diff --git a/apps/yaak-client/components/Sidebar.tsx b/apps/yaak-client/components/Sidebar.tsx
index 9e897418..196e116e 100644
--- a/apps/yaak-client/components/Sidebar.tsx
+++ b/apps/yaak-client/components/Sidebar.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { Extension } from "@codemirror/state";
 import { Compartment } from "@codemirror/state";
+import { getCurrentWebviewWindow } from "@tauri-apps/api/webviewWindow";
 import { debounce } from "@yaakapp-internal/lib";
 import { gitMutations } from "@yaakapp-internal/git";
 import type { GitStatus } from "@yaakapp-internal/git";
@@ -131,11 +132,17 @@ function Sidebar({ className }: { className?: string }) {
     if (!didFocus) filterRef.current?.focus();
   }, []);
 
-  // Focus any new sidebar models when created
-  useListenToTauriEvent<ModelPayload>("model_write", ({ payload }) => {
-    if (!isSidebarLeafModel(payload.model)) return;
-    if (!(payload.change.type === "upsert" && payload.change.created)) return;
-    treeRef.current?.selectItem(payload.model.id, true);
+  // Focus new sidebar models created by the user in this window. Writes from other
+  // sources (import, sync, CLI) can carry thousands of models and shouldn't move
+  // the selection.
+  useListenToTauriEvent<ModelPayload[]>("model_writes", ({ payload: payloads }) => {
+    for (const payload of payloads) {
+      if (payload.updateSource.type !== "window") continue;
+      if (payload.updateSource.label !== getCurrentWebviewWindow().label) continue;
+      if (!isSidebarLeafModel(payload.model)) continue;
+      if (!(payload.change.type === "upsert" && payload.change.created)) continue;
+      treeRef.current?.selectItem(payload.model.id, true);
+    }
   });
 
   useEffect(() => {
diff --git a/apps/yaak-client/components/WorkspaceActionsDropdown.tsx b/apps/yaak-client/components/WorkspaceActionsDropdown.tsx
index a7a234c7..16ff8550 100644
--- a/apps/yaak-client/components/WorkspaceActionsDropdown.tsx
+++ b/apps/yaak-client/components/WorkspaceActionsDropdown.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { useCreateWorkspace } from "../hooks/useCreateWorkspace";
 import { useDeleteSendHistory } from "../hooks/useDeleteSendHistory";
 import { useWorkspaceActions } from "../hooks/useWorkspaceActions";
 import { showDialog } from "../lib/dialog";
+import { importData } from "../lib/importData";
 import { jotaiStore } from "../lib/jotai";
 import { revealInFinderText } from "../lib/reveal";
 import { CloneGitRepositoryDialog } from "./CloneGitRepositoryDialog";
@@ -90,6 +91,11 @@ export const WorkspaceActionsDropdown = memo(function WorkspaceActionsDropdown({
             leftSlot: <Icon icon="hard_drive_download" />,
             onSelect: openCloneGitRepositoryDialog,
           },
+          {
+            label: "Import Data",
+            leftSlot: <Icon icon="folder_input" />,
+            onSelect: () => importData.mutate(),
+          },
         ],
       },
     ];
diff --git a/apps/yaak-client/font-size.ts b/apps/yaak-client/font-size.ts
index 4055f35c..6a5dbf2f 100644
--- a/apps/yaak-client/font-size.ts
+++ b/apps/yaak-client/font-size.ts
@@ -8,10 +8,12 @@ function setFontSizeOnDocument(fontSize: number) {
   document.documentElement.style.fontSize = `${fontSize}px`;
 }
 
-listen<ModelPayload>("model_write", async (event) => {
-  if (event.payload.change.type !== "upsert") return;
-  if (event.payload.model.model !== "settings") return;
-  setFontSizeOnDocument(event.payload.model.interfaceFontSize);
+listen<ModelPayload[]>("model_writes", async (event) => {
+  for (const payload of event.payload) {
+    if (payload.change.type !== "upsert") continue;
+    if (payload.model.model !== "settings") continue;
+    setFontSizeOnDocument(payload.model.interfaceFontSize);
+  }
 }).catch(console.error);
 
 fireAndForget(getSettings().then((settings) => setFontSizeOnDocument(settings.interfaceFontSize)));
diff --git a/apps/yaak-client/font.ts b/apps/yaak-client/font.ts
index dbdde529..96913d0a 100644
--- a/apps/yaak-client/font.ts
+++ b/apps/yaak-client/font.ts
@@ -12,10 +12,12 @@ function setFonts(settings: Settings) {
   );
 }
 
-listen<ModelPayload>("model_write", async (event) => {
-  if (event.payload.change.type !== "upsert") return;
-  if (event.payload.model.model !== "settings") return;
-  setFonts(event.payload.model);
+listen<ModelPayload[]>("model_writes", async (event) => {
+  for (const payload of event.payload) {
+    if (payload.change.type !== "upsert") continue;
+    if (payload.model.model !== "settings") continue;
+    setFonts(payload.model);
+  }
 }).catch(console.error);
 
 fireAndForget(getSettings().then((settings) => setFonts(settings)));
diff --git a/apps/yaak-client/hooks/useRequestUpdateKey.ts b/apps/yaak-client/hooks/useRequestUpdateKey.ts
index 9546f8ff..dbd48609 100644
--- a/apps/yaak-client/hooks/useRequestUpdateKey.ts
+++ b/apps/yaak-client/hooks/useRequestUpdateKey.ts
@@ -7,24 +7,33 @@ import { jotaiStore } from "../lib/jotai";
 const requestUpdateKeyAtom = atom<Record<string, string>>({});
 
 getCurrentWebviewWindow()
-  .listen<ModelPayload>("model_write", ({ payload }) => {
-    if (payload.change.type !== "upsert") return;
+  .listen<ModelPayload[]>("model_writes", ({ payload: payloads }) => {
+    const changedIds: string[] = [];
+    for (const payload of payloads) {
+      if (payload.change.type !== "upsert") continue;
 
-    if (
-      (payload.model.model === "http_request" ||
-        payload.model.model === "grpc_request" ||
-        payload.model.model === "websocket_request") &&
-      ((payload.updateSource.type === "window" &&
-        payload.updateSource.label !== getCurrentWebviewWindow().label) ||
-        payload.updateSource.type !== "window")
-    ) {
-      wasUpdatedExternally(payload.model.id);
+      if (
+        (payload.model.model === "http_request" ||
+          payload.model.model === "grpc_request" ||
+          payload.model.model === "websocket_request") &&
+        ((payload.updateSource.type === "window" &&
+          payload.updateSource.label !== getCurrentWebviewWindow().label) ||
+          payload.updateSource.type !== "window")
+      ) {
+        changedIds.push(payload.model.id);
+      }
     }
+    if (changedIds.length > 0) wasUpdatedExternally(changedIds);
   })
   .catch(console.error);
 
-export function wasUpdatedExternally(changedRequestId: string) {
-  jotaiStore.set(requestUpdateKeyAtom, (m) => ({ ...m, [changedRequestId]: generateId() }));
+export function wasUpdatedExternally(changedRequestIds: string | string[]) {
+  const ids = Array.isArray(changedRequestIds) ? changedRequestIds : [changedRequestIds];
+  jotaiStore.set(requestUpdateKeyAtom, (m) => {
+    const next = { ...m };
+    for (const id of ids) next[id] = generateId();
+    return next;
+  });
 }
 
 export function useRequestUpdateKey(requestId: string | null) {
diff --git a/apps/yaak-client/init/sync.ts b/apps/yaak-client/init/sync.ts
index 61412711..f81b1220 100644
--- a/apps/yaak-client/init/sync.ts
+++ b/apps/yaak-client/init/sync.ts
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ const syncAfterModelWrite = eagerDebounceAsync(sync, 1000);
  * simply add long-lived subscribers for the lifetime of the app.
  */
 function initModelListeners() {
-  listenToTauriEvent<ModelPayload>("model_write", (p) => {
-    if (isModelRelevant(p.payload.model)) syncAfterModelWrite();
+  listenToTauriEvent<ModelPayload[]>("model_writes", (p) => {
+    if (p.payload.some((payload) => isModelRelevant(payload.model))) syncAfterModelWrite();
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/yaak-client/theme.ts b/apps/yaak-client/theme.ts
index 3d01a3d4..858b1879 100644
--- a/apps/yaak-client/theme.ts
+++ b/apps/yaak-client/theme.ts
@@ -46,11 +46,13 @@ async function configureThemeAndShow() {
 }
 
 // Listen for settings changes, the re-compute theme
-listen<ModelPayload>("model_write", async (event) => {
-  if (event.payload.change.type !== "upsert") return;
-
-  const model = event.payload.model.model;
-  if (model !== "settings" && model !== "plugin") return;
+listen<ModelPayload[]>("model_writes", async (event) => {
+  const relevant = event.payload.some(
+    (p) =>
+      p.change.type === "upsert" &&
+      (p.model.model === "settings" || p.model.model === "plugin"),
+  );
+  if (!relevant) return;
   await configureThemeAndShow();
 }).catch(console.error);
 
diff --git a/crates-cli/yaak-cli/src/commands/workspace.rs b/crates-cli/yaak-cli/src/commands/workspace.rs
index 38bfcc01..9a05219b 100644
--- a/crates-cli/yaak-cli/src/commands/workspace.rs
+++ b/crates-cli/yaak-cli/src/commands/workspace.rs
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ fn delete(ctx: &CliContext, workspace_id: &str, yes: bool) -> CommandResult {
 
     let deleted = ctx
         .db()
-        .delete_workspace_by_id(workspace_id, &UpdateSource::Sync)
+        .delete_workspace_by_id(workspace_id, &UpdateSource::Sync, ctx.blob_manager())
         .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to delete workspace: {e}"))?;
     println!("Deleted workspace: {}", deleted.id);
     Ok(())
diff --git a/crates-tauri/yaak-app-client/src/models_ext.rs b/crates-tauri/yaak-app-client/src/models_ext.rs
index e210cc97..219d4573 100644
--- a/crates-tauri/yaak-app-client/src/models_ext.rs
+++ b/crates-tauri/yaak-app-client/src/models_ext.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use yaak_models::client_db::ClientDb;
 use yaak_models::error::Result;
 use yaak_models::models::{AnyModel, GraphQlIntrospection, GrpcEvent, Settings, WebsocketEvent};
 use yaak_models::query_manager::QueryManager;
-use yaak_models::util::UpdateSource;
+use yaak_models::util::{ModelPayload, UpdateSource};
 use yaak_plugins::manager::PluginManager;
 
 const MODEL_CHANGES_RETENTION_HOURS: i64 = 1;
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ fn drain_model_changes_batch<R: Runtime>(
     }
 
     let fetched_count = changes.len();
+    let mut batch: Vec<ModelPayload> = Vec::with_capacity(fetched_count);
     for change in changes {
         cursor.created_at = change.created_at;
         cursor.id = change.id;
@@ -66,8 +67,14 @@ fn drain_model_changes_batch<R: Runtime>(
         if matches!(change.payload.update_source, UpdateSource::Window { .. }) {
             continue;
         }
-        if let Err(err) = app_handle.emit("model_write", change.payload) {
-            error!("Failed to emit model_write event: {err:?}");
+        batch.push(change.payload);
+    }
+
+    // Emit as a single batch so bulk writes (imports, sync, CLI) don't flood the
+    // frontend with per-model events.
+    if !batch.is_empty() {
+        if let Err(err) = app_handle.emit("model_writes", batch) {
+            error!("Failed to emit model_writes event: {err:?}");
         }
     }
 
