topic Re: Sky Q, bulk program deletion from the harddrive in Sky Q

Sky Q, bulk program deletion from the harddrive

davidgc — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 17:42:26 GMT

Daft question, once you have watch a program and you then delete it, after a while one goes into recording management, one can only delete it seems from the harddrive one program at a time, which is fun if one has for example just deleted 125 "four in a bed" programs, is there a quick way to do a bulk delete from the harddrive?

Re: Sky Q, bulk program deletion from the harddrive

nigea99 — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:46:08 GMT

@davidgc wrote:

Daft question, once you have watch a program and you then delete it, after a while one goes into recording management, one can only delete it seems from the harddrive one program at a time, which is fun if one has for example just deleted 125 "four in a bed" programs, is there a quick way to do a bulk delete from the harddrive?

hi @davidgc

No there is no bulk method of using Delete forever but it should not be needed.

Most people don't even realise this function exists as the housekeeping will reuse space by those deleted in the normal way

Re: Sky Q, bulk program deletion from the harddrive

Dave+Lorde — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:52:50 GMT

It's slightly confusing, but in Recordings->Management, the 'Deleted' option allows you to undelete or permanently delete accidentally deleted individual episodes.

To delete all episodes of a recording, go to the 'Disk Space' option, which shows the number of episodes and the disk space they occupy. Selecting a series here allows you to delete all the episodes with one click, freeing up that disk space.

Re: Sky Q, bulk program deletion from the harddrive

davidgc — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:29:20 GMT

I see if the delete files are overriden automatically now I have no problem, but I have just checked it's only when you go into manage, deleted, that used harddrive space decreases when you permanently remove the deleted files, I believe years back I did get a drive full warning as it was up around 96 - 98 % full.

Re: Sky Q, bulk program deletion from the harddrive

nigea99 — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:42:02 GMT

@davidgc wrote:

I see if the delete files are overriden automatically now I have no problem, but I have just checked it's only when you go into manage, deleted, that used harddrive space decreases when you permanently remove the deleted files, I believe years back I did get a drive full warning as it was up around 96 - 98 % full.

hi @davidgc

tghe space should reduce when you delet recordings without going into Delet forever, although I think Delet Forever does make a slight difference.

I record every F1 session in both UHD & HD each week and just deleting all sessions reduces my disk space by around 10% or more & typically hover around 75% (I really should delete more as I will probably never get round to rewatching most)

Like nearly everyone, I don't use the delete forever & have had SKY Q since 2017 - although I have done for the odd test etc

I guess it might be more useful if you are very close to full with lots scheduled

Re: Sky Q, bulk program deletion from the harddrive

Dave+Lorde — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 22:50:10 GMT

The 'Disk Space' deletion option works fine for me. I have a lot of series recordings that I watch occasional episodes of, so I 'delete all' every so often after I've watched the ones I want to. The system manages how the freed-up disk space gets used.

Re: Sky Q, bulk program deletion from the harddrive

nolte — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 23:14:28 GMT

When you delete it and it goes into the'deleted' section, if you don't manually delete them, I have found (for me at least) on sly q, it is 2 months for the system to erase them automatically from the deleted section.

Re: Sky Q, bulk program deletion from the harddrive

nigea99 — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 07:14:21 GMT

@nolte wrote:

When you delete it and it goes into the'deleted' section, if you don't manually delete them, I have found (for me at least) on sly q, it is 2 months for the system to erase them automatically from the deleted section.

I think this all depends on the amount of space is free & when needed

Needless to say long UHD programmes (such as F1 races & associated sessions) use up more space thus mine probably stays around a 3-4 weeks during F1 season slightly less when races are only a week apart (as I mentioned my usage is approx 75% before the race weekend starts & I record F1 sessions in UHD & HD in case I want to watch on a mini)

Re: Sky Q, bulk program deletion from the harddrive

Patricia741 — Sun, 24 May 2026 16:49:33 GMT

I am trying to delete recorded programs on my sky box...... I go to recordings and for 3 days now it is saying please wait, please can you help me....many thanks

Re: Sky Q, bulk program deletion from the harddrive

Me134 — Sun, 24 May 2026 17:43:59 GMT

@Patricia741 wrote:
I am trying to delete recorded programs on my sky box...... I go to recordings and for 3 days now it is saying please wait, please can you help me....many thanks

Have you tried putting it into standby and plugging the box out for 5 minutes?