diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/__init__.py b/esphome/components/wifi/__init__.py
index 76155763fb..c7632a0c6b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/__init__.py
@@ -378,18 +378,19 @@ async def to_code(config):
     # Track if any network uses Enterprise authentication
     has_eap = False
 
-    # Build all WiFiAP objects
+    # Initialize FixedVector with the count of networks
     networks = config.get(CONF_NETWORKS, [])
     if networks:
-        wifi_aps = []
+        cg.add(var.init_sta(len(networks)))
+
+        def add_sta(ap, network):
+            ip_config = network.get(CONF_MANUAL_IP, config.get(CONF_MANUAL_IP))
+            cg.add(var.add_sta(wifi_network(network, ap, ip_config)))
+
         for network in networks:
             if CONF_EAP in network:
                 has_eap = True
-            ip_config = network.get(CONF_MANUAL_IP, config.get(CONF_MANUAL_IP))
-            wifi_aps.append(wifi_network(network, WiFiAP(), ip_config))
-
-        # Set all WiFi networks at once
-        cg.add(var.set_stas(wifi_aps))
+            cg.with_local_variable(network[CONF_ID], WiFiAP(), add_sta, network)
 
     if CONF_AP in config:
         conf = config[CONF_AP]
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
index a7b66114c8..b278e5a386 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
@@ -330,8 +330,13 @@ float WiFiComponent::get_loop_priority() const {
   return 10.0f;  // before other loop components
 }
 
-void WiFiComponent::set_stas(const std::initializer_list<WiFiAP> &aps) { this->sta_ = aps; }
-void WiFiComponent::set_sta(const WiFiAP &ap) { this->set_stas({ap}); }
+void WiFiComponent::init_sta(size_t count) { this->sta_.init(count); }
+void WiFiComponent::add_sta(const WiFiAP &ap) { this->sta_.push_back(ap); }
+void WiFiComponent::set_sta(const WiFiAP &ap) {
+  this->clear_sta();
+  this->init_sta(1);
+  this->add_sta(ap);
+}
 void WiFiComponent::clear_sta() { this->sta_.clear(); }
 void WiFiComponent::save_wifi_sta(const std::string &ssid, const std::string &password) {
   SavedWifiSettings save{};  // zero-initialized - all bytes set to \0, guaranteeing null termination
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
index 0bcfd7445a..42f78dbfac 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
@@ -219,7 +219,8 @@ class WiFiComponent : public Component {
 
   void set_sta(const WiFiAP &ap);
   WiFiAP get_sta() { return this->selected_ap_; }
-  void set_stas(const std::initializer_list<WiFiAP> &aps);
+  void init_sta(size_t count);
+  void add_sta(const WiFiAP &ap);
   void clear_sta();
 
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_AP