Sonarr Prefer X265 -

For the absolute best results, look into . This is a community-maintained repository of highly optimized Regex patterns for Sonarr and Radarr.

Before we dive into the code, a word of caution. If you set Sonarr to strictly require x265, you will miss downloads.

: A distributed transcoding system that can automatically re-encode your existing media library from x264 to x265. Users report dramatic space savings—one user reduced a 3.5 TB movie library to just 2 TB using Tdarr. The process is CPU/GPU intensive but can run in the background over time. sonarr prefer x265

Examples to add (pattern matching is case-insensitive; use multiple entries for variants):

For power users, here is the ultimate JSON block for an x265 "prefer" format. Save this as a .json file and import it into Sonarr via → Custom Formats → Import . For the absolute best results, look into

As of 2026, x265 remains the practical choice for most users, with AV1 serving as a forward-looking option for those who want to stay on the cutting edge.

This is particularly common among Plex users with underpowered servers, as transcoding x265 to x264 for incompatible clients can be extremely CPU-intensive. Hardware acceleration (Intel Quick Sync, NVIDIA NVENC, or AMD VCE) can mitigate this, but not all setups have access to these features. If you set Sonarr to strictly require x265,

Requires more CPU/GPU power to play back. Older smart TVs or low-end streaming sticks may struggle to "Direct Play" these files, causing your server (like Plex) to transcode. 🛠️ How to Set Up Preferences