i18n tweaks

The hwaccel step listed every preset Frigate ships, so an Intel box was offered Raspberry Pi and Rockchip decoding, and the codec specific presets (`preset-intel-qsv-h264` vs `-h265`) were offered as global values that break as soon as two cameras use different codecs. `/hardware/hwaccel` now returns the decoding families the probed hardware can actually use, each carrying a preset per codec, and the wizard resolves the family against the detect stream codec the camera wizard already probed: one global `ffmpeg.hwaccel_args` when every camera agrees, per-camera `cameras.<name>.ffmpeg.hwaccel_args` when they don't. The global stays on `auto` in that case so cameras added later still resolve at startup. A gen13+ Intel machine keeps its QuickSync recommendation with mixed h264 and h265 cameras instead of dropping to vaapi.

The recording step's "Days to retain recordings" only wrote alert and detection retention, and the storage estimate under it assumed continuous recording. It now asks what to record in plain language, writes `record.continuous.days` to match, shows the estimate only for continuous, and drops the spinner arrows on the number input.

frigate/api/hardware.py

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends
 from frigate.api.auth import require_role
 from frigate.api.defs.tags import Tags
 from frigate.detectors.hardware import DetectionHardware, hardware_prober
-from frigate.util.hwaccel import HwaccelRecommendation, recommend_hwaccel
+from frigate.util.hwaccel import HwaccelRecommendation, hwaccel_options
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -36,14 +36,22 @@ def probe_hardware(refresh: bool = False) -> list[DetectionHardware]:
     response_model=HwaccelRecommendation,
     dependencies=[Depends(require_role(["admin"]))],
 )
-def hwaccel_recommendation(detector: str | None = None) -> HwaccelRecommendation:
-    """Get the ffmpeg hwaccel preset recommended for this system.
+def hwaccel_recommendation(
+    detector: str | None = None, codecs: str | None = None
+) -> HwaccelRecommendation:
+    """Get the hardware decoding this system can do.
 
     Args:
         detector: Hardware key of the detection hardware in use, which biases
             the recommendation toward that hardware's GPU
+        codecs: Comma separated codecs of the streams that will be decoded,
+            used to drop families that cannot decode one of them
 
     Returns:
-        The recommended preset, empty when no hardware acceleration fits
+        The recommended family (empty when none fits) and every usable family
     """
-    return HwaccelRecommendation(preset=recommend_hwaccel(detector))
+    wanted = {
+        codec.strip().lower() for codec in (codecs or "").split(",") if codec.strip()
+    }
+    recommended, available = hwaccel_options(detector, wanted)
+    return HwaccelRecommendation(recommended=recommended, available=available)

frigate/test/test_hwaccel_recommendation.py

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""Tests for the ffmpeg hwaccel preset recommendation."""
+"""Tests for the hardware decoding recommendation."""
 
 import os
 import tempfile
@@ -38,102 +38,187 @@ class HwaccelRecommendationTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.drm = drm.start()
         self.addCleanup(drm.stop)
 
-    def recommend(self, keys=(), detector_key=None) -> str:
-        """Recommend with the prober reporting exactly these hardware keys."""
+    def options(self, keys=(), detector_key=None, codecs=None):
+        """Run the recommendation against a fixed set of hardware keys."""
         with patch.object(
             hwaccel.hardware_prober,
             "probe",
             return_value=[found(key) for key in keys],
         ):
-            return hwaccel.recommend_hwaccel(detector_key)
+            return hwaccel.hwaccel_options(detector_key, codecs)
+
+    def recommend(self, keys=(), detector_key=None, codecs=None) -> str:
+        """The recommended family key."""
+        return self.options(keys, detector_key, codecs)[0]
+
+    def available(self, keys=(), detector_key=None, codecs=None) -> list[str]:
+        """The keys of the usable families, best first."""
+        return [family.key for family in self.options(keys, detector_key, codecs)[1]]
+
+    def presets(self, keys=(), detector_key=None, codecs=None) -> dict:
+        """The presets each usable family provides."""
+        return {
+            family.key: family.presets
+            for family in self.options(keys, detector_key, codecs)[1]
+        }
 
     def write_cpuinfo(self, model_name: str) -> None:
         with open(os.path.join(self.proc_root, "cpuinfo"), "w") as f:
             f.write(f"processor\t: 0\nmodel name\t: {model_name}\n")
 
+    def write_device_tree(self) -> None:
+        os.makedirs(os.path.join(self.proc_root, "device-tree"), exist_ok=True)
+        with open(os.path.join(self.proc_root, "device-tree", "compatible"), "w") as f:
+            f.write("raspberrypi,5-model-b\x00brcm,bcm2712\x00")
+
 
 class TestPriority(HwaccelRecommendationTestCase):
     def test_nothing_found_recommends_nothing(self):
         self.assertEqual(self.recommend(), "")
 
     def test_nvidia_wins_over_intel(self):
-        self.assertEqual(
-            self.recommend(["onnx:nvidia", "openvino:GPU"]), "preset-nvidia"
-        )
+        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["onnx:nvidia", "openvino:GPU"]), "nvidia")
 
-    def test_a_jetson_uses_its_own_preset(self):
-        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["tensorrt"]), "preset-jetson-h264")
+    def test_a_jetson_uses_its_own_family(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["tensorrt"]), "jetson")
 
     def test_a_rockchip_uses_rkmpp(self):
-        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["rknn"]), "preset-rkmpp")
+        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["rknn"]), "rkmpp")
 
     def test_an_amd_gpu_uses_vaapi(self):
-        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["onnx:amd"]), "preset-vaapi")
+        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["onnx:amd"]), "vaapi")
 
 
 class TestDetectorBias(HwaccelRecommendationTestCase):
     def test_a_chosen_intel_gpu_beats_a_present_nvidia(self):
         self.assertEqual(
-            self.recommend(["onnx:nvidia", "openvino:GPU"], "openvino:GPU"),
-            "preset-vaapi",
+            self.recommend(["onnx:nvidia", "openvino:GPU"], "openvino:GPU"), "vaapi"
         )
 
     def test_a_chosen_npu_decodes_through_the_igpu(self):
         self.assertEqual(
-            self.recommend(["openvino:NPU", "openvino:GPU"], "openvino:NPU"),
-            "preset-vaapi",
+            self.recommend(["openvino:NPU", "openvino:GPU"], "openvino:NPU"), "vaapi"
         )
 
     def test_an_npu_without_an_igpu_falls_through(self):
         self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["openvino:NPU"], "openvino:NPU"), "")
 
     def test_a_cpu_choice_still_recommends_the_present_gpu(self):
-        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["cpu", "openvino:GPU"], "cpu"), "preset-vaapi")
-
-    def test_a_detector_key_for_absent_hardware_is_ignored(self):
-        self.assertEqual(
-            self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"], "onnx:nvidia"), "preset-vaapi"
-        )
+        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["cpu", "openvino:GPU"], "cpu"), "vaapi")
 
 
 class TestIntelGeneration(HwaccelRecommendationTestCase):
-    def test_the_xe_driver_uses_qsv(self):
+    def test_the_xe_driver_prefers_qsv(self):
         self.drm.return_value = {"0000:00:02.0": "xe"}
-        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"]), "preset-intel-qsv-h264")
+        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"], codecs={"h264"}), "intel-qsv")
 
