Sonarr utilizes a powerful scoring evaluation system called . This mechanism scans the release titles provided by your indexers, assigns numerical scores based on text matches, and instructs Sonarr to prefer the release with the highest score. Step 1: Navigate to the Custom Formats Menu Open your Sonarr web interface. Go to Settings in the left sidebar. Click on the Custom Formats tab. Step 2: Create the x265 Condition Click the + (Add New) button.
Set the score for your "x265/HEVC" format to a positive number (e.g., Ensure your Upgrade Until Custom Format Score
You can also prefer x265 releases from specific, high-quality groups. For example, you might give ELiTE a score of +50 while downgrading MeGusta with a -50 .
If you want, I can produce:
Alternatively, some users create a dual-profile approach with one tag for x265 content and another for general content, though this requires more manual management.
In the world of automated media management, few topics generate as much discussion—and occasional confusion—as configuring Sonarr to prefer x265 (HEVC) releases. Whether you're trying to save precious storage space, reduce bandwidth usage, or modernize your media library, setting up Sonarr to prioritize HEVC can be a game-changer. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about making Sonarr favor x265 downloads, from the fundamentals of video codecs to advanced custom format configurations.
Now that Sonarr knows how to identify x265, you need to tell it that these files are more desirable than others. Go to . Select the profile you use (e.g., HD-1080p ). Find the Custom Formats section at the bottom. sonarr prefer x265
"I added x265 as +100, but Sonarr keeps downloading x264."
Enter (also known as HEVC or High Efficiency Video Coding). This video compression standard offers the same visual quality as x264 but at roughly half the file size.
Also set in Sonarr:
Ensure that Upgrade Allowed is checked in your profile settings. Click Save . 3. Activating the Preferences
| Device | x265 playback | Notes | |---------------------------|---------------|-------| | PC (VLC, MPV, MPC-HC) | ✅ Perfect | Software decode works fine | | NVIDIA Shield / Apple TV | ✅ Perfect | Hardware decode | | Plex / Jellyfin direct stream | ✅ | Works if client supports HEVC | | Plex / Jellyfin | ⚠️ Heavy | CPU transcoding x265 → h264 is very slow | | Old laptop (pre-2015) | ❌ Stutters | No hardware decode | | Roku / Fire Stick (basic) | ⚠️ Some work | Newer models OK | | Browser (Chrome/Safari) | ⚠️ Partial | Safari good; Chrome needs GPU support |
Once your profiles are updated, Sonarr won't immediately replace your entire library. To trigger the shift: Sonarr utilizes a powerful scoring evaluation system called
The primary, and most compelling, reason to prefer x265 is . At identical visual quality, an x265 encoded file is typically 30-50% smaller than its x264 counterpart.
Ensure the profile is applied to the correct (leave it blank to apply globally to all shows). Click Save . Pro-Tip: Avoid the "Fake x265" Trap