Sonarr Prefer X265 [ PROVEN - 2027 ]

Go to → Profiles (or Quality Profiles ). Select the profile you use for TV shows (e.g., "HD - 1080p" or "4K").

Therefore, the goal is —not outright exclusion. We want Sonarr to grab x264 to satisfy "Missing" episodes immediately, but constantly scan for an x265 upgrade to replace the bloated file. The Core Concept: Custom Formats To prioritize x265, you must ignore the "Quality" settings (Bluray, WebDL, HDTV) and focus on Custom Formats . sonarr prefer x265

Click . You now have a detector. Step 2: The Scoring Strategy (Crucial) To make Sonarr "prefer" x265, we need to assign it a positive score. However, we must also ensure that x265 doesn't break your quality standards. Go to → Profiles (or Quality Profiles )

Many older or niche TV shows are only available in x264. New episodes often appear in x264 first (due to faster encoding speeds), with x265 releases following hours later. We want Sonarr to grab x264 to satisfy

But there is a catch: Sonarr (and its cousin Radarr) does not have a native "I only want x265" button. Without proper configuration, Sonarr will grab the first release that meets its quality profile—usually the more common, larger x264 file.

Click → Release Title . Paste the following regex into the Regular Expression box: