Sonarr Prefer X265 Jun 2026

Preferring x265 in Sonarr can significantly enhance your media management and viewing experience. By leveraging the efficiency of the x265 codec, users can enjoy high-quality video content at smaller file sizes, making it an attractive option for those looking to optimize their media libraries. While there are some considerations and challenges, the benefits often outweigh the drawbacks, making x265 a preferred choice for those using Sonarr for media management. As technology continues to evolve, the importance of efficient video encoding will only grow, making now the perfect time to adapt to x265.

to capture high-bitrate HEVC releases while avoiding low-quality "mini" encodes?

is the gold standard because it offers roughly 50% better compression efficiency, saving massive amounts of disk space without sacrificing visual quality. sonarr prefer x265

Scene groups and internal encoders usually upload x264 copies of a TV show within minutes of its airing. The x265 encodes require more computing time and might not appear until hours or days later. If you want x265 exclusively but do not want Sonarr to download an x264 copy first only to replace it a day later, use (found under Settings > Profiles ). Setting a 120-to-240-minute delay gives x265 encoders time to upload their files before Sonarr grabs the immediate x264 release. Avoiding Fake or Low-Quality Upconverts

In the Regular Expression (Regex) field, enter: \b(x265|hevc|h265)\b (This matches any release containing x265, HEVC, or h265). Click . Step 2: Assign Scores in Your Quality Profiles Navigate to Settings > Profiles . Preferring x265 in Sonarr can significantly enhance your

: Quality supercedes custom format scores. This means Sonarr will always prefer a higher quality release regardless of whether it's x265. A 1080p x264 release will always be chosen over a 720p x265 release, even if you've heavily weighted x265. Custom format scores only act as a tiebreaker when comparing releases of the same quality.

Before configuring the software, it is vital to understand why upgrading your library to x265 is mathematically and visually advantageous. 1. Massive Storage Savings As technology continues to evolve, the importance of

. Since x265 offers much better compression than x264, it is the go-to choice for users looking to save disk space without sacrificing visual quality. Here is how to set it up: 1. Create the x265 Custom Format

Check the box for if you want Sonarr to replace your current library files when a matching x265 version appears on your indexers.

Set a if you want to strictly enforce x265 acquisitions (though leaving this at 0 is recommended so Sonarr can still grab x264 files as a fallback if no HEVC version exists). Click Save . Advanced Tweaks: Balancing Quality and Release Speed

As media technology continues to evolve, staying current with best practices is essential. Here are forward-looking considerations: