topic Reset to factory settings old sky plus box in Sky+

Reset to factory settings old sky plus box

Maximus272 — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 18:19:40 GMT

I have a very old sky plus box, not used since I had sky q (I was an early adopter ? 2016). I want to get rid of it for recycling. How to I delete any data on it before taking it for recycling. My sky viewing card is in my q box - and I'm sure won't work in it. Is there a factory reset button somewhere?

Re: Reset to factory settings old sky plus box

Annie+UK — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 18:23:38 GMT

See Q15 in my Sky Plus FAQ

Re: Reset to factory settings old sky plus box

Maximus272 — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 18:46:45 GMT

Thanks for the reply. The skyplus box isn't plugged into a tv, can you do this without a screen?

Re: Reset to factory settings old sky plus box

Annie+UK — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 18:59:51 GMT

Try holding down the left & right arrow buttons on the top of the box then plugging the power plug in, release the buttons after 4 leds light up on the front of the box or the led spin in a circle, not sure which one happens

I'm not 100% sure if this resets everything though but the personal info is stored on your viewing card and not the box

Re: Reset to factory settings old sky plus box

Mark39 — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 18:59:39 GMT

That would be quite difficult. In reality, I don't think there's any personal data held on the disk anyway - just settings information and recordings. The only data relating to your account with Sky is held in the Viewing Card and and that's just your viewing rights.

Re: Reset to factory settings old sky plus box

Mark39 — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 19:02:37 GMT

@Annie+UK wrote:

Try holding down the left & right arrow buttons on the top of the box then plugging the power plug in, release the buttons after 4 leds light up on the front of the box or the led spin in a circle, not sure which one happens

I'm not 100% sure if this resets everything though but the personal info is stored on your viewing card and not the box

It's the latter - the circle of LEDs rotates backwards, during which you press Select to start the reset. Pretty sure it does the same thing as a Full System Reset when you don't have menu access.

Re: Reset to factory settings old sky plus box

Annie+UK — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 19:07:28 GMT

@Mark39 wrote:

@Annie+UK wrote:

Try holding down the left & right arrow buttons on the top of the box then plugging the power plug in, release the buttons after 4 leds light up on the front of the box or the led spin in a circle, not sure which one happens

I'm not 100% sure if this resets everything though but the personal info is stored on your viewing card and not the box

It's the latter - the circle of LEDs rotates backwards, during which you press Select to start the reset. Pretty sure it does the same thing as a Full System Reset when you don't have menu access.

Thanks, it's been quite sometime that someone needed that procedure so could not remember the finer details