Sonarr Prefer X265 [better] -

The Ultimate Guide to Preferring x265 (HEVC) in Sonarr

8) Handling Existing Library (Mass-upgrade to x265)

Add tag "prefer-x265" to series you want to convert.
Trigger "Search for missing episodes" or use the "Season Pass" -> “Search selected” to prompt Sonarr to look for better versions.
Review Sonarr Activity / Queue to confirm it selects x265 releases, then approve.
For mass automated upgrades, be cautious: enabling automatic search on replacement may cause many downloads; schedule during off-peak or with download limits.

Condition 1: Resolution

This ensures we are targeting standard encoding formats, not strictly 4K (which is naturally HEVC but handled differently).

Select Resolution.
Value: R_BDRip, WEBDL-1080p, WEBRip-1080p, HDTV-1080p. (Select all 1080p sources you use).
Note: Do not select 2160p (4K) here; 4K is almost always x265 by default.

9) Post-Processing: Remuxing, Conversion, and Subtitle Handling

Sonarr does not transcode natively; it downloads releases as-is.
If you want to transcode x264 → x265 rather than re-download:
- Use external tools (handbrake-cli, ffmpeg, or scripts) integrated via Completed Download Handling or Drone Factory (deprecated).
- Prefer re-downloading true x265 releases to preserve quality and subtitles unless you need a consistent codec across library.
For remux/mux consistency (container changes, HDR metadata), use scripts to preserve subtitles, chapter markers, and HEVC metadata.
Ensure post-processing scripts update media server (Plex/Emby/Jellyfin) libraries and optionally update metadata agents.

📊 Final verdict

| Factor | Rating (1–10) | |--------|---------------| | Storage efficiency | 9/10 | | Quality vs size tradeoff | 8/10 | | Ease of use (Sonarr) | 9/10 | | Hardware compatibility | 5/10 | | Future-proofness | 9/10 | sonarr prefer x265

Overall:
✅ 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. The Ultimate Guide to Preferring x265 (HEVC) in

Pro tip: Create two Sonarr instances – one for x264 (remote users) and one for x265 (local 4K library). Add tag "prefer-x265" to series you want to convert

Here’s a draft piece for configuring Sonarr to prefer x265 (HEVC) encodes, including rationale and practical steps. You can adapt this for a wiki, guide, or automation note.

⚙️ Recommended Sonarr setup

Release Profile:
- Preferred: x265 hevc
- Score: +100
- Optional “must not contain” if you want pure x265: x264

Also set Size limits in Sonarr:

1080p: 1.5 GB per episode max (prevents huge x265 files)
4K: 5 GB per episode max