diff --git a/selfprivacy_api/backup/__init__.py b/selfprivacy_api/backup/__init__.py
index f575ac0..66a4eac 100644
--- a/selfprivacy_api/backup/__init__.py
+++ b/selfprivacy_api/backup/__init__.py
@@ -395,11 +395,8 @@ class Backups:
         auto_snaps = Backups._auto_snaps(service)
         new_snaplist = Backups._prune_snaps_with_quotas(auto_snaps)
 
-        # TODO: Can be optimized since there is forgetting of an array in one restic op
-        # but most of the time this will be only one snap to forget.
-        for snap in auto_snaps:
-            if snap not in new_snaplist:
-                Backups.forget_snapshot(snap)
+        deletable_snaps = [snap for snap in auto_snaps if snap not in new_snaplist]
+        Backups.forget_snapshots(deletable_snaps)
 
     @staticmethod
     def _standardize_quotas(i: int) -> int:
@@ -426,7 +423,10 @@ class Backups:
                 yearly=Backups._standardize_quotas(quotas.yearly),  # type: ignore
             )
         )
+        # do not prune all autosnaps right away, this will be done by an async task
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def prune_all_autosnaps() -> None:
         for service in get_all_services():
             Backups._prune_auto_snaps(service)
 
@@ -606,6 +606,19 @@ class Backups:
 
         return snap
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def forget_snapshots(snapshots: List[Snapshot]) -> None:
+        """
+        Deletes a batch of snapshots from the repo and from cache
+        Optimized
+        """
+        ids = [snapshot.id for snapshot in snapshots]
+        Backups.provider().backupper.forget_snapshots(ids)
+
+        # less critical
+        for snapshot in snapshots:
+            Storage.delete_cached_snapshot(snapshot)
+
     @staticmethod
     def forget_snapshot(snapshot: Snapshot) -> None:
         """Deletes a snapshot from the repo and from cache"""
@@ -614,11 +627,11 @@ class Backups:
 
     @staticmethod
     def forget_all_snapshots():
-        """deliberately erase all snapshots we made"""
-        # there is no dedicated optimized command for this,
-        # but maybe we can have a multi-erase
-        for snapshot in Backups.get_all_snapshots():
-            Backups.forget_snapshot(snapshot)
+        """
+        Mark all snapshots we have made for deletion and make them inaccessible
+        (this is done by cloud, we only issue a command)
+        """
+        Backups.forget_snapshots(Backups.get_all_snapshots())
 
     @staticmethod
     def force_snapshot_cache_reload() -> None:
diff --git a/selfprivacy_api/backup/backuppers/__init__.py b/selfprivacy_api/backup/backuppers/__init__.py
index 0067a41..46a719e 100644
--- a/selfprivacy_api/backup/backuppers/__init__.py
+++ b/selfprivacy_api/backup/backuppers/__init__.py
@@ -66,3 +66,8 @@ class AbstractBackupper(ABC):
     def forget_snapshot(self, snapshot_id) -> None:
         """Forget a snapshot"""
         raise NotImplementedError
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def forget_snapshots(self, snapshot_ids: List[str]) -> None:
+        """Maybe optimized deletion of a batch of snapshots, just cycling if unsupported"""
+        raise NotImplementedError
diff --git a/selfprivacy_api/backup/backuppers/none_backupper.py b/selfprivacy_api/backup/backuppers/none_backupper.py
index 429d9ab..86e25a6 100644
--- a/selfprivacy_api/backup/backuppers/none_backupper.py
+++ b/selfprivacy_api/backup/backuppers/none_backupper.py
@@ -39,4 +39,7 @@ class NoneBackupper(AbstractBackupper):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     def forget_snapshot(self, snapshot_id):
-        raise NotImplementedError
+        raise NotImplementedError("forget_snapshot")
+
+    def forget_snapshots(self, snapshots):
+        raise NotImplementedError("forget_snapshots")
diff --git a/selfprivacy_api/backup/backuppers/restic_backupper.py b/selfprivacy_api/backup/backuppers/restic_backupper.py
index afa6295..fd653e6 100644
--- a/selfprivacy_api/backup/backuppers/restic_backupper.py
+++ b/selfprivacy_api/backup/backuppers/restic_backupper.py
@@ -86,6 +86,10 @@ class ResticBackupper(AbstractBackupper):
         return f"echo {LocalBackupSecret.get()}"
 
     def restic_command(self, *args, tags: Optional[List[str]] = None) -> List[str]:
+        """
+        Construct a restic command against the currently configured repo
+        Can support [nested] arrays as arguments, will flatten them into the final commmand
+        """
         if tags is None:
             tags = []
 
