diff --git a/esphome/components/dfplayer/__init__.py b/esphome/components/dfplayer/__init__.py
index afe8c72675..d2120deaa6 100644
--- a/esphome/components/dfplayer/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/dfplayer/__init__.py
@@ -37,23 +37,6 @@ DEVICE = {
     "TF_CARD": Device.TF_CARD,
 }
 
-NextAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("NextAction", automation.Action)
-PreviousAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("PreviousAction", automation.Action)
-PlayMp3Action = dfplayer_ns.class_("PlayMp3Action", automation.Action)
-PlayFileAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("PlayFileAction", automation.Action)
-PlayFolderAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("PlayFolderAction", automation.Action)
-SetVolumeAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("SetVolumeAction", automation.Action)
-VolumeUpAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("VolumeUpAction", automation.Action)
-VolumeDownAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("VolumeDownAction", automation.Action)
-SetEqAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("SetEqAction", automation.Action)
-SleepAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("SleepAction", automation.Action)
-ResetAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("ResetAction", automation.Action)
-StartAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("StartAction", automation.Action)
-PauseAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("PauseAction", automation.Action)
-StopAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("StopAction", automation.Action)
-RandomAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("RandomAction", automation.Action)
-SetDeviceAction = dfplayer_ns.class_("SetDeviceAction", automation.Action)
-
 CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
     cv.Schema(
         {
@@ -87,41 +70,30 @@ async def to_code(config):
     await automation.build_callback_automations(var, config, _CALLBACK_AUTOMATIONS)
 
 
-@automation.register_action(
-    "dfplayer.play_next",
-    NextAction,
-    cv.Schema(
-        {
-            cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
-        }
-    ),
-    synchronous=True,
+DFPLAYER_ACTION_SCHEMA = cv.Schema(
+    {
+        cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
+    }
 )
-async def dfplayer_next_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    return var
 
+for _name, _call in (
+    ("dfplayer.play_next", "next()"),
+    ("dfplayer.play_previous", "previous()"),
+    ("dfplayer.volume_up", "volume_up()"),
+    ("dfplayer.volume_down", "volume_down()"),
+    ("dfplayer.sleep", "sleep()"),
+    ("dfplayer.reset", "reset()"),
+    ("dfplayer.start", "start()"),
+    ("dfplayer.pause", "pause()"),
+    ("dfplayer.stop", "stop()"),
+    ("dfplayer.random", "random()"),
+):
+    automation.register_apply_action(
+        _name, DFPLAYER_ACTION_SCHEMA, automation.ApplyCall(_call)
+    )
 
-@automation.register_action(
-    "dfplayer.play_previous",
-    PreviousAction,
-    cv.Schema(
-        {
-            cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
-        }
-    ),
-    synchronous=True,
-)
-async def dfplayer_previous_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    return var
-
-
-@automation.register_action(
+automation.register_apply_action(
     "dfplayer.play_mp3",
-    PlayMp3Action,
     cv.maybe_simple_value(
         {
             cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
@@ -129,70 +101,43 @@ async def dfplayer_previous_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
         },
         key=CONF_FILE,
     ),
-    synchronous=True,
+    automation.ApplyField(CONF_FILE, "play_mp3", cg.uint16),
 )
-async def dfplayer_play_mp3_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_FILE], args, cg.uint16)
-    cg.add(var.set_file(template_))
-    return var
 
-
-@automation.register_action(
+# loop and file default to what the old action's unset templatable values evaluated to
+automation.register_apply_action(
     "dfplayer.play",
-    PlayFileAction,
     cv.maybe_simple_value(
         {
             cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
             cv.Required(CONF_FILE): cv.templatable(cv.int_),
-            cv.Optional(CONF_LOOP): cv.templatable(cv.boolean),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_LOOP, default=False): cv.templatable(cv.boolean),
         },
         key=CONF_FILE,
     ),
-    synchronous=True,
+    automation.ApplyCall(
+        "play_file({}, {})", ((CONF_FILE, cg.uint16), (CONF_LOOP, cg.bool_))
+    ),
 )
-async def dfplayer_play_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_FILE], args, cg.uint16)
-    cg.add(var.set_file(template_))
-    if CONF_LOOP in config:
-        template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_LOOP], args, cg.bool_)
-        cg.add(var.set_loop(template_))
-    return var
 
-
-@automation.register_action(
+automation.register_apply_action(
     "dfplayer.play_folder",
-    PlayFolderAction,
     cv.Schema(
         {
             cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
             cv.Required(CONF_FOLDER): cv.templatable(cv.int_),
-            cv.Optional(CONF_FILE): cv.templatable(cv.int_),
-            cv.Optional(CONF_LOOP): cv.templatable(cv.boolean),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_FILE, default=0): cv.templatable(cv.int_),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_LOOP, default=False): cv.templatable(cv.boolean),
         }
     ),
-    synchronous=True,
+    automation.ApplyCall(
+        "play_folder({}, {}, {})",
+        ((CONF_FOLDER, cg.uint16), (CONF_FILE, cg.uint16), (CONF_LOOP, cg.bool_)),
+    ),
 )
-async def dfplayer_play_folder_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_FOLDER], args, cg.uint16)
-    cg.add(var.set_folder(template_))
-    if CONF_FILE in config:
-        template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_FILE], args, cg.uint16)
-        cg.add(var.set_file(template_))
-    if CONF_LOOP in config:
-        template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_LOOP], args, cg.bool_)
-        cg.add(var.set_loop(template_))
-    return var
 
-
-@automation.register_action(
+automation.register_apply_action(
     "dfplayer.set_device",
-    SetDeviceAction,
     cv.maybe_simple_value(
         {
             cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
@@ -200,19 +145,11 @@ async def dfplayer_play_folder_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
         },
         key=CONF_DEVICE,
     ),
-    synchronous=True,
+    automation.ApplyField(CONF_DEVICE, "set_device", Device),
 )
-async def dfplayer_set_device_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_DEVICE], args, Device)
-    cg.add(var.set_device(template_))
-    return var
 
-
-@automation.register_action(
+automation.register_apply_action(
     "dfplayer.set_volume",
-    SetVolumeAction,
     cv.maybe_simple_value(
         {
             cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
@@ -220,51 +157,11 @@ async def dfplayer_set_device_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
         },
         key=CONF_VOLUME,
     ),
-    synchronous=True,
+    automation.ApplyField(CONF_VOLUME, "set_volume", cg.uint8),
 )
-async def dfplayer_set_volume_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_VOLUME], args, cg.uint8)
-    cg.add(var.set_volume(template_))
-    return var
 
-
-@automation.register_action(
-    "dfplayer.volume_up",
-    VolumeUpAction,
-    cv.Schema(
-        {
-            cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
-        }
-    ),
-    synchronous=True,
-)
-async def dfplayer_volume_up_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    return var
-
-
-@automation.register_action(
-    "dfplayer.volume_down",
-    VolumeDownAction,
-    cv.Schema(
-        {
-            cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
-        }
-    ),
-    synchronous=True,
-)
-async def dfplayer_volume_down_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    return var
-
-
-@automation.register_action(
+automation.register_apply_action(
     "dfplayer.set_eq",
-    SetEqAction,
     cv.maybe_simple_value(
         {
             cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
@@ -272,110 +169,8 @@ async def dfplayer_volume_down_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
         },
         key=CONF_EQ_PRESET,
     ),
-    synchronous=True,
+    automation.ApplyField(CONF_EQ_PRESET, "set_eq", EqPreset),
 )
-async def dfplayer_set_eq_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_EQ_PRESET], args, EqPreset)
-    cg.add(var.set_eq(template_))
-    return var
-
-
-@automation.register_action(
-    "dfplayer.sleep",
-    SleepAction,
-    cv.Schema(
-        {
-            cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
-        }
-    ),
-    synchronous=True,
-)
-async def dfplayer_sleep_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    return var
-
-
-@automation.register_action(
-    "dfplayer.reset",
-    ResetAction,
-    cv.Schema(
-        {
-            cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
-        }
-    ),
-    synchronous=True,
-)
-async def dfplayer_reset_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    return var
-
-
-@automation.register_action(
-    "dfplayer.start",
-    StartAction,
-    cv.Schema(
-        {
-            cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
-        }
-    ),
-    synchronous=True,
-)
-async def dfplayer_start_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    return var
-
-
-@automation.register_action(
-    "dfplayer.pause",
-    PauseAction,
-    cv.Schema(
-        {
-            cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
-        }
-    ),
-    synchronous=True,
-)
-async def dfplayer_pause_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    return var
-
-
-@automation.register_action(
-    "dfplayer.stop",
-    StopAction,
-    cv.Schema(
-        {
-            cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
-        }
-    ),
-    synchronous=True,
-)
-async def dfplayer_stop_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    return var
-
-
-@automation.register_action(
-    "dfplayer.random",
-    RandomAction,
-    cv.Schema(
-        {
-            cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(DFPlayer),
-        }
-    ),
-    synchronous=True,
-)
-async def dfplayer_random_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
-    await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    return var
 
