Sonarr Prefer X265 [portable] ⟶ <FREE>

If you are running Sonarr v3, media preferences are handled via . This system applies global tags and scores to specific text strings found in release titles. Step-by-Step Setup Open Sonarr and go to Settings > Profiles . Scroll down to the Release Profiles section. Click the + (Add New) button. Name the profile Prefer x265 .

In the same Profile menu, look at the section. Set the Upgrade Until Score to 100 .

What (Apple TV, Roku, Firestick, etc.) do you stream to most often?

Release Profiles let you score releases or block based on words. sonarr prefer x265

The library was leaner, meaner, and ready for another decade of hoarding. Elias leaned back, the silent hum of the server now sounding like a victory lap. on how to set up these specific Custom Formats in Sonarr? AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more

✅ Turn on “prefer x265” if you have a modern home setup and value storage space. ❌ Avoid it if you share your Plex server with friends/family using random devices.

Sonarr uses (in Sonarr v3 and v4) to score and prioritize specific release attributes. By assigning positive scores to x265 tags, you instruct Sonarr to choose an x265 release over an x264 release whenever both are available. Follow these steps to set up x265 preferences in Sonarr v4. Step 1: Create the x265 Custom Format Open your Sonarr web interface. Navigate to Settings > Custom Formats . Click the + Plus icon to add a new custom format. Name the format something clear, such as Prefer x265 . Under the Specifications section, click Add Specification . Select Release Title from the dropdown menu. If you are running Sonarr v3, media preferences

to capture high-bitrate HEVC releases while avoiding low-quality "mini" encodes?

By assigning a score, Sonarr will automatically "upgrade" an existing x264 file to an x265 version if it finds one later, helping you prune your library size over time. Important Compatibility Note

To let your custom format scores dictate the final choice across similar qualities, group them together: In > Profiles , open your active profile. Click Edit Groups at the top right of the qualities list. Scroll down to the Release Profiles section

If you are still on v3, use Release Profiles to "weight" titles. Add Preferred Terms in some versions) > Release Profiles to add a new profile. section, add Assign a score (e.g., ) to these terms.

Look for the checkbox. Ensure it is checked if you want Sonarr to replace existing x264 files with x265 versions when they appear.

This isn't because x265 is bad, but because many x265 groups use x264 sources for encoding, resulting in a significant loss of quality. For HD content, a high-quality x264 encode generally provides better visual fidelity than a "microsized" x265 encode derived from a lossy source.