Sonarr Prefer X265

Set an score if you want Sonarr to keep searching for an x265 version even after an x264 version is downloaded. ⚠️ Common Pitfalls

x265 files are typically 30-50% smaller than x264 files at the same perceived quality.

Before diving into the settings, it is important to understand the benefits and trade-offs of switching your library to x265. 💾 Massive Storage Savings

The x265 ecosystem contains variations in release quality. Because x265 can shrink low-quality sources into tiny files, some release groups upload heavily compressed, washed-out media. You can refine your Custom Formats or Release Profiles to filter out these files. 1. Filter by Release Groups sonarr prefer x265

The primary driver for using x265 is efficiency. A 1080p TV episode encoded in x264 might take up 2.5 GB. The exact same episode encoded in x265 with identical visual quality might only take up 1.2 GB. Over an entire series, this saves hundreds of gigabytes. 🚀 Better Network Bandwidth

By tailoring Sonarr to look for x265 encodes, you can easily cut your library's storage footprint in half without sacrificing video quality. Just ensure your playback devices are modern enough to handle the codec smoothly.

Some release groups don't include "x265" in the filename. Sonarr may incorrectly tag these as "HDTV" or standard quality, causing it to ignore them. Set an score if you want Sonarr to

. Here is how to set it up so Sonarr always hunts for those space-saving encodes. Why Prefer x265? Massive Storage Savings

In the world of media management and streaming, efficiency and quality are paramount. With the rise of digital media, users are constantly looking for ways to store and stream their favorite TV shows and movies without compromising on quality while also saving on storage space. Sonarr, a popular media management tool, offers users the flexibility to manage and automate their media collection. One of the critical settings in Sonarr that can significantly impact both storage efficiency and streaming quality is the preference for video codecs, specifically the preference for x265 (HEVC) over other codecs like x264 (H.264). In this essay, we'll explore the benefits of preferring x265 in Sonarr, focusing on its impact on storage efficiency, streaming performance, and overall media management.

can monitor your folders and convert older x264 files to x265 automatically, as discussed by users on Regex strings 💾 Massive Storage Savings The x265 ecosystem contains

Head into your Sonarr settings and let the automation do the heavy lifting. Do you need the specific JSON snippets

What (Plex, Jellyfin, Emby) do you use?

Click on the you use for your shows (e.g., HD-1080p). Scroll down to the Custom Formats section at the bottom. You will see your newly created Prefer x265 format listed. In the Score column, assign a positive number, such as 100 .

Note: This is risky as it will prevent downloads if an x265 version isn't uploaded yet. Summary Table: Setup Comparison Custom Formats (v4) Release Profiles (v3) Restrictions Flexibility High (weighted scoring) Medium (weighted scoring) Low (Binary Yes/No) Downloads x264 if x265 is missing Downloads x264 if x265 is missing Fails if x265 is missing Advanced Regex support String matching Basic string matching For automated cleanup of your existing library, tools like