-    def test_gen13_uses_qsv(self):
+    def test_gen13_prefers_qsv(self):
         self.write_cpuinfo("13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-13500")
-        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"]), "preset-intel-qsv-h264")
+        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"], codecs={"h264"}), "intel-qsv")
 
-    def test_gen12_uses_vaapi(self):
-        self.write_cpuinfo("12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-12400")
-        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"]), "preset-vaapi")
-
-    def test_an_older_model_string_uses_vaapi(self):
-        self.write_cpuinfo("Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700K CPU @ 3.70GHz")
-        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"]), "preset-vaapi")
-
-    def test_missing_cpuinfo_uses_vaapi(self):
-        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"]), "preset-vaapi")
-
-    def test_a_core_ultra_uses_qsv(self):
+    def test_a_core_ultra_prefers_qsv(self):
         self.write_cpuinfo("Intel(R) Core(TM) Ultra 7 155H")
-        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"]), "preset-intel-qsv-h264")
+        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"], codecs={"h264"}), "intel-qsv")
+
+    def test_gen13_prefers_qsv_for_mixed_codecs(self):
+        # each camera resolves the family to its own codec
+        self.write_cpuinfo("13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-13500")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"], codecs={"h264", "h265"}), "intel-qsv"
+        )
+
+    def test_gen12_prefers_vaapi(self):
+        self.write_cpuinfo("12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-12400")
+        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"], codecs={"h264"}), "vaapi")
+
+    def test_gen12_still_offers_qsv(self):
+        self.write_cpuinfo("12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-12400")
+        self.assertEqual(self.available(["openvino:GPU"]), ["vaapi", "intel-qsv"])
+
+    def test_an_older_model_string_prefers_vaapi(self):
+        self.write_cpuinfo("Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700K CPU @ 3.70GHz")
+        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"], codecs={"h264"}), "vaapi")
+
+    def test_missing_cpuinfo_prefers_vaapi(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"], codecs={"h264"}), "vaapi")
+
+    def test_qsv_is_not_offered_before_gen8(self):
+        self.write_cpuinfo("7th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-7500")
+        self.assertEqual(self.available(["openvino:GPU"]), ["vaapi"])
 
 
-class TestRaspberryPi(HwaccelRecommendationTestCase):
-    def write_device_tree(self) -> None:
-        os.makedirs(os.path.join(self.proc_root, "device-tree"))
-        with open(os.path.join(self.proc_root, "device-tree", "compatible"), "w") as f:
-            f.write("raspberrypi,5-model-b\x00brcm,bcm2712\x00")
+class TestUnknownCodecs(HwaccelRecommendationTestCase):
+    def test_a_codec_agnostic_family_wins_when_no_codec_is_known(self):
+        # a qsv preset would have to guess a codec for cameras added later
+        self.drm.return_value = {"0000:00:02.0": "xe"}
+        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["openvino:GPU"]), "vaapi")
 
-    def test_a_pi_uses_v4l2(self):
+    def test_hardware_with_no_agnostic_family_still_recommends(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["tensorrt"]), "jetson")
+
+
+class TestAvailableFamilies(HwaccelRecommendationTestCase):
+    def test_nothing_found_offers_nothing(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.available(), [])
+
+    def test_only_families_the_hardware_can_use_are_offered(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.available(["onnx:nvidia"]), ["nvidia"])
+
+    def test_a_pi_does_not_offer_desktop_gpu_families(self):
         self.write_device_tree()
-        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(), "preset-rpi-64-h264")
+        self.assertEqual(self.available(), ["rpi"])
+
+    def test_an_intel_system_does_not_offer_the_pi_family(self):
+        offered = self.available(["openvino:GPU"])
+
+        self.assertIn("vaapi", offered)
+        self.assertNotIn("rpi", offered)
+        self.assertNotIn("nvidia", offered)
+
+    def test_every_gpu_present_is_offered(self):
+        offered = self.available(["onnx:nvidia", "openvino:GPU"])
+
+        self.assertEqual(offered[0], "nvidia")
+        self.assertIn("vaapi", offered)
 
     def test_a_gpu_wins_over_the_pi_fallback(self):
         self.write_device_tree()
-        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["onnx:nvidia"]), "preset-nvidia")
+        self.assertEqual(self.recommend(["onnx:nvidia"]), "nvidia")
+
+    def test_the_recommendation_is_always_offered(self):
+        recommended, families = self.options(["openvino:GPU"], codecs={"h264"})
+
+        self.assertIn(recommended, [family.key for family in families])
+
+
+class TestCodecCoverage(HwaccelRecommendationTestCase):
+    def test_a_family_carries_a_preset_per_codec(self):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            self.presets(["tensorrt"])["jetson"],
+            {"h264": "preset-jetson-h264", "h265": "preset-jetson-h265"},
+        )
+
+    def test_a_codec_agnostic_family_carries_one_preset(self):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            self.presets(["onnx:nvidia"])["nvidia"], {"any": "preset-nvidia"}
+        )
+
+    def test_hevc_is_treated_as_h265(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.available(["tensorrt"], codecs={"hevc"}), ["jetson"])
+
+    def test_a_family_that_cannot_decode_a_codec_is_dropped(self):
+        # a jetson decodes h264 and h265 only, so an mjpeg camera rules it out
+        self.assertEqual(self.available(["tensorrt"], codecs={"mjpeg"}), [])
+
+    def test_codec_agnostic_families_survive_any_codec(self):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            self.available(["onnx:nvidia"], codecs={"mjpeg", "h265"}), ["nvidia"]
+        )
+
+    def test_a_dropped_family_hands_off_to_the_next_hardware(self):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            self.recommend(["tensorrt", "onnx:nvidia"], codecs={"mjpeg"}), "nvidia"
+        )
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":

