An ESPHome device can hold a recovery copy of the configuration used to build it. Makers enable the option before flashing. The firmware stores the main YAML configuration together with included files and packages. A compatible client can then request the compressed files from the running device.
By default, retrieval requires an encrypted connection. The saved configuration keeps the file structure and replaces recognized passwords and keys with placeholders the owner can fill in. Credentials assembled in other ways can still appear in the copy. Makers who explicitly include secrets get the files exactly as written.