@@ -384,15 +388,15 @@ class ResticBackupper(AbstractBackupper):
                     output,
                 )
 
+    def forget_snapshot(self, snapshot_id: str) -> None:
+        self.forget_snapshots([snapshot_id])
+
     @unlocked_repo
-    def forget_snapshot(self, snapshot_id) -> None:
-        """
-        Either removes snapshot or marks it for deletion later,
-        depending on server settings
-        """
+    def forget_snapshots(self, snapshot_ids: List[str]) -> None:
+        # in case the backupper program supports batching, otherwise implement it by cycling
         forget_command = self.restic_command(
             "forget",
-            snapshot_id,
+            [snapshot_ids],
             # TODO: prune should be done in a separate process
             "--prune",
         )
@@ -414,7 +418,7 @@ class ResticBackupper(AbstractBackupper):
 
             if "no matching ID found" in err:
                 raise ValueError(
-                    "trying to delete, but no such snapshot: ", snapshot_id
+                    "trying to delete, but no such snapshot(s): ", snapshot_ids
                 )
 
             assert (
diff --git a/selfprivacy_api/backup/tasks.py b/selfprivacy_api/backup/tasks.py
index bdf6c9f..f0422ca 100644
--- a/selfprivacy_api/backup/tasks.py
+++ b/selfprivacy_api/backup/tasks.py
@@ -3,13 +3,18 @@ The tasks module contains the worker tasks that are used to back up and restore
 """
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
-from selfprivacy_api.graphql.common_types.backup import RestoreStrategy, BackupReason
+from selfprivacy_api.graphql.common_types.backup import (
+    RestoreStrategy,
+    BackupReason,
+)
 
 from selfprivacy_api.models.backup.snapshot import Snapshot
 from selfprivacy_api.utils.huey import huey
 from huey import crontab
 from selfprivacy_api.services.service import Service
 from selfprivacy_api.backup import Backups
+from selfprivacy_api.jobs import Jobs, JobStatus, Job
+
 
 SNAPSHOT_CACHE_TTL_HOURS = 6
 
@@ -36,6 +41,22 @@ def start_backup(
     return True
 
 
+@huey.task()
+def prune_autobackup_snapshots(job: Job) -> bool:
+    """
+    Remove all autobackup snapshots that do not fit into quotas set
+    """
+    Jobs.update(job, JobStatus.RUNNING)
+    try:
+        Backups.prune_all_autosnaps()
+    except Exception as e:
+        Jobs.update(job, JobStatus.ERROR, error=type(e).__name__ + ":" + str(e))
+        return False
+
+    Jobs.update(job, JobStatus.FINISHED)
+    return True
+
+
 @huey.task()
 def restore_snapshot(
     snapshot: Snapshot,
diff --git a/selfprivacy_api/graphql/mutations/backup_mutations.py b/selfprivacy_api/graphql/mutations/backup_mutations.py
index dcfebff..cc1538e 100644
--- a/selfprivacy_api/graphql/mutations/backup_mutations.py
+++ b/selfprivacy_api/graphql/mutations/backup_mutations.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import typing
 import strawberry
 
+from selfprivacy_api.jobs import Jobs
+
 from selfprivacy_api.graphql import IsAuthenticated
 from selfprivacy_api.graphql.mutations.mutation_interface import (
     GenericMutationReturn,
@@ -18,7 +20,11 @@ from selfprivacy_api.graphql.common_types.backup import (
 
 from selfprivacy_api.backup import Backups
 from selfprivacy_api.services import get_service_by_id
-from selfprivacy_api.backup.tasks import start_backup, restore_snapshot
+from selfprivacy_api.backup.tasks import (
+    start_backup,
+    restore_snapshot,
+    prune_autobackup_snapshots,
+)
 from selfprivacy_api.backup.jobs import add_backup_job, add_restore_job
 
 
@@ -103,8 +109,16 @@ class BackupMutations:
         To disable autobackup use autobackup period setting, not this mutation.
         """
 