frigate/util/config.py

@@ -79,10 +79,20 @@ def redact_credential(obj: dict[str, Any], key: str) -> None:
 
 
 def find_config_file() -> str:
+    """Return the path of the config file to use.
+
+    Both .yml and .yaml are supported, so fall back to the other extension when
+    the configured path does not exist. If neither exists the configured path is
+    returned so a new config is created with the default .yml extension.
+    """
     config_path = os.environ.get("CONFIG_FILE", DEFAULT_CONFIG_FILE)
 
     if not os.path.isfile(config_path):
-        config_path = config_path.replace("yml", "yaml")
+        base, ext = os.path.splitext(config_path)
+        alternate = f"{base}.yaml" if ext == ".yml" else f"{base}.yml"
+
+        if os.path.isfile(alternate):
+            return alternate
 
     return config_path
 

frigate/util/hwaccel.py

@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
-"""Recommendation of an ffmpeg hwaccel preset from the hardware on the system.
+"""Recommendation of ffmpeg hwaccel presets from the hardware on the system.
 
 Every check is a filesystem read, like the detection hardware probes, so this
 is cheap enough to serve from the API process.
+
+Presets are grouped into families because some of them only decode the codec
+they name. A family hides that: callers pick the family their hardware needs
+and resolve it per camera against that camera's detect stream.
 """
 
 import logging
@@ -22,34 +26,78 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 # root the /proc reads use, so tests can point them at a fixture tree
 PROC_ROOT = "/proc"
 
-PRESET_JETSON = "preset-jetson-h264"
-PRESET_INTEL_QSV = "preset-intel-qsv-h264"
-PRESET_RPI = "preset-rpi-64-h264"
+ANY_CODEC = "any"
 
-# marketing name of a newer Intel CPU, e.g. "13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-13500"
+# a Raspberry Pi has no detection hardware of its own, so it gets a key here
+RASPBERRY_PI = "raspberrypi"
+
+# ffprobe names h265 streams hevc
+CODEC_ALIASES = {"hevc": "h265"}
+
+# e.g. "13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-13500"
 INTEL_GEN_PATTERN = re.compile(r"(\d+)th Gen")
+# Core Ultra dropped the generation prefix and is newer than all of them
+INTEL_ULTRA_PATTERN = re.compile(r"Core\(TM\) Ultra")
+INTEL_GEN_LATEST = 99
 
-# per the hwaccel docs, gen13+ and Arc use qsv while older is safest on vaapi
+# per the hwaccel docs, gen13+ and Arc prefer qsv while older is safest on
+# vaapi, and qsv is not supported at all before gen8
 INTEL_QSV_MIN_GEN = 13
+INTEL_QSV_SUPPORTED_GEN = 8
 
-# detection hardware whose GPU also decodes video, in recommendation priority
-# order. None marks Intel, whose preset depends on the platform generation.
-DECODE_PRESETS: dict[str, str | None] = {
-    "onnx:nvidia": FFMPEG_HWACCEL_NVIDIA,
-    "tensorrt": PRESET_JETSON,
-    "rknn": FFMPEG_HWACCEL_RKMPP,
-    "openvino:GPU": None,
-    "onnx:amd": FFMPEG_HWACCEL_VAAPI,
-}
+# decode capable detection hardware, in recommendation priority order
+DECODE_HARDWARE = (
+    "onnx:nvidia",
+    "tensorrt",
+    "rknn",
+    "openvino:GPU",
+    "onnx:amd",
+    RASPBERRY_PI,
+)
+
+
+class HwaccelFamily(BaseModel):
+    """A kind of hardware decoding, and the presets that drive it."""
+
+    key: str = Field(
+        title="Family key",
+        description="Stable identifier for this kind of hardware decoding.",
+    )
+    presets: dict[str, str] = Field(
+        title="Presets",
+        description="The ffmpeg preset for each codec this family decodes, or a single 'any' preset when it decodes every codec.",
+    )
 
 
 class HwaccelRecommendation(BaseModel):
-    """The hwaccel preset recommended for this system."""
+    """The hardware decoding this system can do."""
 
-    preset: str = Field(
-        title="Recommended preset",
-        description="The ffmpeg hwaccel preset that fits this system's hardware, or an empty string when none does.",
+    recommended: str = Field(
+        title="Recommended family",
+        description="Key of the family that fits this system best, or an empty string when none does.",
     )
+    available: list[HwaccelFamily] = Field(
+        default_factory=list,
+        title="Available families",
+        description="Every family this system's hardware can use, best first.",
+    )
+
+
+FAMILY_NVIDIA = HwaccelFamily(key="nvidia", presets={ANY_CODEC: FFMPEG_HWACCEL_NVIDIA})
+FAMILY_VAAPI = HwaccelFamily(key="vaapi", presets={ANY_CODEC: FFMPEG_HWACCEL_VAAPI})
+FAMILY_RKMPP = HwaccelFamily(key="rkmpp", presets={ANY_CODEC: FFMPEG_HWACCEL_RKMPP})
+FAMILY_QSV = HwaccelFamily(
+    key="intel-qsv",
+    presets={"h264": "preset-intel-qsv-h264", "h265": "preset-intel-qsv-h265"},
+)
+FAMILY_JETSON = HwaccelFamily(
+    key="jetson",
+    presets={"h264": "preset-jetson-h264", "h265": "preset-jetson-h265"},
+)
+FAMILY_RPI = HwaccelFamily(
+    key="rpi",
+    presets={"h264": "preset-rpi-64-h264", "h265": "preset-rpi-64-h265"},
+)
 
 
 def _read(path: str) -> str | None:
@@ -61,29 +109,29 @@ def _read(path: str) -> str | None:
         return None
 
 
-def _intel_preset() -> str:
-    """Pick vaapi or qsv for an Intel GPU based on the platform generation."""
+def _intel_generation() -> int | None:
+    """The Intel platform generation, or None when it cannot be determined."""
     # the xe driver only binds to the newest platforms (Arc and later iGPUs)
     if "xe" in enumerate_drm_devices().values():
-        return PRESET_INTEL_QSV
+        return INTEL_GEN_LATEST
 
     cpuinfo = _read(f"{PROC_ROOT}/cpuinfo") or ""
 
     for line in cpuinfo.splitlines():
-        if line.startswith("model name"):
-            match = INTEL_GEN_PATTERN.search(line)
+        if not line.startswith("model name"):
+            continue
 
