How do I Transcode to H.265?

[AlternateWitness]

I have a pretty slow upload speed, and I access my server remotely often, but for some reason when jellyfin transcodes to a lower bitrate it always does so in H.264? I've tried on multiple devices that all support H.265. All of my media is originally encoded in H.265 10-bit and AV1 10-bit. I'm using NVENC to encode my media, and I have "Allow encoding in HEVC format" selected, as well as hardware decoding for HEVC and HEVC 10bit. What else am I missing? Sorry if this is so simple and I'm missing something obvious, but I'm not sure what else I could try. In order to make most content watchable I need to encode it in at least H.265.

[- “‪Lozza‬” -]

HEVC isn't that well supported on certain browsers/apps. It's probably being transcoded to support the device you're watching it on.
You can sometimes see why it's being transcoded in the dashboard.

[TheDreadPirate]

Definitely going to echo Lozza's comment. I was wondering the same thing. Transcodes were always in H264, even though I can transcode HEVC to lower bitrate HEVC (I limit Internet bit rates). But, whatever. The transcode quality was good as is.

I was at a friends house and when I setup my Jellyfin on their Roku and played a movie to keep our kids occupied. I noticed that it was transcoding HEVC -> lower bit rate HEVC. So what codec the transcodes uses is dependent on what is best supported by the playback device.

[AlternateWitness]

HEVC isn't that well supported on certain browsers/apps. It's probably being transcoded to support the device you're watching it on.
You can sometimes see why it's being transcoded in the dashboard.

Definitely going to echo Lozza's comment.  I was wondering the same thing.  Transcodes were always in H264, even though I can transcode HEVC to lower bitrate HEVC (I limit Internet bit rates).  But, whatever.  The transcode quality was good as is.

I was at a friends house and when I setup my Jellyfin on their Roku and played a movie to keep our kids occupied.  I noticed that it was transcoding HEVC -> lower bit rate HEVC.  So what codec the transcodes uses is dependent on what is best supported by the playback device.

Thanks for the replies! So I’ve tried playing it remotely on a modern Roku, chrome web browser, and my iPhone. All of which should support HEVC, but all of which are only transcoded to H.264. Does what you’re describing mean that Jellyfin will always transcode to H.264 unless there’s a problem? Is there a way I can make that not the case?

[- “‪Lozza‬” -]

Again, it's if the device supports it. How do you know your Roku supports the type of file you're trying to play?
Chrome doesn't support it, I thought.
https://github.com/StaZhu/enable-chromiu...e-decoding

[AlternateWitness]

Again, it's if the device supports it. How do you know your Roku supports the type of file you're trying to play?
Chrome doesn't support it, I thought.
https://github.com/StaZhu/enable-chromiu...e-decoding

I thought Chrome did, my bad. I know my iPhone 12 supports it though, and before I set a bitrate limit I had H.265 10bit encoded video direct play on the Roku, so that definitely supports it, but after I set a bitrate limit it compresses it to H.264?

[Revv23]

1. 1st and foremost. What is your server setup? Hardware, OS, Version?

2. Assuming you are using JF app on iphone, go to: Settings -> Playback -> Advanced: "Prefer fMP4-HLS Container

You may also try going to client settings and switching to the integrated player instead of the web player, which supports more codec. If you do that make sure you go back into playback settings and re "prefer" the MP4-HLS container.

3. On roku - options -> settings -> playback -> profile level support -> HEVC - Enabled. Also be aware that only some Roku hardware supports HEVC,

Also note Roku app still a WIP there is an open ticket for people that have HEVC issues. https://github.com/jellyfin/jellyfin-roku/issues/449

[Revv23]

I just did some testing for my own sanity on Chrome browse because it was my understanding that it wasnt supported and sure enough even playing on web browser direct on my server it's transcoding to h264. So if using chrome that won't work and if chrome is your default browser on your iphone youll need to switch to internal player.

I also verified it didnt work in firefox or brave just for S&G.

And for good measure I pulled up a JF media player desktop client just to ensure that it would serve HEVC direct play (it does) and then I lowered bit rate to 720kbps and... it transcoded to h264!

What is going on!?

Found it - once again in client settings - had to CHECK the box to allow HEVC transcoding.

Moral of the story - if your sure your server is set up properly - the issue lies with the clients.

[AlternateWitness]

I just did some testing for my own sanity on Chrome browse because it was my understanding that it wasnt supported and sure enough even playing on web browser direct on my server it's transcoding to h264. So if using chrome that won't work and if chrome is your default browser on your iphone youll need to switch to internal player.

I also verified it didnt work in firefox or brave just for S&G.

And for good measure I pulled up a JF media player desktop client just to ensure that it would serve HEVC direct play (it does) and then I lowered bit rate to 720kbps and... it transcoded to h264!

What is going on!?

Found it - once again in client settings - had to CHECK the box to allow HEVC transcoding.

Moral of the story - if your sure your server is set up properly - the issue lies with the clients.

Wow thanks, I’ll have to check that out, I don’t remember enabling any HEVC in my client settings so that’s probably the problem! May I ask what the S&G browser is? I can’t find any information about it anywhere, assuming that’s what you’re talking about.

[Revv23]

S&G is $hits & Giggles.