diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32/__init__.py b/esphome/components/esp32/__init__.py
index a30e4fd1b7..cb6354cc74 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32/__init__.py
@@ -552,6 +552,30 @@ CONF_ENABLE_LWIP_CHECK_THREAD_SAFETY = "enable_lwip_check_thread_safety"
 CONF_DISABLE_LIBC_LOCKS_IN_IRAM = "disable_libc_locks_in_iram"
 CONF_DISABLE_VFS_SUPPORT_TERMIOS = "disable_vfs_support_termios"
 CONF_DISABLE_VFS_SUPPORT_SELECT = "disable_vfs_support_select"
+CONF_DISABLE_VFS_SUPPORT_DIR = "disable_vfs_support_dir"
+
+# VFS requirement tracking
+# Components that need VFS features can call require_vfs_select() or require_vfs_dir()
+KEY_VFS_SELECT_REQUIRED = "vfs_select_required"
+KEY_VFS_DIR_REQUIRED = "vfs_dir_required"
+
+
+def require_vfs_select() -> None:
+    """Mark that VFS select support is required by a component.
+
+    Call this from components that use esp_vfs_eventfd or other VFS select features.
+    This prevents CONFIG_VFS_SUPPORT_SELECT from being disabled.
+    """
+    CORE.data[KEY_VFS_SELECT_REQUIRED] = True
+
+
+def require_vfs_dir() -> None:
+    """Mark that VFS directory support is required by a component.
+
+    Call this from components that use directory functions (opendir, readdir, mkdir, etc.).
+    This prevents CONFIG_VFS_SUPPORT_DIR from being disabled.
+    """
+    CORE.data[KEY_VFS_DIR_REQUIRED] = True
 
 
 def _validate_idf_component(config: ConfigType) -> ConfigType:
@@ -623,6 +647,7 @@ FRAMEWORK_SCHEMA = cv.All(
                     cv.Optional(
                         CONF_DISABLE_VFS_SUPPORT_SELECT, default=True
                     ): cv.boolean,
+                    cv.Optional(CONF_DISABLE_VFS_SUPPORT_DIR, default=True): cv.boolean,
                     cv.Optional(CONF_EXECUTE_FROM_PSRAM): cv.boolean,
                 }
             ),
@@ -980,12 +1005,32 @@ async def to_code(config):
 
     # Disable VFS support for select() with file descriptors
     # ESPHome only uses select() with sockets via lwip_select(), which still works.
-    # VFS select is only needed for UART/eventfd file descriptors, which ESPHome doesn't use.
+    # VFS select is only needed for UART/eventfd file descriptors.
+    # Components that need it (e.g., openthread) call require_vfs_select().
     # Saves approximately 2.7KB of flash when disabled (default).
-    add_idf_sdkconfig_option(
-        "CONFIG_VFS_SUPPORT_SELECT",
-        not advanced.get(CONF_DISABLE_VFS_SUPPORT_SELECT, True),
-    )
+    if CORE.data.get(KEY_VFS_SELECT_REQUIRED, False):
+        # Component requires VFS select - force enable regardless of user setting
+        add_idf_sdkconfig_option("CONFIG_VFS_SUPPORT_SELECT", True)
+    else:
+        # No component needs it - allow user to control (default: disabled)
+        add_idf_sdkconfig_option(
+            "CONFIG_VFS_SUPPORT_SELECT",
+            not advanced.get(CONF_DISABLE_VFS_SUPPORT_SELECT, True),
+        )
+
+    # Disable VFS support for directory functions (opendir, readdir, mkdir, etc.)
+    # ESPHome doesn't use directory functions on ESP32.
+    # Components that need it (e.g., storage components) call require_vfs_dir().
+    # Saves approximately 0.5KB+ of flash when disabled (default).
+    if CORE.data.get(KEY_VFS_DIR_REQUIRED, False):
+        # Component requires VFS directory support - force enable regardless of user setting
+        add_idf_sdkconfig_option("CONFIG_VFS_SUPPORT_DIR", True)
+    else:
+        # No component needs it - allow user to control (default: disabled)
+        add_idf_sdkconfig_option(
+            "CONFIG_VFS_SUPPORT_DIR",
+            not advanced.get(CONF_DISABLE_VFS_SUPPORT_DIR, True),
+        )
 
     cg.add_platformio_option("board_build.partitions", "partitions.csv")
     if CONF_PARTITIONS in config:
diff --git a/esphome/components/openthread/__init__.py b/esphome/components/openthread/__init__.py
index 3fac497c3d..5277455eca 100644
--- a/esphome/components/openthread/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/openthread/__init__.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from esphome.components.esp32 import (
     VARIANT_ESP32H2,
     add_idf_sdkconfig_option,
     only_on_variant,
+    require_vfs_select,
 )
 from esphome.components.mdns import MDNSComponent, enable_mdns_storage
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
@@ -141,6 +142,9 @@ FINAL_VALIDATE_SCHEMA = _final_validate
 async def to_code(config):
     cg.add_define("USE_OPENTHREAD")
 
+    # OpenThread uses esp_vfs_eventfd which requires VFS select support
+    require_vfs_select()
+
     # OpenThread SRP needs access to mDNS services after setup
     enable_mdns_storage()