Sonarr Prefer X265 Jun 2026

Use a regular expression or simple text like \b(x265|HEVC|h265)\b to match the codec.

Create boosts to favor x265:

One of the most common pitfalls is misunderstanding that a 1080p x264 release will always be preferred over a 720p x265 release. If you want to truly prioritize x265 regardless of quality, you need to group qualities together so they are considered equal.

With the Custom Format ready, we need to attach it to a Quality Profile and assign a high score to make Sonarr listen. sonarr prefer x265

Manage complex audio preferences simultaneously (e.g., avoiding TrueHD if your device can't play it). If you'd like to dive deeper, let me know: Which are you using (v3 or v4)? Do you use Plex, Jellyfin, or Emby for playback?

Sonarr will aggressively grab x265 releases first. If no x265 exists for an old episode, it will fall back to x264. This keeps your automation running smoothly without "stuck" searches.

This is aggressive. Only do this if you have solid indexers that reliably tag x265 correctly. Use a regular expression or simple text like

for managing TV show libraries, but by default, it often prioritizes standard H.264 (x264) files. For many users, x265 (HEVC)

To set up a Release Profile for x265 preference:

If you want to target 10-bit x265 encodes for their superior compression, a simple addition to your x265 regex can help: With the Custom Format ready, we need to

By using a , you strike the perfect balance: You get the space savings of x265 when it's available at the same resolution/source quality, but you don't sacrifice quality by blindly downloading the smallest file on the internet.

Because x265 files are highly sought after for space savings, some uploaders take low-quality, highly compressed x264 files and re-encode them into x265. This results in terrible video quality.

In the world of digital hoarding and home media servers, space is the final frontier. As 4K becomes standard and TV series box sets stretch into hundreds of gigabytes, the question is no longer "Can I store it?" but "How long can I afford to store it?"

Best practice: