Sonarr Prefer X265 -

x265 requires significantly more processing power to decode.

For now, the most practical approach is to follow TRaSH Guides for up-to-date custom formats, use Recyclarr for automated updates, and periodically review your quality profiles to ensure they align with both your hardware capabilities and the evolving release landscape.

H.265, also known as HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding), is a video compression standard. Its predecessor, H.264 (or x264), has been the industry standard for over a decade. However, as resolutions moved from 1080p to 4K, file sizes ballooned, and the need for a more efficient codec became critical. sonarr prefer x265

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".

You can set the CF as "Required" to only grab x265, or leave it unchecked to prefer it but accept x264 if nothing else is available. Conclusion x265 requires significantly more processing power to decode

Start with Custom Formats for maximum flexibility, leverage TRaSH Guides for battle-tested configurations, and don't forget that quality isn't just about codec—release groups, bitrates, and source quality matter just as much as whether a file uses x265 or x264.

x265 (HEVC) offers ~50% better compression than x264 at the same quality, saving significant storage space. However, it’s more computationally demanding to play back – fine on modern devices, but problematic on older hardware or Plex/Jellyfin without GPU transcoding. Its predecessor, H

If you want to be precise and avoid bad quality x265 releases, the community standard is to use the custom formats. They offer a pre-made JSON collection that is superior to manual creation.

There are two ways to prefer x265. The first is easy but rigid; the second is advanced and powerful.

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