diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index dd60f8e..8056cbd 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -266,23 +266,41 @@ def cleanup_backups(backup_type):
             grouped[key] = []
         grouped[key].append(item)
 
-    deleted_count = 0
-    errors = []
+    import tempfile
+    import os
 
+    to_delete_paths = []
     for key, group_items in grouped.items():
         # Sort by ModTime descending (newest first)
         group_items.sort(key=lambda x: x.get("ModTime", ""), reverse=True)
         # Keep first 2
         to_delete = group_items[2:]
         for item in to_delete:
-            path = item.get("Path", item.get("Name"))
-            full_remote_path = f"{remote}/{path}"
-            cmd = ["rclone", "deletefile", full_remote_path, "--drive-root-folder-id", "1ey-5aABgHDtirxeJarWy0ZmeqQPVTYtm"]
-            result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=60)
-            if result.returncode == 0:
-                deleted_count += 1
-            else:
-                errors.append(f"Failed to delete {path}: {result.stderr}")
+            to_delete_paths.append(item.get("Path", item.get("Name")))
+
+    deleted_count = 0
+    errors = []
+
+    if to_delete_paths:
+        with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode='w', delete=False) as f:
+            for p in to_delete_paths:
+                f.write(p + '\n')
+            list_file = f.name
+
+        cmd = [
+            "rclone", "delete", remote,
+            "--files-from", list_file,
+            "--drive-root-folder-id", "1ey-5aABgHDtirxeJarWy0ZmeqQPVTYtm",
+            "--drive-use-trash=false"  # permanently delete to immediately free space
+        ]
+        
+        result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=300)
+        os.remove(list_file)
+
+        if result.returncode == 0:
+            deleted_count = len(to_delete_paths)
+        else:
+            errors.append(f"Failed to bulk delete: {result.stderr}")
 
     # invalidate cache
     global _stats_cache