@@ -162,33 +169,39 @@ pub(crate) fn models_upsert<R: Runtime>(
     Ok(id)
 }
 
+// Async so cascading deletes (e.g. a workspace with thousands of requests) run on a
+// blocking thread instead of stalling the main thread and all other IPC.
 #[tauri::command]
-pub(crate) fn models_delete<R: Runtime>(
+pub(crate) async fn models_delete<R: Runtime>(
     window: WebviewWindow<R>,
     model: AnyModel,
 ) -> Result<String> {
     use yaak_models::error::Error::GenericError;
 
-    let blobs = window.blob_manager();
-    // Use transaction for deletions because it might recurse
-    window.with_tx(|tx| {
-        let source = &UpdateSource::from_window_label(window.label());
-        let id = match model {
-            AnyModel::CookieJar(m) => tx.delete_cookie_jar(&m, source)?.id,
-            AnyModel::Environment(m) => tx.delete_environment(&m, source)?.id,
-            AnyModel::Folder(m) => tx.delete_folder(&m, source)?.id,
-            AnyModel::GrpcConnection(m) => tx.delete_grpc_connection(&m, source)?.id,
-            AnyModel::GrpcRequest(m) => tx.delete_grpc_request(&m, source)?.id,
-            AnyModel::HttpRequest(m) => tx.delete_http_request(&m, source)?.id,
-            AnyModel::HttpResponse(m) => tx.delete_http_response(&m, source, &blobs)?.id,
-            AnyModel::Plugin(m) => tx.delete_plugin(&m, source)?.id,
-            AnyModel::WebsocketConnection(m) => tx.delete_websocket_connection(&m, source)?.id,
-            AnyModel::WebsocketRequest(m) => tx.delete_websocket_request(&m, source)?.id,
-            AnyModel::Workspace(m) => tx.delete_workspace(&m, source)?.id,
-            a => return Err(GenericError(format!("Cannot delete AnyModel {a:?})"))),
-        };
-        Ok(id)
+    tauri::async_runtime::spawn_blocking(move || {
+        let blobs = window.blob_manager();
+        // Use transaction for deletions because it might recurse
+        window.with_tx(|tx| {
+            let source = &UpdateSource::from_window_label(window.label());
+            let id = match model {
+                AnyModel::CookieJar(m) => tx.delete_cookie_jar(&m, source)?.id,
+                AnyModel::Environment(m) => tx.delete_environment(&m, source)?.id,
+                AnyModel::Folder(m) => tx.delete_folder(&m, source)?.id,
+                AnyModel::GrpcConnection(m) => tx.delete_grpc_connection(&m, source)?.id,
+                AnyModel::GrpcRequest(m) => tx.delete_grpc_request(&m, source)?.id,
+                AnyModel::HttpRequest(m) => tx.delete_http_request(&m, source)?.id,
+                AnyModel::HttpResponse(m) => tx.delete_http_response(&m, source, &blobs)?.id,
+                AnyModel::Plugin(m) => tx.delete_plugin(&m, source)?.id,
+                AnyModel::WebsocketConnection(m) => tx.delete_websocket_connection(&m, source)?.id,
+                AnyModel::WebsocketRequest(m) => tx.delete_websocket_request(&m, source)?.id,
+                AnyModel::Workspace(m) => tx.delete_workspace(&m, source, &blobs)?.id,
+                a => return Err(GenericError(format!("Cannot delete AnyModel {a:?})"))),
+            };
+            Ok(id)
+        })
     })
+    .await
+    .map_err(|e| GenericError(format!("Delete task failed: {e}")))?
 }
 
 #[tauri::command]
@@ -364,6 +377,20 @@ pub fn init<R: Runtime>() -> TauriPlugin<R> {
 
             let poll_query_manager = query_manager.clone();
 
+            // GC response bodies orphaned by cascade deletes, which historically
+            // didn't clean the blob DB or responses directory
+            let gc_query_manager = query_manager.clone();
+            let gc_blob_manager = blob_manager.clone();
+            let gc_responses_dir = app_path.join("responses");
+            tauri::async_runtime::spawn_blocking(move || {
+                let db = gc_query_manager.connect();
+                match db.delete_orphaned_response_bodies(&gc_blob_manager, &gc_responses_dir) {
+                    Ok(0) => {}
+                    Ok(n) => log::info!("Deleted {n} orphaned response bodies"),
+                    Err(e) => error!("Failed to delete orphaned response bodies: {e:?}"),
+                }
+            });
+
             app_handle.manage(query_manager);
             app_handle.manage(blob_manager);
 
@@ -378,12 +405,22 @@ pub fn init<R: Runtime>() -> TauriPlugin<R> {
             // current sync-model UX snappy, while DB polling handles external writers (CLI).
             let app_handle_local = app_handle.clone();
             tauri::async_runtime::spawn(async move {
-                for payload in rx {
-                    if !matches!(payload.update_source, UpdateSource::Window { .. }) {
+                while let Ok(payload) = rx.recv() {
+                    let mut batch: Vec<ModelPayload> = Vec::new();
+                    if matches!(payload.update_source, UpdateSource::Window { .. }) {
+                        batch.push(payload);
+                    }
+                    // Coalesce any writes already queued into the same emit
+                    while let Ok(next) = rx.try_recv() {
+                        if matches!(next.update_source, UpdateSource::Window { .. }) {
+                            batch.push(next);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    if batch.is_empty() {
                         continue;
                     }
-                    if let Err(err) = app_handle_local.emit("model_write", payload) {
-                        error!("Failed to emit local model_write event: {err:?}");
+                    if let Err(err) = app_handle_local.emit("model_writes", batch) {
+                        error!("Failed to emit local model_writes event: {err:?}");
                     }
                 }
             });
diff --git a/crates-tauri/yaak-app-client/src/plugins_ext.rs b/crates-tauri/yaak-app-client/src/plugins_ext.rs
index 3fcc8fe2..fb00da96 100644
--- a/crates-tauri/yaak-app-client/src/plugins_ext.rs
+++ b/crates-tauri/yaak-app-client/src/plugins_ext.rs
@@ -285,6 +285,19 @@ pub fn init<R: Runtime>() -> TauriPlugin<R> {
             #[cfg(not(target_os = "windows"))]
             let node_bin_name = "yaaknode";
 
+            // In dev, spawn yaaknode from the source vendored dir, not the copy under
+            // target/. tauri-build rewrites the target copy in place when the source
+            // changes (e.g. a Node version bump between branches), and on macOS an
+            // in-place write permanently taints the inode's cached code signature —
+            // every later spawn of it dies with SIGKILL (Code Signature Invalid).
+            // vendor-node.cjs always recreates the source file on a fresh inode.
+            #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
+            let node_bin_path = std::path::PathBuf::from(env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"))
+                .join("vendored")
+                .join("node")
+                .join(node_bin_name);
+
+            #[cfg(not(debug_assertions))]
             let node_bin_path = app_handle
                 .path()
                 .resolve(format!("vendored/node/{}", node_bin_name), BaseDirectory::Resource)
diff --git a/crates-tauri/yaak-app-client/src/sync_ext.rs b/crates-tauri/yaak-app-client/src/sync_ext.rs
index c5f54b5f..f38446f0 100644
--- a/crates-tauri/yaak-app-client/src/sync_ext.rs
+++ b/crates-tauri/yaak-app-client/src/sync_ext.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 //! This module provides the Tauri commands for sync functionality.
 
 use crate::error::Result;
-use crate::models_ext::QueryManagerExt;
+use crate::models_ext::{BlobManagerExt, QueryManagerExt};
 use chrono::Utc;
 use log::warn;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ pub(crate) async fn cmd_sync_apply<R: Runtime>(
     workspace_id: &str,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     let db = app_handle.db();
-    let sync_state_ops = apply_sync_ops(&db, workspace_id, sync_dir, sync_ops)?;
+    let blobs = app_handle.blob_manager();
+    let sync_state_ops = apply_sync_ops(&db, &blobs, workspace_id, sync_dir, sync_ops)?;
     apply_sync_state_ops(&db, workspace_id, sync_dir, sync_state_ops)?;
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/crates/common/yaak-database/src/db_context.rs b/crates/common/yaak-database/src/db_context.rs
index 8303e89d..eabafef4 100644
--- a/crates/common/yaak-database/src/db_context.rs
+++ b/crates/common/yaak-database/src/db_context.rs
@@ -160,6 +160,24 @@ impl<'a> DbContext<'a> {
         Ok((m, created))
     }
 
+    /// Bulk-delete all rows matching a column value with a single statement.
+    /// Returns the number of rows deleted.
+    pub fn delete_many<M>(
+        &self,
+        col: impl IntoColumnRef,
+        value: impl Into<SimpleExpr>,
+    ) -> Result<usize>
+    where
+        M: UpsertModelInfo,
+    {
+        let (sql, params) = Query::delete()
+            .from_table(M::table_name())
+            .cond_where(Expr::col(col).eq(value))
+            .build_rusqlite(SqliteQueryBuilder);
+        let count = self.conn.execute(sql.as_str(), &*params.as_params())?;
+        Ok(count)
+    }
+
     /// Delete a model by its ID. Returns the number of rows deleted.
     pub fn delete<M>(&self, m: &M) -> Result<usize>
     where
diff --git a/crates/common/yaak-database/src/update_source.rs b/crates/common/yaak-database/src/update_source.rs
index 18afea4f..c378d5d3 100644
--- a/crates/common/yaak-database/src/update_source.rs
+++ b/crates/common/yaak-database/src/update_source.rs
@@ -21,5 +21,9 @@ impl UpdateSource {
 #[serde(rename_all = "snake_case", tag = "type")]
 pub enum ModelChangeEvent {
     Upsert { created: bool },
+    /// A delete for a workspace implies deletion of every model in that
+    /// workspace — children are bulk-deleted without their own change rows or
+    /// events, and consumers must prune the subtree themselves (the frontend
+    /// model store does this centrally).
     Delete,
 }
diff --git a/crates/yaak-models/guest-js/store.ts b/crates/yaak-models/guest-js/store.ts
index 404dd85b..d913064d 100644
--- a/crates/yaak-models/guest-js/store.ts
+++ b/crates/yaak-models/guest-js/store.ts
@@ -17,28 +17,91 @@ export function initModelStore(store: JotaiStore) {
   window.addEventListener("beforeunload", flushAllPendingPatches);
 
   getCurrentWebviewWindow()
-    .listen<ModelPayload>("model_write", ({ payload }) => {
-      if (shouldIgnoreModel(payload)) return;
-
+    .listen<ModelPayload[]>("model_writes", ({ payload: payloads }) => {
       mustStore().set(modelStoreDataAtom, (prev: ModelStoreData) => {
-        if (payload.change.type === "upsert") {
-          return {
-            ...prev,
-            [payload.model.model]: {
-              ...prev[payload.model.model],
-              [payload.model.id]: payload.model,
-            },
-          };
-        } else {
-          const modelData = { ...prev[payload.model.model] };
-          delete modelData[payload.model.id];
-          return { ...prev, [payload.model.model]: modelData };
+        // Apply the entire batch in one update, cloning each touched bucket only
+        // once. Bulk writes (imports, sync, CLI) can carry hundreds of models.
+        const next = { ...prev };
+        const clonedBuckets = new Set<AnyModel["model"]>();
+        let changed = false;
+
+        for (const payload of payloads) {
+          if (shouldIgnoreModel(payload)) continue;
+          if (isUnsafeObjectKey(payload.model.model)) continue;
+          if (isUnsafeObjectKey(payload.model.id)) continue;
+
+          if (payload.change.type === "upsert") {
+            const modelType = payload.model.model;
+            if (!clonedBuckets.has(modelType)) {
+              next[modelType] = { ...next[modelType] } as never;
+              clonedBuckets.add(modelType);
+            }
+            (next[modelType] as Record<string, AnyModel>)[payload.model.id] = payload.model;
+            changed = true;
+          } else {
+            changed = applyModelDelete(next, clonedBuckets, payload.model) || changed;
+          }
         }
+
+        return changed ? next : prev;
       });
     })
     .catch(console.error);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Model buckets are plain objects keyed by model id, so ids that collide with
+ * Object.prototype members ("__proto__" etc.) could pollute the prototype.
+ * Real model ids are backend-generated and never look like this.
+ */
+function isUnsafeObjectKey(key: string): boolean {
+  return key === "__proto__" || key === "constructor" || key === "prototype";
+}
+
+function deleteFromBucket(
+  next: ModelStoreData,
+  clonedBuckets: Set<AnyModel["model"]>,
+  modelType: AnyModel["model"],
+  id: string,
+): boolean {
+  if (isUnsafeObjectKey(modelType)) return false;
+  if (isUnsafeObjectKey(id)) return false;
+  if (!Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(next[modelType], id)) return false;
+  if (!clonedBuckets.has(modelType)) {
+    next[modelType] = { ...next[modelType] } as never;
+    clonedBuckets.add(modelType);
+  }
+  delete (next[modelType] as Record<string, AnyModel>)[id];
+  return true;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Apply a model delete to store data, mutating `next` in place (buckets are
+ * cloned once, tracked via `clonedBuckets`). A workspace delete implies its
+ * entire subtree: the backend bulk-deletes children and records/emits only the
+ * workspace event (see ModelChangeEvent), so prune them here.
+ */
+function applyModelDelete(
+  next: ModelStoreData,
+  clonedBuckets: Set<AnyModel["model"]>,
+  model: AnyModel,
+): boolean {
+  let changed = deleteFromBucket(next, clonedBuckets, model.model, model.id);
+
+  if (model.model === "workspace") {
+    for (const modelType of Object.keys(next) as AnyModel["model"][]) {
+      const bucket = next[modelType] as Record<string, AnyModel>;
+      for (const [id, m] of Object.entries(bucket)) {
+        if ("workspaceId" in m && m.workspaceId === model.id) {
+          changed = deleteFromBucket(next, clonedBuckets, modelType, id) || changed;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  return changed;
+}
+
 function mustStore(): JotaiStore {
   if (_store == null) {
     throw new Error("Model store was not initialized");
@@ -243,6 +306,15 @@ export async function deleteModel<M extends AnyModel["model"], T extends Extract
     throw new Error("Failed to delete null model");
   }
   await trackModelWrite(invoke<string>("models_delete", { model }));
+
+  // Apply the delete locally right away so callers can rely on the store once the
+  // promise resolves. The backend echo arrives async, so anything that reads the
+  // store immediately after awaiting (e.g. redirecting away from a deleted
+  // workspace) would otherwise race it. The echo re-applying later is a no-op.
+  mustStore().set(modelStoreDataAtom, (prev: ModelStoreData) => {
+    const next = { ...prev };
+    return applyModelDelete(next, new Set(), model as AnyModel) ? next : prev;
+  });
 }
 
 export async function duplicateModel<
diff --git a/crates/yaak-models/src/blob_manager.rs b/crates/yaak-models/src/blob_manager.rs
index 31d4b155..871cbf75 100644
--- a/crates/yaak-models/src/blob_manager.rs
+++ b/crates/yaak-models/src/blob_manager.rs
@@ -79,6 +79,15 @@ impl BlobContext {
         Ok(chunks)
     }
 
+    /// List all distinct body IDs in the blob database.
+    pub fn list_body_ids(&self) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
+        let mut stmt = self.conn.prepare("SELECT DISTINCT body_id FROM body_chunks")?;
+        let ids = stmt
+            .query_map([], |row| row.get(0))?
+            .collect::<std::result::Result<Vec<String>, _>>()?;
+        Ok(ids)
+    }
+
     /// Delete all chunks for a body.
     pub fn delete_chunks(&self, body_id: &str) -> Result<()> {
         self.conn.execute("DELETE FROM body_chunks WHERE body_id = ?1", params![body_id])?;
diff --git a/crates/yaak-models/src/client_db.rs b/crates/yaak-models/src/client_db.rs
index 470a99a8..e4023e42 100644
--- a/crates/yaak-models/src/client_db.rs
+++ b/crates/yaak-models/src/client_db.rs
@@ -65,6 +65,21 @@ impl<'a> ClientDb<'a> {
         Ok(self.ctx.find_many(col, value, limit)?)
     }
 
