Sonarr Prefer X265

You can store almost twice as many episodes for the same disk space.

Sonarr does not have a simple "prefer x265" checkbox. Instead, you achieve this by using (in Sonarr v3) or Custom Formats (in Sonarr v4). Method 1: Using Custom Formats (Sonarr v4)

Sonarr v4 uses , which are more powerful and granular than the older v3 profiles. Create Custom Formats : Navigate to Settings > Custom Formats . Add a new format named "x265".

Click on the Quality Profile you use for your shows (e.g., HD-1080p ). Scroll down to the section at the bottom. You will see your newly created x265 / HEVC format listed. In the Score column, assign a positive value, such as 100 . sonarr prefer x265

Is preferring x265 in Sonarr worth it?

(Optional) If you want Sonarr to actively upgrade existing x264 files to x265 when they appear on your indexers, check the box and set a Minimum Score threshold. Click Save . How to Prefer x265 in Sonarr v3 (Release Profiles)

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Optimizing Your Media Server: Why and How to Configure Sonarr to Prefer x265

To make Sonarr prefer x265 (HEVC) releases without strictly requiring them, you should use (in v4) or Release Profiles (in v3) to assign a positive "score" to those terms . How to set up x265 preference

With Sonarr configured to prefer x265, a library of 50 complete TV series will shrink by an average of . That is the difference between buying a new 14TB hard drive every year versus every three years. You can store almost twice as many episodes

If you stream to older devices, web browsers, or legacy tablets that do not support x265, your media server (Plex/Jellyfin) must convert the video to x264 on the fly. Transcoding x265 requires significant CPU power or a modern GPU with hardware acceleration (like Intel Quick Sync or Nvidia NVENC).

Therefore, the goal is —not outright exclusion. We want Sonarr to grab x264 to satisfy "Missing" episodes immediately, but constantly scan for an x265 upgrade to replace the bloated file.

Optimizing Sonarr for x265 (HEVC): The Ultimate Guide to Automated High-Efficiency Media Storage Method 1: Using Custom Formats (Sonarr v4) Sonarr

Sonarr uses (in Sonarr v3 and v4) to score and prioritize specific release attributes. By assigning positive scores to x265 tags, you instruct Sonarr to choose an x265 release over an x264 release whenever both are available. Follow these steps to set up x265 preferences in Sonarr v4. Step 1: Create the x265 Custom Format Open your Sonarr web interface. Navigate to Settings > Custom Formats . Click the + Plus icon to add a new custom format. Name the format something clear, such as Prefer x265 . Under the Specifications section, click Add Specification . Select Release Title from the dropdown menu.