diff --git a/esphome/components/api/__init__.py b/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
index 0a309aac7d..88618acef4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ async def to_code(config: ConfigType) -> None:
         cg.add_define("USE_API_CLIENT_CONNECTED_TRIGGER")
         await automation.build_automation(
             var.get_client_connected_trigger(),
-            [(cg.StringRef, "client_info"), (cg.StringRef, "client_address")],
+            [(cg.std_string, "client_info"), (cg.std_string, "client_address")],
             config[CONF_ON_CLIENT_CONNECTED],
         )
 
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ async def to_code(config: ConfigType) -> None:
         cg.add_define("USE_API_CLIENT_DISCONNECTED_TRIGGER")
         await automation.build_automation(
             var.get_client_disconnected_trigger(),
-            [(cg.StringRef, "client_info"), (cg.StringRef, "client_address")],
+            [(cg.std_string, "client_info"), (cg.std_string, "client_address")],
             config[CONF_ON_CLIENT_DISCONNECTED],
         )
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index c8762824fe..239c735354 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -1508,7 +1508,8 @@ void APIConnection::complete_authentication_() {
 #ifdef USE_API_CLIENT_CONNECTED_TRIGGER
   char peername_buf[socket::PEERNAME_MAX_LEN];
   this->helper_->getpeername_to(peername_buf);
-  this->parent_->get_client_connected_trigger()->trigger(this->helper_->get_client_name(), StringRef(peername_buf));
+  this->parent_->get_client_connected_trigger()->trigger(std::string(this->helper_->get_client_name()),
+                                                         std::string(peername_buf));
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_HOMEASSISTANT_TIME
   if (homeassistant::global_homeassistant_time != nullptr) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
index 6f4e3c17c6..8ab07e3534 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ void APIServer::loop() {
 #ifdef USE_API_CLIENT_DISCONNECTED_TRIGGER
     char peername_buf[socket::PEERNAME_MAX_LEN];
     client->get_peername_to(peername_buf);
-    this->client_disconnected_trigger_->trigger(client->get_name(), StringRef(peername_buf));
+    this->client_disconnected_trigger_->trigger(std::string(client->get_name()), std::string(peername_buf));
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_API_USER_DEFINED_ACTION_RESPONSES
     this->unregister_active_action_calls_for_connection(client.get());
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_server.h b/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
index f6ca869a0f..bf08208517 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
@@ -222,10 +222,12 @@ class APIServer : public Component,
 #endif
 
 #ifdef USE_API_CLIENT_CONNECTED_TRIGGER
-  Trigger<StringRef, StringRef> *get_client_connected_trigger() const { return this->client_connected_trigger_; }
+  Trigger<std::string, std::string> *get_client_connected_trigger() const { return this->client_connected_trigger_; }
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_API_CLIENT_DISCONNECTED_TRIGGER
-  Trigger<StringRef, StringRef> *get_client_disconnected_trigger() const { return this->client_disconnected_trigger_; }
+  Trigger<std::string, std::string> *get_client_disconnected_trigger() const {
+    return this->client_disconnected_trigger_;
+  }
 #endif
 
  protected:
@@ -243,10 +245,10 @@ class APIServer : public Component,
   // Pointers and pointer-like types first (4 bytes each)
   std::unique_ptr<socket::Socket> socket_ = nullptr;
 #ifdef USE_API_CLIENT_CONNECTED_TRIGGER
-  Trigger<StringRef, StringRef> *client_connected_trigger_ = new Trigger<StringRef, StringRef>();
+  Trigger<std::string, std::string> *client_connected_trigger_ = new Trigger<std::string, std::string>();
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_API_CLIENT_DISCONNECTED_TRIGGER
-  Trigger<StringRef, StringRef> *client_disconnected_trigger_ = new Trigger<StringRef, StringRef>();
+  Trigger<std::string, std::string> *client_disconnected_trigger_ = new Trigger<std::string, std::string>();
 #endif
 
   // 4-byte aligned types