topic SKY UHD upgrade in Sky Q

SKY UHD upgrade

Ste+CNH320 — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:37:40 GMT

Our household has had SKY TV for 32 years, and year on year find it increasingly difficult to get help. I want to renew my subscription and add UHD to the account, we were actually sold our soon to expire deal on the fact it included UHD, however we were mislead by the customer service person, as its not until we had agreed to the deal we found out that our SKYQ box is the wrong one for UHD, and would need to spend more money on an upgrade. After many dead end conversations we gave up on the issue. So now coming to the end of that deal, I am looking to include UHD with that deal, but as normal I cannot get to either live chat an advisor or speak to an advisor who can actually help, and without shoving Sky Glass down my throat. I DO NOT want Sky glass, but I fear that is the only way to get UHD via Sky these days is that correct?

Is it still possible to obtain the updated SkyQ box via Ebay or similar and then upgrade my account ?

Re: SKY UHD upgrade

mr.tickle — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:46:39 GMT

@Ste+CNH320 Yes it's definitely possible to get the UHD-capable SkyQ boxes. But you have to do it via Sky. All SkyQ boxes are on loan from Sky. Any you see for sale are by definition, stolen property and Sky would not pair your viewing card to anything you buy.

Sounds like you are very prepared to rebuff any attempt by them to sell you Stream or Glass during the call, which is good. If a customer phones up with a specific request for one thing, they should never ever be diverted down a different path. But you do need to phone up to request the UHD-capable box, and sadly, this means you will lose ALL your recordings from your current box when you do the swap - so bear that in mind. Not everything is available to download from On Demand by a very, very long way.

Be very careful to remember to keep your viewing card from your current SkyQ box, it's incredibly easy to forget as it's hidden in the side.

Re: SKY UHD upgrade

PandJ2020 — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:46:51 GMT

@Ste+CNH320 wrote:
Is it still possible to obtain the updated SkyQ box via Ebay or similar and then upgrade my account ?

All Q boxes belong to Sky and loaned to you for the duration of your subscriptions.

As Q is approaching the end of its life they sometimes do not request the return of older boxes - but any UHD/HDR ones they are likely to asked to be returned. I would not recommend purchasing one from a non-Sky retailer.

If you want to move to a UHD compatible box the only realistic option is to pay Sky for the privilege. (Usually £50-100 non-refundable).

Re: SKY UHD upgrade

DaveDrizen — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 13:01:56 GMT

@Ste+CNH320 wrote:
Our household has had SKY TV for 32 years, and year on year find it increasingly difficult to get help. I want to renew my subscription and add UHD to the account, we were actually sold our soon to expire deal on the fact it included UHD, however we were mislead by the customer service person, as its not until we had agreed to the deal we found out that our SKYQ box is the wrong one for UHD, and would need to spend more money on an upgrade. After many dead end conversations we gave up on the issue. So now coming to the end of that deal, I am looking to include UHD with that deal, but as normal I cannot get to either live chat an advisor or speak to an advisor who can actually help, and without shoving Sky Glass down my throat. I DO NOT want Sky glass, but I fear that is the only way to get UHD via Sky these days is that correct?
Is it still possible to obtain the updated SkyQ box via Ebay or similar and then upgrade my account ?

The short answer is if you present SkyQ box is not UHD compatible Sky may change to change the box for one that is however I understand unless things have changed they make a charge normally of £90 for doing so, even though Sky box's are on loan. That said if you are negotiating a new deal maybe you can get Sky to replace your present box for UHD compatible one and waver that charge.

I should also say if you have multiroom and mini boxes only the main SkQ box will be capable of UHD compatibility the mini box will not be. If that is the case and you want UHD in every room the only option is Sky stream or cancelling Sky altogether and getting yourself some tv firesticks an using the now tv app, however if your present tv is a smart tv that app will possably be on italready

Re: SKY UHD upgrade

TimmyBGood — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 13:00:25 GMT

@Ste+CNH320 wrote:

DO NOT want Sky glass, but I fear that is the only way to get UHD via Sky these days is that correct?

No: the Sky Stream puck is the appropriate hardware for any non-Sky television set.

Is it still possible to obtain the updated SkyQ box via Ebay or similar and then upgrade my account ?

That absolutely won't work.

Re: SKY UHD upgrade

Me134 — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:28:01 GMT

@Ste+CNH320 I would just ensure that UHD is removed from your account, you honestly will not miss much. I've no idea why you paid for it for the length of the contract mind if it wasn't usable.