+        job = Jobs.add(
+            name="Trimming autobackup snapshots",
+            type_id="backups.autobackup_trimming",
+            description="Pruning the excessive snapshots after the new autobackup quotas are set",
+        )
+
         try:
             Backups.set_autobackup_quotas(quotas)
+            # this task is async and can fail with only a job to report the error
+            prune_autobackup_snapshots(job)
             return GenericBackupConfigReturn(
                 success=True,
                 message="",
@@ -115,7 +129,7 @@ class BackupMutations:
         except Exception as e:
             return GenericBackupConfigReturn(
                 success=False,
-                message=str(e),
+                message=type(e).__name__ + ":" + str(e),
                 code=400,
                 configuration=Backup().configuration(),
             )
diff --git a/tests/test_graphql/test_api_backup.py b/tests/test_graphql/test_api_backup.py
index 225abf7..b44fd44 100644
--- a/tests/test_graphql/test_api_backup.py
+++ b/tests/test_graphql/test_api_backup.py
@@ -265,6 +265,10 @@ def api_init_without_key(
 
 
 def assert_ok(data):
+    if data["success"] is False:
+        # convenience for debugging, this should display error
+        # if empty, consider adding helpful messages
+        raise ValueError(data["code"], data["message"])
     assert data["code"] == 200
     assert data["success"] is True
 
@@ -302,7 +306,7 @@ def test_snapshots_empty(authorized_client, dummy_service):
     assert snaps == []
 
 
-def test_start_backup(authorized_client, dummy_service):
+def test_start_backup(authorized_client, dummy_service, backups):
     response = api_backup(authorized_client, dummy_service)
     data = get_data(response)["backup"]["startBackup"]
     assert data["success"] is True
@@ -318,7 +322,7 @@ def test_start_backup(authorized_client, dummy_service):
     assert snap["service"]["id"] == "testservice"
 
 
-def test_restore(authorized_client, dummy_service):
+def test_restore(authorized_client, dummy_service, backups):
     api_backup(authorized_client, dummy_service)
     snap = api_snapshots(authorized_client)[0]
     assert snap["id"] is not None
@@ -331,7 +335,7 @@ def test_restore(authorized_client, dummy_service):
     assert Jobs.get_job(job["uid"]).status == JobStatus.FINISHED
 
 
-def test_reinit(authorized_client, dummy_service, tmpdir):
+def test_reinit(authorized_client, dummy_service, tmpdir, backups):
     test_repo_path = path.join(tmpdir, "not_at_all_sus")
     response = api_init_without_key(
         authorized_client, "FILE", "", "", test_repo_path, ""
@@ -353,7 +357,7 @@ def test_reinit(authorized_client, dummy_service, tmpdir):
     assert Jobs.get_job(job["uid"]).status == JobStatus.FINISHED
 
 
-def test_remove(authorized_client, generic_userdata):
+def test_remove(authorized_client, generic_userdata, backups):
     response = api_remove(authorized_client)
     data = get_data(response)["backup"]["removeRepository"]
     assert_ok(data)
@@ -367,7 +371,7 @@ def test_remove(authorized_client, generic_userdata):
     assert configuration["isInitialized"] is False
 
 
-def test_autobackup_quotas_nonzero(authorized_client):
+def test_autobackup_quotas_nonzero(authorized_client, backups):
     quotas = _AutobackupQuotas(
         last=3,
         daily=2,
@@ -383,7 +387,7 @@ def test_autobackup_quotas_nonzero(authorized_client):
     assert configuration["autobackupQuotas"] == quotas
 
 
-def test_autobackup_period_nonzero(authorized_client):
+def test_autobackup_period_nonzero(authorized_client, backups):
     new_period = 11
     response = api_set_period(authorized_client, new_period)
     data = get_data(response)["backup"]["setAutobackupPeriod"]
@@ -393,7 +397,7 @@ def test_autobackup_period_nonzero(authorized_client):
     assert configuration["autobackupPeriod"] == new_period
 
 
-def test_autobackup_period_zero(authorized_client):
+def test_autobackup_period_zero(authorized_client, backups):
     new_period = 0
     # since it is none by default, we better first set it to something non-negative
     response = api_set_period(authorized_client, 11)
@@ -406,7 +410,7 @@ def test_autobackup_period_zero(authorized_client):
     assert configuration["autobackupPeriod"] == None
 
 
-def test_autobackup_period_none(authorized_client):
+def test_autobackup_period_none(authorized_client, backups):
     # since it is none by default, we better first set it to something non-negative
     response = api_set_period(authorized_client, 11)
     # and now we nullify it
@@ -418,7 +422,7 @@ def test_autobackup_period_none(authorized_client):
     assert configuration["autobackupPeriod"] == None
 
 
-def test_autobackup_period_negative(authorized_client):
+def test_autobackup_period_negative(authorized_client, backups):
     # since it is none by default, we better first set it to something non-negative
     response = api_set_period(authorized_client, 11)
     # and now we nullify it
@@ -432,7 +436,7 @@ def test_autobackup_period_negative(authorized_client):
 
