Sonarr Prefer X265 ^new^ -

x265 is a mathematically denser codec. Many client devices (smart TVs, older streaming sticks, tablets) do not have hardware decoding for x265. When this happens, your media server (Plex, Jellyfin, Emby) must transcode the file on-the-fly to a codec the client can play—usually back to x264.

If you have not upgraded to v4 yet, Sonarr v3 achieves this via , which use a basic "Must Contain / Preferred" text matching system. Step 1: Create a Release Profile Open Sonarr v3 and navigate to Settings > Profiles . Scroll down to the Release Profiles section. Click the + Plus icon to add a new profile. Step 2: Configure Terms and Weights In the Name field, type Prefer x265 .

Check the box to negate or modify if your setup requires it, but for a standard setup, just saving this regex is enough. Click . Step 2: Assign a Positive Score in Your Quality Profile Go to Settings > Profiles .

In the world of automated media management, Sonarr is the undisputed king for TV show acquisition. But beneath its sleek interface lies a critical, often misunderstood setting: the preference for (also known as HEVC) over the long-reigning champion, x264 (H.264). sonarr prefer x265

Do your natively support HEVC playback? Share public link

Sonarr Prefer x265: The Ultimate Guide to Efficient Media Management

Follow these steps to create a custom format and apply it to your media profiles. Step 1: Create the x265 Custom Format Open your Sonarr web interface. Navigate to > Custom Formats . Click the + Add New button. Name the format: x265 / HEVC . Click the Import (BETA) button or manually add a condition. x265 is a mathematically denser codec

| Term | Score | |------|-------| | /\b(x265|hevc)\b/i | +100 | | /\b(x264|avc)\b/i | -50 |

This is the most modern and flexible way to prioritize specific codecs. Create the Format Navigate to Custom Formats button to add a new format. Name it "x265/HEVC". Release Title and enter the regex: \b(x265|hevc)\b (case insensitive). Save the format. Assign Scores Select the profile you use (e.g., HD-1080p). Custom Formats section at the bottom.

Note: For more advanced setups, you can import complex JSON specifications directly from TRaSH Guides. 2. Configure Quality Profiles Go to . If you have not upgraded to v4 yet,

While x265 is superior for storage, there are two things to keep in mind to avoid a "bad" automated experience. Watch Out for "Trash Guides"

Ensure your quality is set high enough so Sonarr keeps looking for better versions.

Once an episode achieves a score of 100 (by being encoded in x265), Sonarr will mark it as permanently completed and cease monitoring for further upgrades, saving your automated search loop unnecessary work. Advanced Tweaks: Avoiding Low-Quality Encodes

Once configured, Sonarr will start preferring releases containing x265 in their name. If an existing episode is in x264, Sonarr will automatically search for and grab an x265 version, provided it meets the quality profile and score requirements. Important Considerations

The x265 codec, also known as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), is the industry-standard successor to x264 (AVC). 1. Massive Storage Savings