+    /// Bulk-delete all rows matching a column value WITHOUT recording model
+    /// changes or emitting events. Only use for cascades whose deletion is
+    /// implied by a recorded parent delete (e.g. workspace children — see
+    /// [`ModelChangeEvent::Delete`]).
+    pub(crate) fn delete_many_untracked<M>(
+        &self,
+        col: impl IntoColumnRef,
+        value: impl Into<SimpleExpr>,
+    ) -> Result<usize>
+    where
+        M: UpsertModelInfo,
+    {
+        Ok(self.ctx.delete_many::<M>(col, value)?)
+    }
+
     // --- Write operations (with event recording) ---
 
     pub(crate) fn upsert<M>(&self, model: &M, source: &UpdateSource) -> Result<M>
diff --git a/crates/yaak-models/src/queries/http_responses.rs b/crates/yaak-models/src/queries/http_responses.rs
index 3530929f..a1b2010c 100644
--- a/crates/yaak-models/src/queries/http_responses.rs
+++ b/crates/yaak-models/src/queries/http_responses.rs
@@ -44,6 +44,56 @@ impl<'a> ClientDb<'a> {
         Ok(count)
     }
 
+    /// Delete response body data (blob chunks and body files) whose owning HTTP
+    /// response row no longer exists. Cascaded deletes (request, folder,
+    /// workspace) historically never cleaned the blob DB or the responses
+    /// directory, so orphans accumulate; this runs in the background at startup.
+    ///
+    /// Safe against in-flight sends: the response row is created before its
+    /// body file or chunks are written.
+    ///
+    /// Returns the number of orphaned bodies deleted.
+    pub fn delete_orphaned_response_bodies(
+        &self,
+        blobs: &BlobManager,
+        responses_dir: &std::path::Path,
+    ) -> Result<usize> {
+        let mut deleted = 0;
+
+        // Blob chunks are keyed "{response_id}.request"
+        let blob_ctx = blobs.connect();
+        for body_id in blob_ctx.list_body_ids()? {
+            let response_id = body_id.split('.').next().unwrap_or_default();
+            if self.find_optional::<HttpResponse>(HttpResponseIden::Id, response_id).is_some() {
+                continue;
+            }
+            blob_ctx.delete_chunks(&body_id)?;
+            deleted += 1;
+        }
+
+        // Body files are stored as {responses_dir}/{response_id}
+        if let Ok(entries) = fs::read_dir(responses_dir) {
+            for entry in entries.flatten() {
+                let path = entry.path();
+                if !path.is_file() {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                let Some(response_id) = path.file_name().and_then(|n| n.to_str()) else {
+                    continue;
+                };
+                if self.find_optional::<HttpResponse>(HttpResponseIden::Id, response_id).is_some()
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                if fs::remove_file(&path).is_ok() {
+                    deleted += 1;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        Ok(deleted)
+    }
+
     /// Returns the number of responses deleted.
     pub fn delete_all_http_responses_for_workspace(
         &self,
@@ -118,3 +168,68 @@ impl<'a> ClientDb<'a> {
         if response.id.is_empty() { Ok(response.clone()) } else { self.upsert(response, source) }
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use crate::blob_manager::BodyChunk;
+    use crate::init_in_memory;
+    use crate::models::{HttpRequest, HttpResponse, Workspace};
+    use crate::util::UpdateSource;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn deletes_orphaned_response_bodies() {
+        let (query_manager, blob_manager, _rx) = init_in_memory().expect("Failed to init DB");
+        let db = query_manager.connect();
+
+        let source = &UpdateSource::Background;
+        let workspace = db
+            .upsert_workspace(&Workspace { name: "GC Test".to_string(), ..Default::default() }, source)
+            .expect("Failed to upsert workspace");
+        let request = db
+            .upsert_http_request(
+                &HttpRequest { workspace_id: workspace.id.clone(), ..Default::default() },
+                source,
+            )
+            .expect("Failed to upsert request");
+
+        let live = db
+            .upsert_http_response(
+                &HttpResponse {
+                    request_id: request.id.clone(),
+                    workspace_id: workspace.id.clone(),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                },
+                source,
+                &blob_manager,
+            )
+            .expect("Failed to upsert response");
+
+        let live_body_id = format!("{}.request", live.id);
+        {
+            // Scope the connection: the in-memory pool only has one, and the GC
+            // needs to take it
+            let blob_ctx = blob_manager.connect();
+            blob_ctx.insert_chunk(&BodyChunk::new(&live_body_id, 0, b"live".to_vec())).unwrap();
+            blob_ctx.insert_chunk(&BodyChunk::new("rs_gone.request", 0, b"dead".to_vec())).unwrap();
+        }
+
+        let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("yaak-blob-gc-test-{}", live.id));
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+        std::fs::write(dir.join(&live.id), b"live").unwrap();
+        std::fs::write(dir.join("rs_gone"), b"dead").unwrap();
+
+        let deleted = db
+            .delete_orphaned_response_bodies(&blob_manager, &dir)
+            .expect("Failed to GC response bodies");
+        assert_eq!(deleted, 2);
+
+        // Live data survives, orphans are gone
+        let blob_ctx = blob_manager.connect();
+        assert!(blob_ctx.body_exists(&live_body_id).unwrap());
+        assert!(!blob_ctx.body_exists("rs_gone.request").unwrap());
+        assert!(dir.join(&live.id).exists());
+        assert!(!dir.join("rs_gone").exists());
+
+        std::fs::remove_dir_all(&dir).ok();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/yaak-models/src/queries/model_changes.rs b/crates/yaak-models/src/queries/model_changes.rs
index 386511ea..987118ad 100644
--- a/crates/yaak-models/src/queries/model_changes.rs
+++ b/crates/yaak-models/src/queries/model_changes.rs
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn records_model_changes_for_upsert_and_delete() {
-        let (query_manager, _blob_manager, _rx) = init_in_memory().expect("Failed to init DB");
+        let (query_manager, blob_manager, _rx) = init_in_memory().expect("Failed to init DB");
         let db = query_manager.connect();
 
