Sonarr Prefer: X265

Because Sonarr treats x265 as a codec rather than a "quality" (like 1080p or WEB-DL), you cannot simply move it to the top of a list. Instead, you must use Custom Formats Release Profiles to tell Sonarr that x265 is your preferred choice. 1. Why Prefer x265? Storage Efficiency

By using Custom Formats, you can tell Sonarr to specifically look for, grab, and upgrade existing x264 files to x265 releases automatically. How to Set Up "Sonarr Prefer x265" (Step-by-Step)

If you want, I can produce:

Find your new x265 (HEVC) format and enter a positive (e.g., 1000 ).

This is the most common complaint, and it almost always comes down to quality hierarchy. If a 1080p x264 release is available but the only x265 releases are 720p, Sonarr will select the 1080p x264 because quality outranks codec preferences. sonarr prefer x265

With the Custom Format ready, we need to attach it to a Quality Profile and assign a high score to make Sonarr listen.

: This format requires both x265 and 1080p resolution, useful for users who want HEVC for HD content but not for lower resolutions. Because Sonarr treats x265 as a codec rather

If you want to fine-tune your x265 preferences, you can use more sophisticated regex patterns or combine conditions.

The primary argument for x265 is its superior compression. High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) can deliver the same visual quality as its predecessor, x264 (AVC), at roughly . For a Sonarr user, this means a 20GB season of a drama can be reduced to 10GB without a perceptible loss in clarity. Over a library of hundreds of series, this translates to terabytes of reclaimed storage, delaying the need for expensive new hard drives. Integration via Custom Formats Why Prefer x265