-            if match and int(match.group(1)) >= INTEL_QSV_MIN_GEN:
-                return PRESET_INTEL_QSV
+        match = INTEL_GEN_PATTERN.search(line)
 
-            # Core Ultra (Meteor Lake and later) dropped the "Nth Gen" prefix
-            # but sits past the qsv cutoff
-            if "Core(TM) Ultra" in line:
-                return PRESET_INTEL_QSV
+        if match:
+            return int(match.group(1))
 
-            break
+        if INTEL_ULTRA_PATTERN.search(line):
+            return INTEL_GEN_LATEST
 
-    return FFMPEG_HWACCEL_VAAPI
+        break
+
+    return None
 
 
 def _is_raspberry_pi() -> bool:
@@ -91,33 +139,135 @@ def _is_raspberry_pi() -> bool:
     return "raspberrypi" in compatible
 
 
-def recommend_hwaccel(detector_key: str | None = None) -> str:
-    """Recommend an ffmpeg hwaccel preset for this system.
+def _intel_families(generation: int | None) -> list[HwaccelFamily]:
+    """vaapi drives every Intel GPU, qsv only those from gen8 on."""
+    if generation is not None and generation < INTEL_QSV_SUPPORTED_GEN:
+        return [FAMILY_VAAPI]
+
+    if generation is not None and generation >= INTEL_QSV_MIN_GEN:
+        return [FAMILY_QSV, FAMILY_VAAPI]
+
+    return [FAMILY_VAAPI, FAMILY_QSV]
+
+
+def _families(key: str, generation: int | None) -> list[HwaccelFamily]:
+    """Every family that can decode on this hardware, best first."""
+    if key == "onnx:nvidia":
+        return [FAMILY_NVIDIA]
+
+    if key == "tensorrt":
+        return [FAMILY_JETSON]
+
+    if key == "rknn":
+        return [FAMILY_RKMPP]
+
+    if key == "onnx:amd":
+        return [FAMILY_VAAPI]
+
+    if key == RASPBERRY_PI:
+        return [FAMILY_RPI]
+
+    if key == "openvino:GPU":
+        return _intel_families(generation)
+
+    return []
+
+
+def _decodes(family: HwaccelFamily, codecs: set[str]) -> bool:
+    """Whether a family can decode every codec that is in use."""
+    if ANY_CODEC in family.presets:
+        return True
+
+    return all(codec in family.presets for codec in codecs)
+
+
+def _decode_hardware(detector_key: str | None) -> list[str]:
+    """Decode capable hardware on this system, best first.
+
+    Args:
+        detector_key: Hardware key of the detection hardware in use, whose GPU
+            is preferred over any other
+
+    Returns:
+        The hardware keys that can decode video, in recommendation order
+    """
+    present = {found.key for found in hardware_prober.probe()}
+
+    if _is_raspberry_pi():
+        present.add(RASPBERRY_PI)
+
+    # an Intel NPU decodes through the iGPU next to it
+    if detector_key == "openvino:NPU":
+        detector_key = "openvino:GPU"
+
+    ordered = [key for key in DECODE_HARDWARE if key in present]
+
+    if detector_key in ordered:
+        ordered.remove(detector_key)
+        ordered.insert(0, detector_key)
+
+    return ordered
+
+
+def hwaccel_options(
+    detector_key: str | None = None, codecs: set[str] | None = None
+) -> tuple[str, list[HwaccelFamily]]:
+    """Get the hardware decoding this system can do.
 
     Args:
         detector_key: Hardware key of the detection hardware in use, which
             biases the recommendation toward that hardware's GPU
+        codecs: Codecs of the streams that will be decoded, used to drop
+            families that cannot decode one of them
 
     Returns:
-        The name of the preset that fits, or an empty string when none does
+        The recommended family key (empty when none fits) and every usable
+        family, best first
     """
-    present = {found.key for found in hardware_prober.probe()}
+    wanted = {CODEC_ALIASES.get(codec, codec) for codec in codecs or set()}
+    hardware = _decode_hardware(detector_key)
+    generation = _intel_generation() if "openvino:GPU" in hardware else None
 
-    candidates: list[str] = []
+    available: list[HwaccelFamily] = []
+    recommended = ""
 
-    if detector_key in DECODE_PRESETS and detector_key in present:
-        candidates.append(detector_key)
-    elif detector_key == "openvino:NPU" and "openvino:GPU" in present:
-        # an Intel NPU decodes through the iGPU next to it
-        candidates.append("openvino:GPU")
+    for key in hardware:
+        usable = [
+            family for family in _families(key, generation) if _decodes(family, wanted)
+        ]
 
-    candidates.extend(key for key in DECODE_PRESETS if key in present)
+        if usable and not recommended:
+            recommended = _recommend(usable, bool(wanted))
 
-    if candidates:
-        preset = DECODE_PRESETS[candidates[0]]
-        return preset if preset is not None else _intel_preset()
+        for family in usable:
+            if family.key not in {entry.key for entry in available}:
+                available.append(family)
 
-    if _is_raspberry_pi():
-        return PRESET_RPI
+    return recommended, available
 
-    return ""
+
+def _recommend(families: list[HwaccelFamily], codecs_known: bool) -> str:
+    """Pick the family to default to out of the ones this hardware can use."""
+    if not codecs_known:
+        # a codec specific family would have to guess a codec for cameras
+        # that do not exist yet
+        for family in families:
+            if ANY_CODEC in family.presets:
+                return family.key
+
+    return families[0].key
+
+
+def recommend_hwaccel(
+    detector_key: str | None = None, codecs: set[str] | None = None
+) -> str:
+    """Recommend a hardware decoding family for this system.
+
+    Args:
+        detector_key: Hardware key of the detection hardware in use
+        codecs: Codecs of the streams that will be decoded
+
+    Returns:
+        The key of the family that fits, or an empty string when none does
+    """
+    return hwaccel_options(detector_key, codecs)[0]

web/e2e/helpers/api-mocker.ts

@@ -43,7 +43,10 @@ export interface ApiMockOverrides {
   configRaw?: string;
   configSchema?: Record<string, unknown>;
   hardware?: unknown[];
-  hwaccel?: { preset: string };
+  hwaccel?: {
+    recommended: string;
+    available?: { key: string; presets: Record<string, string> }[];
+  };
 }
 
 export class ApiMocker {
@@ -188,7 +191,13 @@ export class ApiMocker {
 
     // Hwaccel preset recommendation
     await this.page.route("**/api/hardware/hwaccel**", (route) =>
-      route.fulfill({ json: overrides?.hwaccel ?? { preset: "" } }),
+      route.fulfill({
+        json: {
+          recommended: "",
+          available: [],
+          ...(overrides?.hwaccel ?? {}),
+        },
+      }),
     );
 
     // Go2RTC streams

web/e2e/specs/setup/wizard-hardware.spec.ts

@@ -57,16 +57,12 @@ async function captureRestarts(page: Page): Promise<string[]> {
 }
 
 async function gotoDetectorStep(page: Page) {
-  // welcome -> camera -> detector
   await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Get Started" }).click();
   await expect(page.getByText("Add Your First Camera")).toBeVisible();
 
-  // The camera step's Next button only renders once addedCameras is
-  // non-empty, and that state is local to the step (it isn't seeded from
-  // the cameras already in config). Opening and cancelling the add-camera
-  // dialog is enough: its close handler force-refetches /api/config, which
-  // picks up the cameras already present in the mocked config and reveals
-  // Next -- see SetupCamera.tsx's handleClose.
+  // the camera step's Next only renders once its local addedCameras fills,
+  // which SetupCamera does by refetching config when the dialog closes, so
+  // opening and cancelling the dialog is what reveals Next
   await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Add Camera" }).click();
   await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Cancel" }).click();
 
@@ -85,7 +81,19 @@ test.describe("setup wizard hardware @high @mobile", () => {
     await frigateApp.installDefaults({
       // the base config snapshot predates the onboarding key, hence the cast
       config: { onboarding: { setup_complete: false } } as never,
-      hwaccel: { preset: "preset-vaapi" },
+      hwaccel: {
+        recommended: "vaapi",
+        available: [
+          { key: "vaapi", presets: { any: "preset-vaapi" } },
+          {
+            key: "intel-qsv",
+            presets: {
+              h264: "preset-intel-qsv-h264",
+              h265: "preset-intel-qsv-h265",
+            },
+          },
+        ],
+      },
     });
     const saves = await captureSaves(page);
 
@@ -100,7 +108,6 @@ test.describe("setup wizard hardware @high @mobile", () => {
 
     await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Next" }).click();
 
-    // detector -> hwaccel
     await expect(page.getByText("Hardware Acceleration")).toBeVisible();
 
     const detectorSave = saves.find((save) => save.config_data?.models);
@@ -109,8 +116,8 @@ test.describe("setup wizard hardware @high @mobile", () => {
     ]);
     expect(detectorSave?.config_data?.detect).toEqual({ enabled: true });
 
-    // Auto shows the preset derived from the chosen hardware and writes it
-    await expect(page.getByText("preset-vaapi")).toBeVisible();
+    // VAAPI decodes any codec, so one global value covers every camera
+    await expect(page.getByText("Will use VAAPI (Intel/AMD)")).toBeVisible();
     await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Next" }).click();
 
     const hwaccelSave = saves.find((save) => save.config_data?.ffmpeg);
@@ -118,11 +125,10 @@ test.describe("setup wizard hardware @high @mobile", () => {
       hwaccel_args: "preset-vaapi",
     });
 
-    // hwaccel -> recording (skipped) -> complete, where the saved steps only
-    // take effect after a restart and the primary action says so
+    // the saved steps only take effect after a restart
     const restarts = await captureRestarts(page);
     await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Skip" }).click();
-    await expect(page.getByText("You're All Set!")).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByText("You're done!")).toBeVisible();
 
     await expect(
       page.getByText("Frigate needs to restart to apply your settings"),
@@ -158,21 +164,20 @@ test.describe("setup wizard hardware @high @mobile", () => {
     await expect(page.getByText("Hardware Acceleration")).toBeVisible();
     expect(saves.filter((save) => save.config_data?.models)).toHaveLength(0);
 
-    // with nothing derived, Auto advances without writing; skipping recording
-    // leaves no pending saves, so finishing needs no restart
+    // nothing derived and nothing saved, so finishing needs no restart
     const restarts = await captureRestarts(page);
-    await expect(page.getByText("No compatible GPU found")).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByText("No supported video card found")).toBeVisible();
     await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Next" }).click();
     await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Skip" }).click();
-    await expect(page.getByText("You're All Set!")).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByText("You're done!")).toBeVisible();
 
     await expect(
       page.getByText("Frigate needs to restart to apply your settings"),
     ).toBeHidden();
     await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Go to Live View" }).click();
 
-    // hands off without restarting; the mocked config still reports
-    // onboarding incomplete, so the reload lands back on the wizard
+    // the mocked config still reports onboarding incomplete, so the reload
+    // lands back on the wizard
     await expect(page.getByText("Welcome to Frigate")).toBeVisible();
     expect(restarts).toHaveLength(0);
     const finishSave = saves.find((save) => save.config_data?.onboarding);
@@ -181,6 +186,81 @@ test.describe("setup wizard hardware @high @mobile", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  test("offers only the presets the hardware supports", async ({
+    frigateApp,
+    page,
+  }) => {
+    await frigateApp.installDefaults({
+      config: { onboarding: { setup_complete: false } } as never,
+      hardware: NVIDIA_HARDWARE,
+      hwaccel: {
+        recommended: "nvidia",
+        available: [{ key: "nvidia", presets: { any: "preset-nvidia" } }],
+      },
+    });
+    await captureSaves(page);
+
+    await frigateApp.gotoAndWait("/", "text=Welcome to Frigate");
+    await gotoDetectorStep(page);
+    await page
+      .getByRole("button", { name: "Continue without detection" })
+      .click();
+    await expect(page.getByText("Hardware Acceleration")).toBeVisible();
+
+    // an NVIDIA box has no business being offered Rockchip or Pi decoding
+    await expect(
+      page.getByRole("radio", { name: "CUDA (NVIDIA)" }),
+    ).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(
+      page.getByRole("radio", { name: /Raspberry Pi/ }),
+    ).toBeHidden();
+    await expect(page.getByRole("radio", { name: /Rockchip/ })).toBeHidden();
+
+    // Auto and None are always available
+    await expect(page.getByRole("radio", { name: "Auto" })).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(
+      page.getByRole("radio", { name: "None (software decoding)" }),
+    ).toBeVisible();
+  });
+
+  test("a codec specific family falls back to h264 with no cameras", async ({
+    frigateApp,
+    page,
+  }) => {
+    await frigateApp.installDefaults({
+      config: { onboarding: { setup_complete: false } } as never,
+      hwaccel: {
+        recommended: "jetson",
+        available: [
+          {
+            key: "jetson",
+            presets: {
+              h264: "preset-jetson-h264",
+              h265: "preset-jetson-h265",
+            },
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+    });
+    const saves = await captureSaves(page);
+
+    await frigateApp.gotoAndWait("/", "text=Welcome to Frigate");
+    await gotoDetectorStep(page);
+    await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Next" }).click();
+    await expect(page.getByText("Hardware Acceleration")).toBeVisible();
+
+    await expect(
+      page.getByRole("radio", { name: "NVIDIA Jetson" }),
+    ).toBeVisible();
+    await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Next" }).click();
+
+    // no camera was added, so there is no codec to match
+    const hwaccelSave = saves.find((save) => save.config_data?.ffmpeg);
+    expect(hwaccelSave?.config_data?.ffmpeg).toEqual({
+      hwaccel_args: "preset-jetson-h264",
+    });
+  });
+
   test("None writes an explicit empty hwaccel list", async ({
     frigateApp,
     page,

web/public/locales/en/views/setup.json

@@ -27,16 +27,16 @@
       "description": "Speed up video decoding with your GPU.",
       "detecting": "Checking your hardware...",
       "auto": "Auto",
-      "autoResolved": "Will use {{preset}} based on your detection hardware.",
-      "autoNone": "No compatible GPU found. Frigate will decide at startup.",
+      "autoResolved": "Will use {{family}} for your cameras.",
+      "autoNone": "No supported video card found. Frigate will decide at startup.",
       "recommendFailed": "Hardware detection is unavailable. Frigate will decide at startup.",
-      "presets": {
+      "families": {
+        "nvidia": "CUDA (NVIDIA)",
         "vaapi": "VAAPI (Intel/AMD)",
-        "cuda": "CUDA (NVIDIA)",
-        "qsv": "QuickSync (Intel)",
+        "intel-qsv": "QuickSync (Intel)",
         "rkmpp": "RKMPP (Rockchip)",
-        "rpi": "V4L2 (Raspberry Pi)",
         "jetson": "NVIDIA Jetson",
+        "rpi": "V4L2 (Raspberry Pi)",
         "none": "None (software decoding)"
       }
     },
@@ -52,14 +52,29 @@
     },
     "recording": {
       "title": "Recordings",
-      "description": "Save video from your cameras for later review.",
+      "description": "Save video from your cameras so you can watch it later.",
       "enableRecording": "Enable recordings",
-      "retentionDays": "Days to retain recordings",
-      "storageEstimate": "With {{free}} GB free, you can store approximately {{days}} days of recordings for {{cameras}} camera(s).",
-      "noCameras": "You haven't added cameras yet. Recording will apply when you add cameras in Settings."
+      "retentionDays": "Keep recordings for (days)",
+      "storageEstimate": "With {{free}} GB free, {{cameras}} camera(s) recording around the clock fills the disk in roughly {{days}} days.",
+      "noCameras": "You haven't added cameras yet. Recording will apply when you add cameras in Settings.",
+      "modeLabel": "What to record",
+      "modes": {
+        "events": {
+          "label": "Only when something is detected",
+          "description": "Saves video around people, cars, and other objects Frigate detects. Uses far less disk space."
+        },
+        "continuous": {
+          "label": "All the time",
+          "description": "Saves video around the clock, so you can go back to any moment. Uses much more disk space."
+        }
+      },
+      "retentionHint": {
+        "events": "Video of anything Frigate detects is kept this long, then deleted automatically.",
+        "continuous": "All video is kept this long, then deleted automatically."
+      }
     },
     "complete": {
-      "title": "You're All Set!",
+      "title": "You're done!",
       "description": "Your Frigate system is configured. Here's what we set up:",
       "configured": "Configured",
       "notConfigured": "Not configured",

web/src/components/settings/CameraWizardDialog.tsx

@@ -74,11 +74,14 @@ const STEPS = [
 type CameraWizardDialogProps = {
   open: boolean;
   onClose: () => void;
+  // lets callers reuse what was probed here instead of probing again
+  onCameraAdded?: (camera: { name: string; detectCodec?: string }) => void;
 };
 
 export default function CameraWizardDialog({
   open,
   onClose,
+  onCameraAdded,
 }: CameraWizardDialogProps) {
   const { t } = useTranslation(["views/settings"]);
   const { mutate: updateConfig } = useSWR("config");
@@ -271,6 +274,13 @@ export default function CameraWizardDialog({
         .put("config/set", requestBody)
         .then((response) => {
           if (response.status === 200) {
+            onCameraAdded?.({
+              name: finalCameraName,
+              detectCodec: wizardData.streams?.find((stream) =>
+                stream.roles.includes("detect"),
+              )?.testResult?.videoCodec,
+            });
+
             // Configure go2rtc streams for all streams
             if (wizardData.streams && wizardData.streams.length > 0) {
               const go2rtcStreams: Record<string, string[]> = {};
@@ -393,7 +403,7 @@ export default function CameraWizardDialog({
           setIsLoading(false);
         });
     },
-    [updateConfig, t, onClose],
+    [updateConfig, t, onClose, onCameraAdded],
   );
 
   return (

web/src/components/setup/SetupCamera.tsx

@@ -7,7 +7,10 @@ import { FrigateConfig } from "@/types/frigateConfig";
 import { FaCircleCheck } from "react-icons/fa6";
 
 type SetupCameraProps = {
-  onNext: (cameraNames?: string[]) => void;
+  onNext: (
+    cameraNames?: string[],
+    detectCodecs?: Record<string, string>,
+  ) => void;
   onBack: () => void;
 };
 
@@ -15,14 +18,15 @@ export default function SetupCamera({ onNext, onBack }: SetupCameraProps) {
   const { t } = useTranslation(["views/setup"]);
   const [showWizard, setShowWizard] = useState(false);
   const [addedCameras, setAddedCameras] = useState<string[]>([]);
+  const [detectCodecs, setDetectCodecs] = useState<Record<string, string>>({});
   const { mutate: mutateConfig } = useSWR<FrigateConfig>("config", {
     revalidateOnFocus: false,
   });
 
   const handleClose = useCallback(() => {
     setShowWizard(false);
-    // Delay to let CameraWizardDialog's config save and go2rtc setup complete,
-    // then force a fresh fetch from the server (bypassing SWR cache)
+    // the dialog's config save and go2rtc setup need a moment to land, and
+    // the SWR cache would serve the pre-save config
     setTimeout(() => {
       fetch(`${window.baseUrl || ""}api/config`)
         .then((res) => res.json())
@@ -33,15 +37,22 @@ export default function SetupCamera({ onNext, onBack }: SetupCameraProps) {
             setAddedCameras(cameraNames);
           }
         })
-        .catch(() => {
-          // Fetch failed, stay on this step
-        });
+        .catch(() => {});
     }, 1000);
   }, [mutateConfig, addedCameras]);
 
+  const handleCameraAdded = useCallback(
+    ({ name, detectCodec }: { name: string; detectCodec?: string }) => {
+      if (detectCodec) {
+        setDetectCodecs((previous) => ({ ...previous, [name]: detectCodec }));
+      }
+    },
+    [],
+  );
+
   const handleNext = useCallback(() => {
-    onNext(addedCameras.length > 0 ? addedCameras : undefined);
-  }, [onNext, addedCameras]);
+    onNext(addedCameras.length > 0 ? addedCameras : undefined, detectCodecs);
+  }, [onNext, addedCameras, detectCodecs]);
 
   return (
     <>
@@ -94,7 +105,11 @@ export default function SetupCamera({ onNext, onBack }: SetupCameraProps) {
           </div>
         </div>
       </div>
-      <CameraWizardDialog open={showWizard} onClose={handleClose} />
+      <CameraWizardDialog
+        open={showWizard}
+        onClose={handleClose}
+        onCameraAdded={handleCameraAdded}
+      />
     </>
   );
 }

web/src/components/setup/SetupComplete.tsx

@@ -87,7 +87,6 @@ export default function SetupComplete({
   const handleFinish = useCallback(async () => {
     setFinishing(true);
     try {
-      // Mark setup as complete
       await axios.put("config/set", {
         config_data: {
           onboarding: { setup_complete: true },
@@ -95,8 +94,7 @@ export default function SetupComplete({
         requires_restart: 0,
       });
 
-      // camera adds were applied live, so with no pending requires_restart
-      // saves the wizard can hand off without restarting
+      // camera adds were applied live, so nothing is waiting on a restart
       if (!restartRequired) {
         window.location.href = window.baseUrl || "/";
         return;
@@ -104,10 +102,8 @@ export default function SetupComplete({
 
       setRestarting(true);
 
-      // Trigger restart
       await axios.post("restart");
 
-      // Poll for server availability with max retries
       let retries = 0;
       const maxRetries = 60; // 2 minutes max
       pollRef.current = setInterval(async () => {
@@ -116,7 +112,6 @@ export default function SetupComplete({
           if (pollRef.current) {
             clearInterval(pollRef.current);
           }
-          // Give up polling, redirect anyway
           window.location.href = window.baseUrl || "/";
           return;
         }
@@ -129,7 +124,7 @@ export default function SetupComplete({
             window.location.href = window.baseUrl || "/";
           }
         } catch {
-          // Server not ready yet
+          // not back yet
         }
       }, 2000);
     } catch {

web/src/components/setup/SetupDetector.tsx

@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ import { LuExternalLink } from "react-icons/lu";
 import { toast } from "sonner";
 import useSWR from "swr";
 
-// detectors that ship no default model; configuring them without one leaves
-// the detector unable to start
+// these ship no default model, so configuring one without a model leaves the
+// detector unable to start
 const MODEL_REQUIRED_DETECTORS = ["onnx", "tensorrt"];
 
 const CPU_FALLBACK: DetectionHardware[] = [
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ export default function SetupDetector({
   });
   const plusEnabled = Boolean(config?.plus?.enabled);
 
-  // the cpu is always probed, so an empty or failed probe leaves a fallback
+  // the cpu is always probed, so an empty list means the probe failed
   const options = useMemo(
     () => (hardware && hardware.length > 0 ? hardware : CPU_FALLBACK),
     [hardware],
@@ -121,7 +121,6 @@ export default function SetupDetector({
 
   const handleSave = useCallback(async () => {
     if (needsModel && !plusModelId) {
-      // no model to run on this hardware yet, so leave the config untouched
       onSkip(selected.key);
       return;
     }

web/src/components/setup/SetupHwAccel.tsx

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import ActivityIndicator from "@/components/indicators/activity-indicator";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { RadioGroup, RadioGroupItem } from "@/components/ui/radio-group";
-import type { HwaccelRecommendation } from "@/types/hardware";
+import type { HwaccelFamily, HwaccelRecommendation } from "@/types/hardware";
 import axios from "axios";
-import { useCallback, useState } from "react";
+import { useCallback, useMemo, useState } from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { toast } from "sonner";
 import useSWR from "swr";
@@ -11,19 +11,21 @@ import useSWR from "swr";
 const AUTO = "auto";
 const NONE = "none";
 
-const HWACCEL_PRESETS = [
-  { value: "preset-vaapi", key: "vaapi" },
-  { value: "preset-nvidia", key: "cuda" },
-  { value: "preset-intel-qsv-h264", key: "qsv" },
-  { value: "preset-rkmpp", key: "rkmpp" },
-  { value: "preset-rpi-64-h264", key: "rpi" },
-  { value: "preset-jetson-h264", key: "jetson" },
-] as const;
+const ANY_CODEC = "any";
+
+// ffprobe names h265 streams hevc
+const CODEC_ALIASES: Record<string, string> = { hevc: "h265" };
+
+function normalizeCodec(codec: string): string {
+  const lower = codec.toLowerCase();
+  return CODEC_ALIASES[lower] ?? lower;
+}
 
 type SetupHwAccelProps = {
   detectorHardwareKey?: string;
-  // saved reports whether a config write happened, so the wizard knows
-  // whether finishing requires a restart
+  // camera name -> detect stream codec, the only stream hwaccel applies to
+  detectCodecs: Record<string, string>;
+  // saved tells the wizard whether finishing needs a restart
   onNext: (saved: boolean) => void;
   onBack: () => void;
   onSkip: () => void;
@@ -31,47 +33,118 @@ type SetupHwAccelProps = {
 
 export default function SetupHwAccel({
   detectorHardwareKey,
+  detectCodecs,
   onNext,
   onBack,
   onSkip,
 }: SetupHwAccelProps) {
   const { t } = useTranslation(["views/setup"]);
 