 
 def _default_enable(value: Any) -> Any:
diff --git a/esphome/components/dfplayer/dfplayer.h b/esphome/components/dfplayer/dfplayer.h
index 66cf929408..ad91dcfc94 100644
--- a/esphome/components/dfplayer/dfplayer.h
+++ b/esphome/components/dfplayer/dfplayer.h
@@ -33,8 +33,13 @@ class DFPlayer final : public uart::UARTDevice, public Component {
   void play_mp3(uint16_t file);
   void play_file(uint16_t file);
   void play_file_loop(uint16_t file);
+  void play_file(uint16_t file, bool loop) { loop ? this->play_file_loop(file) : this->play_file(file); }
   void play_folder(uint16_t folder, uint16_t file);
   void play_folder_loop(uint16_t folder);
+  // The loop command plays the whole folder, so file is ignored when loop is set.
+  void play_folder(uint16_t folder, uint16_t file, bool loop) {
+    loop ? this->play_folder_loop(folder) : this->play_folder(folder, file);
+  }
   void volume_up();
   void volume_down();
   void set_device(Device device);
@@ -72,100 +77,6 @@ class DFPlayer final : public uart::UARTDevice, public Component {
   CallbackManager<void()> on_finished_playback_callback_;
 };
 
-#define DFPLAYER_SIMPLE_ACTION(ACTION_CLASS, ACTION_METHOD) \
-  template<typename... Ts> \
-  class ACTION_CLASS : /* NOLINT */ \
-                       public Action<Ts...>, \
-                       public Parented<DFPlayer> { \
-    void play(const Ts &...x) override { this->parent_->ACTION_METHOD(); } \
-  };
-
-DFPLAYER_SIMPLE_ACTION(NextAction, next)
-DFPLAYER_SIMPLE_ACTION(PreviousAction, previous)
-
-template<typename... Ts> class PlayMp3Action final : public Action<Ts...>, public Parented<DFPlayer> {
- public:
-  TEMPLATABLE_VALUE(uint16_t, file)
-
-  void play(const Ts &...x) override {
-    auto file = this->file_.value(x...);
-    this->parent_->play_mp3(file);
-  }
-};
-
-template<typename... Ts> class PlayFileAction final : public Action<Ts...>, public Parented<DFPlayer> {
- public:
-  TEMPLATABLE_VALUE(uint16_t, file)
-  TEMPLATABLE_VALUE(bool, loop)
-
-  void play(const Ts &...x) override {
-    auto file = this->file_.value(x...);
-    auto loop = this->loop_.value(x...);
-    if (loop) {
-      this->parent_->play_file_loop(file);
-    } else {
-      this->parent_->play_file(file);
-    }
-  }
-};
-
-template<typename... Ts> class PlayFolderAction final : public Action<Ts...>, public Parented<DFPlayer> {
- public:
-  TEMPLATABLE_VALUE(uint16_t, folder)
-  TEMPLATABLE_VALUE(uint16_t, file)
-  TEMPLATABLE_VALUE(bool, loop)
-
-  void play(const Ts &...x) override {
-    auto folder = this->folder_.value(x...);
-    auto file = this->file_.value(x...);
-    auto loop = this->loop_.value(x...);
-    if (loop) {
-      this->parent_->play_folder_loop(folder);
-    } else {
-      this->parent_->play_folder(folder, file);
-    }
-  }
-};
-
-template<typename... Ts> class SetDeviceAction final : public Action<Ts...>, public Parented<DFPlayer> {
- public:
-  TEMPLATABLE_VALUE(Device, device)
-
-  void play(const Ts &...x) override {
-    auto device = this->device_.value(x...);
-    this->parent_->set_device(device);
-  }
-};
-
-template<typename... Ts> class SetVolumeAction final : public Action<Ts...>, public Parented<DFPlayer> {
- public:
-  TEMPLATABLE_VALUE(uint8_t, volume)
-
-  void play(const Ts &...x) override {
-    auto volume = this->volume_.value(x...);
-    this->parent_->set_volume(volume);
-  }
-};
-
-template<typename... Ts> class SetEqAction final : public Action<Ts...>, public Parented<DFPlayer> {
- public:
-  TEMPLATABLE_VALUE(EqPreset, eq)
-
-  void play(const Ts &...x) override {
-    auto eq = this->eq_.value(x...);
-    this->parent_->set_eq(eq);
-  }
-};
-
-DFPLAYER_SIMPLE_ACTION(SleepAction, sleep)
-DFPLAYER_SIMPLE_ACTION(ResetAction, reset)
-DFPLAYER_SIMPLE_ACTION(StartAction, start)
-DFPLAYER_SIMPLE_ACTION(PauseAction, pause)
-DFPLAYER_SIMPLE_ACTION(StopAction, stop)
-DFPLAYER_SIMPLE_ACTION(RandomAction, random)
-DFPLAYER_SIMPLE_ACTION(VolumeUpAction, volume_up)
-DFPLAYER_SIMPLE_ACTION(VolumeDownAction, volume_down)
-
 template<typename... Ts> class DFPlayerIsPlayingCondition final : public Condition<Ts...>, public Parented<DFPlayer> {
  public:
   bool check(const Ts &...x) override { return this->parent_->is_playing(); }
diff --git a/tests/components/dfplayer/common.yaml b/tests/components/dfplayer/common.yaml
index 940f07a2ed..317ffb9900 100644
--- a/tests/components/dfplayer/common.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/dfplayer/common.yaml
@@ -1,20 +1,32 @@
 esphome:
   on_boot:
     then:
+      - dfplayer.play_mp3: 3
+      - dfplayer.play_mp3: !lambda "return id(dfplayer_test).is_playing() ? 2 : 1;"
       - dfplayer.play: 5
       - dfplayer.play:
           file: 4
           loop: true
+      - dfplayer.play:
+          file: !lambda "return id(dfplayer_test).is_playing() ? 2 : 1;"
+          loop: !lambda return !id(dfplayer_test).is_playing();
       - dfplayer.play_folder:
           folder: 1
           file: 3
       - dfplayer.play_folder:
           folder: 1
           loop: true
+      - dfplayer.play_folder:
+          folder: !lambda "return id(dfplayer_test).is_playing() ? 2 : 1;"
+          file: !lambda "return id(dfplayer_test).is_playing() ? 4 : 3;"
+          loop: !lambda return !id(dfplayer_test).is_playing();
       - dfplayer.set_device:
           device: TF_CARD
+      - dfplayer.set_device: USB
       - dfplayer.set_volume: 5
+      - dfplayer.set_volume: !lambda "return id(dfplayer_test).is_playing() ? 10 : 5;"
       - dfplayer.set_eq: ROCK
+      - dfplayer.set_eq: !lambda "return id(dfplayer_test).is_playing() ? dfplayer::JAZZ : dfplayer::BASS;"
       - dfplayer.play_next
       - dfplayer.play_previous
       - dfplayer.reset