diff --git a/esphome/components/bk72xx_ble_tracker/bk72xx_ble_tracker.h b/esphome/components/bk72xx_ble_tracker/bk72xx_ble_tracker.h
index 435e953655..1905e36f94 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bk72xx_ble_tracker/bk72xx_ble_tracker.h
+++ b/esphome/components/bk72xx_ble_tracker/bk72xx_ble_tracker.h
@@ -91,7 +91,9 @@ class BK72xxBLETracker : public Component,
     // controller never solicits scan responses and never merges them; consumers
     // relying on scan-response fields (device names) get them only where the
     // receiver merges per address (Home Assistant does). No GATT client either.
-    return {.active_scan = false, .merges_scan_response = false, .gatt = false};
+    // scan_mode_switch stays false for the same reason: with no active-scan
+    // path there is no mode to switch to.
+    return {.active_scan = false, .merges_scan_response = false, .gatt = false, .scan_mode_switch = false};
   }
   bool request_scan_mode(bool active) override {
     // Passive-only controller: a passive request is already honored, an active
diff --git a/esphome/components/ble_device_base/ble_hub.h b/esphome/components/ble_device_base/ble_hub.h
index 6f7e580975..454478e0eb 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ble_device_base/ble_hub.h
+++ b/esphome/components/ble_device_base/ble_hub.h
@@ -59,6 +59,11 @@ struct HubCapabilities {
   /// GATT client connections are available (today: esp32 only, but a chip SDK
   /// gaining GATT support only has to flip this bit).
   bool gatt;
+  /// request_scan_mode() is honored at runtime. Distinct from active_scan:
+  /// a passive-only controller (bk72xx) can never switch, and a hub may
+  /// support active scanning yet still refuse the runtime switch
+  /// (esp32_ble_tracker drives its mode through its own tracker API).
+  bool scan_mode_switch;
 };
 
 class BLEHub {
@@ -86,9 +91,9 @@ class BLEHub {
   /// picks it up on its next start. The default cannot-change keeps hubs
   /// without a mode switch (and out-of-tree trackers) building unchanged.
   /// Independent of HubCapabilities::active_scan: that bit describes what the
-  /// CONTROLLER can do, this method describes whether the hub exposes a
-  /// runtime switch — a hub may support active scanning and still refuse
-  /// (esp32_ble_tracker drives its mode through its own tracker API).
+  /// CONTROLLER can do; whether this method honors requests is advertised by
+  /// HubCapabilities::scan_mode_switch, so consumers can gate features on the
+  /// switch without probing.
   virtual bool request_scan_mode(bool active) { return false; }
 };
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.h b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.h
index b2db092eb0..fe2a5d8599 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.h
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.h
@@ -242,7 +242,10 @@ class ESP32BLETracker final : public Component,
     this->raw_advertisement_callback_ = callback;
   }
   ble_device_base::HubCapabilities get_capabilities() const override {
-    return {/* active_scan = */ true, /* merges_scan_response = */ true, /* gatt = */ true};
+    // scan_mode_switch is false: the mode is driven through this tracker's own
+    // API (set_scan_active + restart), not the neutral request_scan_mode().
+    return {/* active_scan = */ true, /* merges_scan_response = */ true, /* gatt = */ true,
+            /* scan_mode_switch = */ false};
   }
   void get_adapter_mac(uint8_t out[6]) override;
   bool scan_running() override { return this->scanner_state_ == ScannerState::RUNNING; }
diff --git a/esphome/components/ln882h_ble_tracker/ln882h_ble_tracker.h b/esphome/components/ln882h_ble_tracker/ln882h_ble_tracker.h
index 00f1af16a4..43328a288d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ln882h_ble_tracker/ln882h_ble_tracker.h
+++ b/esphome/components/ln882h_ble_tracker/ln882h_ble_tracker.h
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@ class LN882HBLETracker : public Component,
     // The LN882H controller supports active scanning; adv + scan response arrive
     // as separate reports and are merged by this tracker (Bluedroid semantics).
     // The SDK's GATT client is not exposed.
-    return {.active_scan = true, .merges_scan_response = true, .gatt = false};
+    // scan_mode_switch: request_scan_mode() is implemented (restart-if-running).
+    return {.active_scan = true, .merges_scan_response = true, .gatt = false, .scan_mode_switch = true};
   }
   // The controller stores the address LSB-first (BLE convention); the contract
   // wants printable (MSB-first) order.
diff --git a/esphome/components/rp2_ble_tracker/rp2_ble_tracker.h b/esphome/components/rp2_ble_tracker/rp2_ble_tracker.h
index 4806f599bd..70ececb528 100644
--- a/esphome/components/rp2_ble_tracker/rp2_ble_tracker.h
+++ b/esphome/components/rp2_ble_tracker/rp2_ble_tracker.h
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class RP2BLETracker : public Component,
     // than merging them into the advertisement — consumers relying on
     // scan-response fields (device names) get them only where the receiver
     // merges per address (Home Assistant does). No GATT path yet.
-    return {.active_scan = true, .merges_scan_response = false, .gatt = false};
+    return {.active_scan = true, .merges_scan_response = false, .gatt = false, .scan_mode_switch = true};
   }
   // The controller stores the address in printable (MSB-first) order, which is
   // exactly what the contract wants.
diff --git a/tests/components/ble_device_base/test_scan_mode_request.cpp b/tests/components/ble_device_base/test_scan_mode_request.cpp
index 2eeb602999..9125eb6f2f 100644
--- a/tests/components/ble_device_base/test_scan_mode_request.cpp
+++ b/tests/components/ble_device_base/test_scan_mode_request.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class DefaultHub : public BLEHub {
 
 class SwitchingHub : public DefaultHub {
  public:
-  HubCapabilities get_capabilities() const override { return {true, false, false}; }
+  HubCapabilities get_capabilities() const override { return {true, false, false, /* scan_mode_switch = */ true}; }
   bool request_scan_mode(bool active) override {
     this->active_ = active;
     return true;
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ TEST(BLEHubScanModeRequest, DefaultRefusesAndChangesNothing) {
 
 TEST(BLEHubScanModeRequest, OverrideHonorsAndApplies) {
   SwitchingHub hub;
+  EXPECT_TRUE(hub.get_capabilities().scan_mode_switch);
   EXPECT_TRUE(hub.request_scan_mode(true));
   EXPECT_TRUE(hub.scan_active());
   EXPECT_TRUE(hub.request_scan_mode(false));
@@ -66,6 +67,8 @@ TEST(BLEHubScanModeRequest, OverrideHonorsAndApplies) {
 TEST(BLEHubScanModeRequest, CapabilityAndSwitchAreIndependent) {
   CapableRefusingHub hub;
   EXPECT_TRUE(hub.get_capabilities().active_scan);
+  // The esp32 shape advertises no runtime switch, and the request refuses.
+  EXPECT_FALSE(hub.get_capabilities().scan_mode_switch);
   EXPECT_FALSE(hub.request_scan_mode(false));
   EXPECT_TRUE(hub.scan_active());
 }