Sonarr Prefer X265 Jun 2026
can monitor your folders and convert older x264 files to x265 automatically, as discussed by users on Regex strings
Stop manually hunting for x265 torrents or NZBs. Let Sonarr do the heavy lifting. Your hard drive (and your electricity bill) will thank you.
Storage efficiency is the primary reason to prefer x265. A typical 45-minute TV episode encoded in x264 at 1080p might take up 2.5 GB. The exact same episode encoded in x265 with identical perceived visual quality often shrinks to 1.2 GB or less. Over a library of hundreds of shows, this translates directly to saving hundreds of dollars on hard drives. 2. Bandwidth and Streaming Efficiency sonarr prefer x265
In the box, leave it empty (unless you want to strictly block all x264 files, which is not recommended as it may result in missing episodes). In the Preferred box, click Add .
If you want Sonarr to automatically replace your existing x264 files with x265 versions: In the same settings, set an Upgrade Until Custom Format Score Enter the score you gave x265 (e.g., can monitor your folders and convert older x264
Click on the Quality Profile you use for your shows (e.g., HD-1080p ). Scroll down to the section at the bottom. You will see your newly created x265 / HEVC format listed. In the Score column, assign a positive value, such as 100 .
The only significant downside to x265 is the processing power required to decode it. While modern devices like Apple TV, Nvidia Shield, Fire TV sticks, and newer Smart TVs handle x265 natively (Direct Play), older streaming sticks, web browsers, and budget tablets may not. If a client device cannot decode x265 natively, your media server (Plex/Jellyfin) will have to transcode the video on the fly, heavily taxing your server's CPU or GPU. How to Configure Sonarr to Prefer x265 Storage efficiency is the primary reason to prefer x265
Set the to 0 . This ensures Sonarr will still download standard x264 files if no x265 release exists, preventing your queue from stalling. Click Save . Dealing with the "WebRip" and "Web-DL" Conundrum
Click on the you use for your shows (e.g., HD-1080p or Any ).
: High-definition episodes that might be 1.5GB in x264 often shrink to 600–800MB in x265. Future-Proofing : x265 is essential for 4K and 8K content. Note of Caution
can monitor your folders and convert older x264 files to x265 automatically, as discussed by users on Regex strings
Stop manually hunting for x265 torrents or NZBs. Let Sonarr do the heavy lifting. Your hard drive (and your electricity bill) will thank you.
Storage efficiency is the primary reason to prefer x265. A typical 45-minute TV episode encoded in x264 at 1080p might take up 2.5 GB. The exact same episode encoded in x265 with identical perceived visual quality often shrinks to 1.2 GB or less. Over a library of hundreds of shows, this translates directly to saving hundreds of dollars on hard drives. 2. Bandwidth and Streaming Efficiency
In the box, leave it empty (unless you want to strictly block all x264 files, which is not recommended as it may result in missing episodes). In the Preferred box, click Add .
If you want Sonarr to automatically replace your existing x264 files with x265 versions: In the same settings, set an Upgrade Until Custom Format Score Enter the score you gave x265 (e.g.,
Click on the Quality Profile you use for your shows (e.g., HD-1080p ). Scroll down to the section at the bottom. You will see your newly created x265 / HEVC format listed. In the Score column, assign a positive value, such as 100 .
The only significant downside to x265 is the processing power required to decode it. While modern devices like Apple TV, Nvidia Shield, Fire TV sticks, and newer Smart TVs handle x265 natively (Direct Play), older streaming sticks, web browsers, and budget tablets may not. If a client device cannot decode x265 natively, your media server (Plex/Jellyfin) will have to transcode the video on the fly, heavily taxing your server's CPU or GPU. How to Configure Sonarr to Prefer x265
Set the to 0 . This ensures Sonarr will still download standard x264 files if no x265 release exists, preventing your queue from stalling. Click Save . Dealing with the "WebRip" and "Web-DL" Conundrum
Click on the you use for your shows (e.g., HD-1080p or Any ).
: High-definition episodes that might be 1.5GB in x264 often shrink to 600–800MB in x265. Future-Proofing : x265 is essential for 4K and 8K content. Note of Caution
