diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 1ca52c0592..333db08cd9 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -792,6 +792,11 @@ void setup()
     // We do this as early as possible because this loads preferences from flash
     // but we need to do this after main cpu init (esp32setup), because we need the random seed set
     nodeDB = new NodeDB;
+#ifdef ARCH_ESP32
+    // Config is loaded now, and Bluetooth has not been initialized yet. If the
+    // saved config will keep Bluetooth inactive, return its reserved memory early.
+    esp32ReleaseBluetoothMemoryIfUnused();
+#endif
 
     // Initialize transmit history to persist broadcast throttle timers across reboots
     TransmitHistory::getInstance()->loadFromDisk();
diff --git a/src/main.h b/src/main.h
index 661fdd9fb7..3458691298 100644
--- a/src/main.h
+++ b/src/main.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include "mesh/generated/meshtastic/telemetry.pb.h"
 #include <SPI.h>
 #include <map>
-#if defined(ARCH_ESP32) && !defined(CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32S2)
+#if defined(ARCH_ESP32) && !defined(CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32S2) && !MESHTASTIC_EXCLUDE_BLUETOOTH
 #include "nimble/NimbleBluetooth.h"
 extern NimbleBluetooth *nimbleBluetooth;
 #endif
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ extern bool runASAP;
 extern bool pauseBluetoothLogging;
 
 void nrf52Setup(), esp32Setup(), nrf52Loop(), esp32Loop(), rp2040Setup(), clearBonds(), enterDfuMode();
+#ifdef ARCH_ESP32
+void esp32ReleaseBluetoothMemoryIfUnused();
+#endif
 
 meshtastic_DeviceMetadata getDeviceMetadata();
 #if !MESHTASTIC_EXCLUDE_I2C
diff --git a/src/modules/AdminModule.cpp b/src/modules/AdminModule.cpp
index 8bcfcd878d..39ae6b7885 100644
--- a/src/modules/AdminModule.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/AdminModule.cpp
@@ -1753,6 +1753,7 @@ void disableBluetooth()
 #ifdef ARCH_ESP32
     if (nimbleBluetooth)
         nimbleBluetooth->deinit();
+    esp32ReleaseBluetoothMemoryIfUnused();
 #elif defined(ARCH_NRF52)
     if (nrf52Bluetooth)
         nrf52Bluetooth->shutdown();
diff --git a/src/platform/esp32/main-esp32.cpp b/src/platform/esp32/main-esp32.cpp
index bcd618c7e9..2e0313ad0d 100644
--- a/src/platform/esp32/main-esp32.cpp
+++ b/src/platform/esp32/main-esp32.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@
 #include "nimble/NimbleBluetooth.h"
 #endif
 
+#if !defined(CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32S2) && !MESHTASTIC_EXCLUDE_BLUETOOTH && __has_include(<esp_bt.h>)
+#include <esp_bt.h>
+#define CAN_RELEASE_BT_MEMORY 1
+#endif
+
 #include <MeshtasticOTA.h>
 
 #if HAS_WIFI
@@ -30,9 +35,53 @@
 void variant_shutdown() __attribute__((weak));
 void variant_shutdown() {}
 
+#if !defined(CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32S2) && !MESHTASTIC_EXCLUDE_BLUETOOTH
+static bool bluetoothMemoryReleased;
+static bool bluetoothMemoryReleaseWarned;
+#endif
+
+#if !defined(CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32S2) && !MESHTASTIC_EXCLUDE_BLUETOOTH
+static bool isNetworkConfiguredToDisableBluetooth()
+{
+#if HAS_WIFI
+    return isWifiAvailable();
+#elif defined(USE_WS5500) || defined(USE_CH390D)
+    return config.network.wifi_enabled;
+#else
+    return false;
+#endif
+}
+
+static bool shouldReleaseBluetoothMemory()
+{
+    // On ESP32 targets WiFi and BLE share radio resources. When WiFi is configured for this boot,
+    // BLE will not be started, so its reserved memory can be returned to the heap until reboot.
+    if (isNetworkConfiguredToDisableBluetooth()) {
+        return true;
+    }
+    return !config.bluetooth.enabled;
+}
+
+static const char *getBluetoothReleaseReason()
+{
+    if (isNetworkConfiguredToDisableBluetooth()) {
+        return "WiFi is enabled";
+    }
+    return "Bluetooth is disabled";
+}
+#endif
+
 #if !defined(CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32S2) && !MESHTASTIC_EXCLUDE_BLUETOOTH
 void setBluetoothEnable(bool enable)
 {
+    if (enable && bluetoothMemoryReleased) {
+        if (!shouldReleaseBluetoothMemory() && !bluetoothMemoryReleaseWarned) {
+            bluetoothMemoryReleaseWarned = true;
+            LOG_WARN("Bluetooth memory has been released; reboot to re-enable Bluetooth");
+        }
+        return;
+    }
+
 #if defined(USE_WS5500) || defined(USE_CH390D)
     if ((config.bluetooth.enabled == true) && (config.network.wifi_enabled == false))
 #elif HAS_WIFI
@@ -58,6 +107,29 @@ void setBluetoothEnable(bool enable) {}
 void updateBatteryLevel(uint8_t level) {}
 #endif
 
+void esp32ReleaseBluetoothMemoryIfUnused()
+{
+#ifdef CAN_RELEASE_BT_MEMORY
+    if (bluetoothMemoryReleased || !shouldReleaseBluetoothMemory()) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    const int32_t heapBefore = ESP.getHeapSize();
+    const int32_t freeBefore = ESP.getFreeHeap();
+
+    // ESP_BT_MODE_BTDM releases all BT/BLE controller and host memory for this boot.
+    // It is intentionally irreversible until reboot, matching the runtime config behavior.
+    esp_err_t err = esp_bt_mem_release(ESP_BT_MODE_BTDM);
+    if (err == ESP_OK) {
+        bluetoothMemoryReleased = true;
+        LOG_INFO("Released BTDM memory because %s: heap %+d, free %+d", getBluetoothReleaseReason(),
+                 (int32_t)ESP.getHeapSize() - heapBefore, (int32_t)ESP.getFreeHeap() - freeBefore);
+    } else {
+        LOG_WARN("BTDM memory release failed: %d", err);
+    }
+#endif
+}
+
 void getMacAddr(uint8_t *dmac)
 {
 #if defined(CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32C6) && defined(CONFIG_SOC_IEEE802154_SUPPORTED)