Sonarr Prefer X265 -

The Complete Guide to "Prefer x265" in Sonarr

With the rise of streaming services and the increasing cost of storage, media collectors are turning to High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), specifically the x265 encoder. However, simply telling Sonarr to "prefer x265" without understanding the technical nuances can lead to a library filled with poor-quality micro-sized rips or compatibility headaches.

1. Go to Settings > Profiles.
2. Select your default profile (e.g., "HD-1080p") or create a new one called "HD-1080p HEVC".
3. Scroll down to the Release Restrictions section.
4. In the Preferred box, add the following terms: x265 hevc
5. (Optional but recommended) In the Must Not Contain box, add: xvid divx h.264 (Warning: This will block all x264 releases, even if x265 isn't available. Use with caution).

1. Go to Settings > Custom Formats.
2. Click Add Custom Format.
3. Name it: HEVC/x265.
4. Under Conditions, add a Release Title condition.

   Part 1: The Prerequisites (Important!)

   Before you configure Sonarr, you must ensure your setup can handle the files. sonarr prefer x265

   Release Profile: Prefer x265

   • In the Preferred section, add the same regex with a positive score (e.g., +100).
   • Add a second term for x264 with a negative score (e.g., -100).

   Assign this -10000. Then assign x265|hevc|h.265|10bit a positive +10000. The Complete Guide to "Prefer x265" in Sonarr