Sonarr Prefer X265 ^hot^ -

Sonarr v4 utilizes a powerful system that allows for granular control over which releases are "scored" higher than others. 1. Create the Custom Format Navigate to Settings > Custom Formats . Click the + button to add a new format. Name it "x265 HEVC". Add a Condition and select Release Title .

(?i)\b(x|h)\.?265\b|\bhevc\b

Enter (HEVC). This video codec offers roughly double the compression efficiency of the aging x264 (H.264). Switching your downloads to x265 can save you terabytes of space without sacrificing visual quality.

: Smaller files mean faster downloads and less stress on your internet data caps. sonarr prefer x265

Examples to add (pattern matching is case-insensitive; use multiple entries for variants):

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?"

To make Sonarr prioritize x265 while still allowing x264 as a fallback, follow these steps: 1. Create the Custom Format Navigate to . Add a new format named "x265/HEVC" . Sonarr v4 utilizes a powerful system that allows

As always, use Sonarr's feature for a series to test your configuration. This will show you which releases Sonarr would choose and why, helping you verify that your x265 preferences are being applied as intended before any files are downloaded.

"Librarian OCD – I have both versions."

Now go reclaim your storage space.

For more precise control, consider creating multiple custom formats:

To block x265 entirely, create a custom format that matches x265/HEVC releases and assign it a large negative score (e.g., -10000) in your quality profile. Alternatively, use the "Must Not Contain" field in a release profile with the same regex pattern.

Set the to 0 (this ensures Sonarr still downloads x264 files if an x265 version is unavailable). Click Save . Method 2: Configuring Release Profiles (Sonarr v3) Click the + button to add a new format

Whether you're building a space-saving 720p HEVC collection or assembling a pristine 4K library with Dolby Vision, Sonarr's custom format system gives you the tools to achieve your goals. The key is patience in configuration, attention to detail in scoring, and a willingness to refine your approach based on actual results.

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