Aspects are provided for BTM-based load balancing. Various aspects relate generally to a method of load balancing where an AP multi-link device (MLD) recommends that a non-AP MLD move to an indicated set of links of the AP MLD and operate on the indicated set of links without purging context between the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD. In some examples, if the non-AP MLD does not comply, then the non-AP MLD may face disassociation from the AP MLD. Some aspects more specifically relate to recommending that the non-AP MLD move to an indicated set of links of a different AP MLD and operate on the indicated set of links of the different AP MLD after performing a multi-link setup with the different AP MLD. In some examples, the AP MLD may then disassociate from the non-AP MLD.