Sonarr Prefer X265 |best| Access

To make Sonarr prefer x265 (HEVC) releases while still allowing it to fall back to other formats, you should use Custom Formats with a positive scoring system. This allows Sonarr to rank releases and automatically upgrade an existing file if a better-scored x265 version appears. Core Implementation Steps

(Optional) Upgrade Until: Set the "Upgrade Until Custom Format Score" to your x265 score if you want Sonarr to replace existing x264 files with x265 versions. Click Save. Important: How Scoring Works

1. The Transcoding Trap (Your Server's CPU Will Thank You) x265 is a mathematically denser codec. Many client devices (smart TVs, older streaming sticks, tablets) do not have hardware decoding for x265. When this happens, your media server (Plex, Jellyfin, Emby) must transcode the file on-the-fly to a codec the client can play—usually back to x264. sonarr prefer x265

Solution 1: Check the raw release name. Is x265 actually in the title? Some indexers hide the codec in the description. Sonarr only sees the release name. Fix: Add HEVC and H.265 to your preferred terms.

🔥 Hardware compatibility – The real catch

| 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 transcode | ⚠️ 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 | To make Sonarr prefer x265 (HEVC) releases while

The Problem: Scene groups know users look for "x265." Because x265 is highly compressible, bad actors often take a low-quality 700MB x264 file, re-encode it to x265, and shrink it to 200MB. They label it "Bluray x265," but it looks like a pixelated mess.

Report: Configuring Sonarr to Prefer x265

Summary

Sonarr can be configured to prefer x265 (HEVC) releases by adjusting quality profiles, tags, indexer/installer behavior, and download client settings. This report explains recommended settings, workflow, potential issues, and testing steps. Click Save

Part 7: Troubleshooting "Sonarr Won't Pick x265"

Problem: "I added x265 as +100, but Sonarr keeps downloading x264."