Sonarr Prefer X265 ^new^

: If a client device cannot play x265 directly, your media server (Plex, Emby, or Jellyfin) must decode it on the fly. This process requires significant CPU power or hardware-accelerated GPU transcoding. Method 1: Configuring Custom Formats (Sonarr v4)

x265, or HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding), is a newer video codec standard that has gained immense popularity among media enthusiasts. Its primary advantage over the ubiquitous x264 (AVC) codec is its superior compression efficiency. It can deliver the same visual quality at roughly 25% to 50% smaller file sizes, or conversely, offer higher quality for the same file size. For TV show libraries, this can mean significant storage savings, making x265 highly attractive for those with limited storage.

Now that Sonarr knows what an x265 file looks like, you need to tell it that these files are "worth more." Settings > Profiles Select the Profile you use (e.g., Scroll down to Custom Formats Find your new x265 / HEVC format and give it a positive score (e.g., Save Changes Step 3: Set an Upgrade Goal (Optional)

Before diving into the settings, it is important to understand the trade-offs of shifting your library to HEVC. The Benefits sonarr prefer x265

Optimizing Sonarr: How to Prefer x265 (HEVC) Content Sonarr is a powerful

As of 2026, x265 remains the practical choice for most users, with AV1 serving as a forward-looking option for those who want to stay on the cutting edge.

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". : If a client device cannot play x265

Streaming smaller files over your local Wi-Fi or remotely via Plex/Jellyfin requires significantly less upload and download bandwidth. The Trade-offs

A common scoring setup for x265 preference might look like this:

: Go to any TV series page, select an episode, and click the Interactive Search (Magnifying Glass with a Person) icon. Its primary advantage over the ubiquitous x264 (AVC)

What (Apple TV, Roku, browsers) you use most? If you want to filter out 4K HDR while keeping 1080p x265?

Quality definitions are expressed in of runtime. If your x265 preferences consistently result in larger files than desired, you can reduce the maximum or preferred size for specific quality types. Conversely, if you find that x265 releases are too small and sacrificing quality, you may need to increase the minimum size thresholds.

This is the best approach for most users. If you want 720p x265 or 1080p x265 , you must set the "Upgrade Until" quality to the you're after. This tells Sonarr to consider all releases of that quality equally, allowing your Custom Format scores to work as tiebreakers.