Sonarr Prefer X265 Jun 2026

Telling Sonarr to "prefer x265" isn't just a checkbox; it’s a fundamental decision that affects your storage, your hardware, and your playback experience. Here’s a deep dive into what that means.

existing x264 files to x265 when a matching release becomes available. sonarr prefer x265

To make Sonarr prefer (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 Telling Sonarr to "prefer x265" isn't just a

Go to → Indexers → Size Limits :

If two releases have the same Quality, the one with the higher Custom Format Score (your x265 release) will be chosen. sonarr prefer x265