# Intercom High Efficiency Video Encoding (HEVC)

H.265 (High Efficiency Video Coding, or HEVC) is a video compression standard developed as the successor to H.264 (Advanced Video Coding, or AVC). It provides higher compression efficiency, allowing similar video quality at lower bandwidth and storage usage, making it well-suited for security video streaming.

{% hint style="info" %}
For a deeper overview of the standard, see: [High Efficiency Video Encoding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Efficiency_Video_Coding)
{% endhint %}

All Verkada Video Intercoms support H.265 encoding. When viewing video in Verkada Command, playback is optimized based on device capability. Devices that support H.265 receive the native stream for best quality, while unsupported devices automatically receive a transcoded H.264 stream for compatibility.

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## Configuration

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Intercoms.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select an intercom.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**At the top, click Settings > Video.**
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{% step %}
**Under Video Codec, select H.265.**
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{% endstepper %}

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## FAQ

<details>

<summary>Why enable H.265 video encoding on Verkada Intercoms?</summary>

H.265 encoding improves video quality, delivering up to 2x better clarity while significantly reducing artifacts. It also preserves key details more effectively, even when zooming in digitally.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Which Verkada Intercoms Support H.265 video encoding?</summary>

All Verkada Video Intercom models support H.265.<br>

</details>

<details>

<summary>What are the minimum system requirements to play Verkada HEVC?</summary>

H.265 requires more processing power to encode and decode compared to H.264, which can make it more challenging to use in certain devices or browsers. Verkada H.265 video decoding requires a compatible device hardware and a browser. Refer to the [device requirements](https://help.verkada.com/verkada-cameras/video-streaming-and-sharing/live-streaming/camera-high-efficiency-video-encoding-hevc#device-requirements) section of this article for more information.

</details>


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