(improv::STATE_PROVISIONED);
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
index 401c60267e..5adc0c0489 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
@@ -674,6 +674,9 @@ void WiFiComponent::save_wifi_sta(const std::string &ssid, const std::string &pa
   // Force scan on next attempt even if captive portal is still active
   // This ensures new credentials are tried with proper BSSID selection after provisioning
   this->force_scan_after_provision_ = true;
+
+  // Trigger connection attempt (exits cooldown if needed, no-op if already connecting/connected)
+  this->connect_soon();
 }
 
 void WiFiComponent::connect_soon() {