         let workspace = db
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ mod tests {
         ));
         assert!(matches!(created_changes[0].payload.update_source, UpdateSource::Sync));
 
-        db.delete_workspace_by_id(&workspace.id, &UpdateSource::Sync)
+        db.delete_workspace_by_id(&workspace.id, &UpdateSource::Sync, &blob_manager)
             .expect("Failed to delete workspace");
 
         let all_changes = db.list_model_changes_after(0, 10).expect("Failed to list changes");
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn list_model_changes_since_uses_timestamp_with_id_tiebreaker() {
-        let (query_manager, _blob_manager, _rx) = init_in_memory().expect("Failed to init DB");
+        let (query_manager, blob_manager, _rx) = init_in_memory().expect("Failed to init DB");
         let db = query_manager.connect();
 
         let workspace = db
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ mod tests {
                 &UpdateSource::Sync,
             )
             .expect("Failed to upsert workspace");
-        db.delete_workspace_by_id(&workspace.id, &UpdateSource::Sync)
+        db.delete_workspace_by_id(&workspace.id, &UpdateSource::Sync, &blob_manager)
             .expect("Failed to delete workspace");
 
         let all = db.list_model_changes_after(0, 10).expect("Failed to list changes");
diff --git a/crates/yaak-models/src/queries/workspaces.rs b/crates/yaak-models/src/queries/workspaces.rs
index c77d7e38..b7874c35 100644
--- a/crates/yaak-models/src/queries/workspaces.rs
+++ b/crates/yaak-models/src/queries/workspaces.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,17 @@
+use crate::blob_manager::BlobManager;
 use crate::client_db::ClientDb;
 use crate::error::Result;
 use crate::models::{
-    AnyModel, EnvironmentIden, FolderIden, GrpcRequestIden, HttpRequestHeader, HttpRequestIden,
-    ResolvedHttpRequestSettings, ResolvedSetting, WebsocketRequestIden, Workspace, WorkspaceIden,
+    AnyModel, CookieJar, CookieJarIden, Environment, EnvironmentIden, Folder, FolderIden,
+    GraphQlIntrospection, GraphQlIntrospectionIden, GrpcConnection, GrpcConnectionIden, GrpcEvent,
+    GrpcEventIden, GrpcRequest, GrpcRequestIden, HttpRequest, HttpRequestHeader, HttpRequestIden,
+    HttpResponse, HttpResponseEvent, HttpResponseEventIden, HttpResponseIden,
+    ResolvedHttpRequestSettings, ResolvedSetting, SyncState, SyncStateIden, WebsocketConnection,
+    WebsocketConnectionIden, WebsocketEvent, WebsocketEventIden, WebsocketRequest,
+    WebsocketRequestIden, Workspace, WorkspaceIden, WorkspaceMeta, WorkspaceMetaIden,
 };
 use crate::util::UpdateSource;
+use log::warn;
 use serde_json::Value;
 use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 
@@ -32,37 +39,99 @@ impl<'a> ClientDb<'a> {
         Ok(workspaces)
     }
 