 # We cannot really check the effect at this level, we leave it to backend tests
 # But we still make it run in both empty and full scenarios and ask for snaps afterwards
-def test_reload_snapshots_bare_bare_bare(authorized_client, dummy_service):
+def test_reload_snapshots_bare_bare_bare(authorized_client, dummy_service, backups):
     api_remove(authorized_client)
 
     response = api_reload_snapshots(authorized_client)
@@ -443,7 +447,7 @@ def test_reload_snapshots_bare_bare_bare(authorized_client, dummy_service):
     assert snaps == []
 
 
-def test_reload_snapshots(authorized_client, dummy_service):
+def test_reload_snapshots(authorized_client, dummy_service, backups):
     response = api_backup(authorized_client, dummy_service)
     data = get_data(response)["backup"]["startBackup"]
 
@@ -455,7 +459,7 @@ def test_reload_snapshots(authorized_client, dummy_service):
     assert len(snaps) == 1
 
 
-def test_forget_snapshot(authorized_client, dummy_service):
+def test_forget_snapshot(authorized_client, dummy_service, backups):
     response = api_backup(authorized_client, dummy_service)
     data = get_data(response)["backup"]["startBackup"]
 
@@ -470,7 +474,7 @@ def test_forget_snapshot(authorized_client, dummy_service):
     assert len(snaps) == 0
 
 
-def test_forget_nonexistent_snapshot(authorized_client, dummy_service):
+def test_forget_nonexistent_snapshot(authorized_client, dummy_service, backups):
     snaps = api_snapshots(authorized_client)
     assert len(snaps) == 0
     response = api_forget(authorized_client, "898798uekiodpjoiweoiwuoeirueor")
diff --git a/tests/test_graphql/test_backup.py b/tests/test_graphql/test_backup.py
index 27a2879..b66a90d 100644
--- a/tests/test_graphql/test_backup.py
+++ b/tests/test_graphql/test_backup.py
@@ -1,52 +1,49 @@
 import pytest
+
 import os
 import os.path as path
 from os import makedirs
 from os import remove
 from os import listdir
 from os import urandom
-from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone, date, time
-from subprocess import Popen
+
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 from copy import copy
-
-import secrets
-
-
 import tempfile
 
 from selfprivacy_api.utils.huey import huey
 
 import selfprivacy_api.services as services
 from selfprivacy_api.services import Service, get_all_services
-from selfprivacy_api.services.service import ServiceStatus
-
 from selfprivacy_api.services import get_service_by_id
+from selfprivacy_api.services.service import ServiceStatus
 from selfprivacy_api.services.test_service import DummyService
+
 from selfprivacy_api.graphql.queries.providers import BackupProvider
-from selfprivacy_api.graphql.common_types.backup import RestoreStrategy, BackupReason
+from selfprivacy_api.graphql.common_types.backup import (
+    RestoreStrategy,
+    BackupReason,
+    AutobackupQuotas,
+)
+
 from selfprivacy_api.jobs import Jobs, JobStatus
 
 from selfprivacy_api.models.backup.snapshot import Snapshot
 
-from selfprivacy_api.graphql.common_types.backup import AutobackupQuotas
-
 from selfprivacy_api.backup import Backups, BACKUP_PROVIDER_ENVS
 import selfprivacy_api.backup.providers as providers
 from selfprivacy_api.backup.providers import AbstractBackupProvider
 from selfprivacy_api.backup.providers.backblaze import Backblaze
 from selfprivacy_api.backup.providers.none import NoBackups
 from selfprivacy_api.backup.util import sync
-from selfprivacy_api.backup.backuppers.restic_backupper import ResticBackupper
-from selfprivacy_api.backup.jobs import add_backup_job, add_restore_job
-
 
 from selfprivacy_api.backup.tasks import (
     start_backup,
     restore_snapshot,
     reload_snapshot_cache,
+    prune_autobackup_snapshots,
 )
 from selfprivacy_api.backup.storage import Storage
-from selfprivacy_api.backup.jobs import get_backup_job
 
 
 TESTFILE_BODY = "testytest!"
@@ -651,6 +648,9 @@ def test_too_many_auto(backups, dummy_service):
     # Retroactivity
     quota.last = 1
     Backups.set_autobackup_quotas(quota)
+    job = Jobs.add("trimming", "test.autobackup_trimming", "trimming the snaps!")
+    handle = prune_autobackup_snapshots(job)
+    handle(blocking=True)
     snaps = Backups.get_snapshots(dummy_service)
     assert len(snaps) == 1