topic Whole home & sky stream in Sky Q

Whole home confusion

AngieBennett — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 13:26:02 GMT

Hi, do you need to have a Sky Glass or the other Sky tv to be able to subscribe to 'whole home'? Or can I get it with just my Sky Q box? Also, do all the other tv's & mobile screens etc, have to be watching the same program or can 4 different people watch 4 completely different programs at the same time? Can they all pause, forward & rewind etc at completely different times, & can each of the 4 people on each different tv/mobile screen also 'record' completely different programs all at the same time as each other? Or, do all 4 people all have to watch exactly the same program on each different screen & only be able to record on the main 'Sky Q box'. Sorry, I'm really useless when it comes to tech, hence the need for all the many questions 🙂 Thank you very much 😊

Re: Whole home confusion

oldfella — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 13:30:33 GMT

@AngieBennett wrote:

Hi, do you need to have a Sky Glass or the other Sky tv to be able to subscribe to 'whole home'? Or can I get it with just my Sky Q box? Also, do all the other tv's & mobile screens etc, have to be watching the same program or can 4 different people watch 4 completely different programs at the same time? Can they all pause, forward & rewind etc at completely different times, & can each of the 4 people on each different tv/mobile screen also 'record' completely different programs all at the same time as each other? Or, do all 4 people all have to watch exactly the same program on each different screen & only be able to record on the main 'Sky Q box'. Sorry, I'm really useless when it comes to tech, hence the need for all the many questions 🙂 Thank you very much 😊

Hi @AngieBennett

on Sky Q it's Multiscreen you need to view on multiple devices.

You can have up to four minis installed on loan each subject to a one off upfront charge and all under by one single Q monthly Multiscreen subscription
However only two minis can be used simultaneously on all 2 TB boxes and the 1 TB UHD Main boxes to watch Sky Q content.
The original 1 TB non UHD box (32Cxxx) only permits the use of one mini at a time.
If Sky Apps are already being used on some of the minis these will not normally be counted as in Q use and therefore can be used in addition to the above limits.

Subject to the above limits Sky Q minis can be used completely independently of the main Q box and the same or different program or recording can be viewed on each Q box. Even if viewing the same content it is completely independent and can be viewed at the same or different point.
Minis can do all the features same as the main Q box and can set or delete recordings on the main Q box hard drive. There is one single storage area on the main Q box with no profiles and no indication of which Q box has set a recording. (Unlike Sky+HD Multiroom which has independent storage and planners).
It should also be remembered that minis cannot set or view UHD recordings or content.

Re: Whole home confusion

Daniel0210 — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 13:31:07 GMT

@AngieBennett

Whole home is terminology used with Glass / Stream.

If you have Sky Q you can have a maximum of 4 mini boxes loaned to you by Sky. You can watch Sky content on two minis and the main box at the same time. You may be able to use a third mini box if the first one in use is being used for a streaming app ie: Netflix or DIsney+. It’s worth mentioning that UHD content can’t be viewed on a mini box.

Be aware the original 1TB (non-UHD) Sky Q box only allows one mini to be in use. To check if you have the non UHD 1TB box check in:-
Home - Settings - System Info - Hardware Version
If it shows as 32Cxxx then you have a non UHD 1TB that only supports 1 active mini box.

All 2TBs and the UHD/HDR 1TB permit two mini boxes. Each mini box which is loaned to you may be subject to a one off upfront charge but you only need one Sky Q monthly Multiscreen subscription.

Whole home & sky stream

AngieBennett — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 13:35:57 GMT

I forgot these last 2 questions. Also, what's the difference between Sky stream & Sky Q box. And what is the difference between Sky Multi-screen & Sky whole home? They seem to be almost exactly the same thing, except Whole Home is slightly cheaper than Sky Multi-screen. I am so completely confused by all this, as well as many other Sky things, I don't even know how to use my Sky VIP benefits as it never works when I try to add/use them. Thank you 😊

Re: Whole home & sky stream

Daniel0210 — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 13:40:43 GMT

@AngieBennett

No need for a new thread.

I have already said that Whole Home is for Glass / Stream.

Multiscreen is for Sky Q.

You need to research Stream/Glass fully as they are totally different to Sky Q if you're thinking of switching.

Re: Whole home & sky stream

oldfella — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 13:45:22 GMT

@AngieBennett wrote:

I forgot these last 2 questions. Also, what's the difference between Sky stream & Sky Q box. And what is the difference between Sky Multi-screen & Sky whole home? They seem to be almost exactly the same thing, except Whole Home is slightly cheaper than Sky Multi-screen. I am so completely confused by all this, as well as many other Sky things, I don't even know how to use my Sky VIP benefits as it never works when I try to add/use them. Thank you 😊

Hi @AngieBennett

Sky Stream is as it implies is streaming only and a completely different package to Sky Q. There are no recording facilities on Sky Stream and it doesn't use a Satellite dish.

Whole home and Multiscreen both refer to the ability to use multiple devices. On Q it's Minis boxes and on Stream it is Pucks.

See following link referring to Sky Stream

https://www.sky.com/help/sky-tv/sky-tv-stream/sky-stream-faqs/articles/sky-stream-faqs