Sonarr Prefer X265 | 2026 Release |

Once your profiles are updated, Sonarr won't immediately replace your entire library. To trigger the shift:

The most effective way to tell Sonarr what you want is through . This allows you to "score" specific terms found in release titles. Navigate to Settings > Custom Formats . Click the + icon to create a new format. Name: Call it "x265 HEVC". Specifications: Add a new specification. Select Release Title as the type. In the Regular Expression field, enter: (?i)x265|HEVC . Save the format. Step 2: Configure Your Quality Profile sonarr prefer x265

Before diving into the settings, it is important to understand why this shift matters for your home server. Once your profiles are updated, Sonarr won't immediately

Sonarr will automatically pick the x265 version if available during the next search. Navigate to Settings > Custom Formats

HEVC is the industry standard for 4K and HDR content.

x265 files are typically 30-50% smaller than x264 files at the same perceived quality.