+    /// Delete a workspace and everything in it.
+    ///
+    /// Children are bulk-deleted with one statement per table and are NOT
+    /// individually recorded in model_changes or emitted as events — the single
+    /// workspace delete event implies the subtree (see [`ModelChangeEvent::Delete`]).
+    /// This keeps huge workspaces (thousands of requests) fast and avoids
+    /// flooding event consumers.
     pub fn delete_workspace(
         &self,
         workspace: &Workspace,
         source: &UpdateSource,
+        blobs: &BlobManager,
     ) -> Result<Workspace> {
-        for m in self.find_many(HttpRequestIden::WorkspaceId, &workspace.id, None)? {
-            self.delete_http_request(&m, source)?;
+        let wid = workspace.id.as_str();
+
+        // Collect response cleanup targets before their rows disappear. The actual
+        // cleanup runs at the end: response bodies live on disk and in the blob DB,
+        // which don't participate in this transaction, so removing them must wait
+        // until every statement that could fail (and roll back the rows) is done.
+        let responses = self.find_many::<HttpResponse>(HttpResponseIden::WorkspaceId, wid, None)?;
+
+        // Sync and the CLI call this on a plain connection where each statement
+        // would otherwise commit on its own, leaving a partially-deleted workspace
+        // if one fails. A savepoint makes the cascade atomic there, and nests
+        // harmlessly inside the interactive path's transaction.
+        let conn = self.conn().resolve();
+        conn.execute_batch("SAVEPOINT delete_workspace")?;
+
+        let result: Result<Workspace> = (|| {
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<HttpResponseEvent>(
+                HttpResponseEventIden::WorkspaceId,
+                wid,
+            )?;
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<HttpResponse>(HttpResponseIden::WorkspaceId, wid)?;
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<HttpRequest>(HttpRequestIden::WorkspaceId, wid)?;
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<GrpcEvent>(GrpcEventIden::WorkspaceId, wid)?;
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<GrpcConnection>(GrpcConnectionIden::WorkspaceId, wid)?;
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<GrpcRequest>(GrpcRequestIden::WorkspaceId, wid)?;
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<WebsocketEvent>(WebsocketEventIden::WorkspaceId, wid)?;
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<WebsocketConnection>(
+                WebsocketConnectionIden::WorkspaceId,
+                wid,
+            )?;
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<WebsocketRequest>(WebsocketRequestIden::WorkspaceId, wid)?;
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<GraphQlIntrospection>(
+                GraphQlIntrospectionIden::WorkspaceId,
+                wid,
+            )?;
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<Folder>(FolderIden::WorkspaceId, wid)?;
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<Environment>(EnvironmentIden::WorkspaceId, wid)?;
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<CookieJar>(CookieJarIden::WorkspaceId, wid)?;
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<SyncState>(SyncStateIden::WorkspaceId, wid)?;
+            self.delete_many_untracked::<WorkspaceMeta>(WorkspaceMetaIden::WorkspaceId, wid)?;
+            self.delete(workspace, source)
+        })();
+
+        let deleted = match result {
+            Ok(deleted) => {
+                conn.execute_batch("RELEASE delete_workspace")?;
+                deleted
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                let _ = conn
+                    .execute_batch("ROLLBACK TO delete_workspace; RELEASE delete_workspace");
+                return Err(e);
+            }
+        };
+
+        // Best-effort cleanup of response bodies (disk files and blob chunks).
+        // Failures only orphan unreferenced data, and are logged.
+        let blob_ctx = blobs.connect();
+        for m in responses {
+            if let Some(p) = m.body_path {
+                if let Err(e) = std::fs::remove_file(&p) {
+                    warn!("Failed to delete response body file {p:?}: {e}");
+                }
+            }
+            if let Err(e) = blob_ctx.delete_chunks_like(&format!("{}.%", m.id)) {
+                warn!("Failed to delete blobs for response {}: {e}", m.id);
+            }
         }
 
-        for m in self.find_many(GrpcRequestIden::WorkspaceId, &workspace.id, None)? {
-            self.delete_grpc_request(&m, source)?;
-        }
-
-        for m in self.find_many(WebsocketRequestIden::FolderId, &workspace.id, None)? {
-            self.delete_websocket_request(&m, source)?;
-        }
-
-        for m in self.find_many(FolderIden::WorkspaceId, &workspace.id, None)? {
-            self.delete_folder(&m, source)?;
-        }
-
-        for m in self.find_many(EnvironmentIden::WorkspaceId, &workspace.id, None)? {
-            self.delete_environment(&m, source)?;
-        }
-
-        self.delete(workspace, source)
+        Ok(deleted)
     }
 
-    pub fn delete_workspace_by_id(&self, id: &str, source: &UpdateSource) -> Result<Workspace> {
+    pub fn delete_workspace_by_id(
+        &self,
+        id: &str,
+        source: &UpdateSource,
+        blobs: &BlobManager,
+    ) -> Result<Workspace> {
         let workspace = self.get_workspace(id)?;
-        self.delete_workspace(&workspace, source)
+        self.delete_workspace(&workspace, source, blobs)
     }
 
     pub fn upsert_workspace(&self, w: &Workspace, source: &UpdateSource) -> Result<Workspace> {
diff --git a/crates/yaak-sync/src/sync.rs b/crates/yaak-sync/src/sync.rs
index b2021cb3..c775d6e1 100644
--- a/crates/yaak-sync/src/sync.rs
+++ b/crates/yaak-sync/src/sync.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use crate::error::Result;
+use yaak_models::blob_manager::BlobManager;
 use crate::models::SyncModel;
 use chrono::Utc;
 use log::{info, warn};
@@ -339,6 +340,7 @@ fn workspace_models(db: &ClientDb, version: &str, workspace_id: &str) -> Result<
 /// Returns a list of SyncStateOps that should be applied afterward.
 pub fn apply_sync_ops(
     db: &ClientDb,
+    blobs: &BlobManager,
     workspace_id: &str,
     sync_dir: &Path,
     sync_ops: Vec<SyncOp>,
@@ -435,7 +437,7 @@ pub fn apply_sync_ops(
                 }
             }
             SyncOp::DbDelete { model, state } => {
-                delete_model(db, &model)?;
+                delete_model(db, blobs, &model)?;
                 SyncStateOp::Delete { state: state.to_owned() }
             }
             SyncOp::IgnorePrivate { .. } => SyncStateOp::NoOp,
@@ -547,10 +549,10 @@ fn derive_model_filename(m: &SyncModel) -> PathBuf {
     Path::new(&rel).to_path_buf()
 }
 
-fn delete_model(db: &ClientDb, model: &SyncModel) -> Result<()> {
+fn delete_model(db: &ClientDb, blobs: &BlobManager, model: &SyncModel) -> Result<()> {
     match model {
         SyncModel::Workspace(m) => {
-            db.delete_workspace(&m, &UpdateSource::Sync)?;
+            db.delete_workspace(&m, &UpdateSource::Sync, blobs)?;
         }
         SyncModel::Environment(m) => {
             db.delete_environment(&m, &UpdateSource::Sync)?;