+  const cameraCodecs = useMemo(
+    () =>
+      Object.entries(detectCodecs).map(([camera, codec]) => ({
+        camera,
+        codec: normalizeCodec(codec),
+      })),
+    [detectCodecs],
+  );
+
+  const query = useMemo(() => {
+    const params = new URLSearchParams();
+
+    if (detectorHardwareKey) {
+      params.set("detector", detectorHardwareKey);
+    }
+
+    const codecs = [...new Set(cameraCodecs.map((entry) => entry.codec))];
+
+    if (codecs.length > 0) {
+      params.set("codecs", codecs.join(","));
+    }
+
+    return params.toString();
+  }, [detectorHardwareKey, cameraCodecs]);
+
   const {
     data: recommendation,
     isLoading,
     error: recommendError,
   } = useSWR<HwaccelRecommendation>(
-    detectorHardwareKey
-      ? `hardware/hwaccel?detector=${encodeURIComponent(detectorHardwareKey)}`
-      : "hardware/hwaccel",
+    query ? `hardware/hwaccel?${query}` : "hardware/hwaccel",
     { revalidateOnFocus: false },
   );
 
   const [selected, setSelected] = useState<string>(AUTO);
   const [saving, setSaving] = useState(false);
 
-  const derived = recommendation?.preset ?? "";
+  const families = useMemo(
+    () => recommendation?.available ?? [],
+    [recommendation],
+  );
+  const derived = recommendation?.recommended ?? "";
+
+  /** The config a family should be saved as, or null when it writes nothing. */
+  const configFor = useCallback(
+    (family: HwaccelFamily | undefined): Record<string, unknown> | null => {
+      if (!family) {
+        return null;
+      }
+
+      const shared = family.presets[ANY_CODEC];
+
+      if (shared) {
+        return { ffmpeg: { hwaccel_args: shared } };
+      }
+
+      const perCamera = cameraCodecs
+        .map((entry) => ({ ...entry, preset: family.presets[entry.codec] }))
+        .filter((entry) => entry.preset);
+
+      if (perCamera.length === 0) {
+        const fallback = Object.values(family.presets)[0];
+        return fallback ? { ffmpeg: { hwaccel_args: fallback } } : null;
+      }
+
+      const presets = new Set(perCamera.map((entry) => entry.preset));
+
+      if (presets.size === 1 && perCamera.length === cameraCodecs.length) {
+        return { ffmpeg: { hwaccel_args: [...presets][0] } };
+      }
+
+      // the global stays on auto so cameras added later resolve at startup
+      // instead of inheriting one camera's codec
+      return {
+        cameras: Object.fromEntries(
+          perCamera.map((entry) => [
+            entry.camera,
+            { ffmpeg: { hwaccel_args: entry.preset } },
+          ]),
+        ),
+      };
+    },
+    [cameraCodecs],
+  );
 
   const handleSave = useCallback(async () => {
-    // Auto with nothing derived writes nothing: the config default of "auto"
-    // stays in place and the backend decides at startup
-    if (selected === AUTO && !derived) {
+    const key = selected === AUTO ? derived : selected;
+
+    const configData =
+      selected === NONE
+        ? // an empty string would make config/set delete the key, reviving
+          // the "auto" default
+          { ffmpeg: { hwaccel_args: [] } }
+        : configFor(families.find((family) => family.key === key));
+
+    // nothing to write leaves the config default of "auto" in place
+    if (!configData) {
       onNext(false);
       return;
     }
 
-    // an empty string would make config/set delete the key (reviving the
-    // "auto" default), so an explicit no-hwaccel is an empty list
-    const preset: string | string[] =
-      selected === AUTO ? derived : selected === NONE ? [] : selected;
-
     setSaving(true);
     try {
       await axios.put("config/set", {
-        config_data: {
-          ffmpeg: { hwaccel_args: preset },
-        },
+        config_data: configData,
         requires_restart: 1,
       });
       onNext(true);
@@ -80,7 +153,7 @@ export default function SetupHwAccel({
     } finally {
       setSaving(false);
     }
-  }, [selected, derived, onNext, t]);
+  }, [selected, derived, families, configFor, onNext, t]);
 
   if (isLoading) {
     return (
@@ -123,25 +196,27 @@ export default function SetupHwAccel({
           </div>
           <p className="ml-6 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
             {derived
-              ? t("setupWizard.hwaccel.autoResolved", { preset: derived })
+              ? t("setupWizard.hwaccel.autoResolved", {
+                  family: t(`setupWizard.hwaccel.families.${derived}`),
+                })
               : recommendError
                 ? t("setupWizard.hwaccel.recommendFailed")
                 : t("setupWizard.hwaccel.autoNone")}
           </p>
         </div>
 
-        {HWACCEL_PRESETS.map((preset) => (
-          <div key={preset.key} className="flex items-center space-x-2">
+        {families.map((family) => (
+          <div key={family.key} className="flex items-center space-x-2">
             <RadioGroupItem
-              value={preset.value}
-              id={`hwaccel-${preset.key}`}
-              className={radioClass(preset.value)}
+              value={family.key}
+              id={`hwaccel-${family.key}`}
+              className={radioClass(family.key)}
             />
             <label
-              htmlFor={`hwaccel-${preset.key}`}
+              htmlFor={`hwaccel-${family.key}`}
               className="cursor-pointer text-sm"
             >
-              {t(`setupWizard.hwaccel.presets.${preset.key}`)}
+              {t(`setupWizard.hwaccel.families.${family.key}`)}
             </label>
           </div>
         ))}
@@ -153,7 +228,7 @@ export default function SetupHwAccel({
             className={radioClass(NONE)}
           />
           <label htmlFor="hwaccel-none" className="cursor-pointer text-sm">
-            {t("setupWizard.hwaccel.presets.none")}
+            {t("setupWizard.hwaccel.families.none")}
           </label>
         </div>
       </RadioGroup>

web/src/components/setup/SetupRecording.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
 import { Label } from "@/components/ui/label";
+import { RadioGroup, RadioGroupItem } from "@/components/ui/radio-group";
 import { Switch } from "@/components/ui/switch";
 import { useCallback, useState } from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
@@ -8,6 +9,11 @@ import { toast } from "sonner";
 import axios from "axios";
 import useSWR from "swr";
 
+const EVENTS = "events";
+const CONTINUOUS = "continuous";
+
+const MODES = [EVENTS, CONTINUOUS] as const;
+
 type SetupRecordingProps = {
   cameraNames: string[];
   onNext: () => void;
@@ -23,12 +29,12 @@ export default function SetupRecording({
 }: SetupRecordingProps) {
   const { t } = useTranslation(["views/setup"]);
   const [enabled, setEnabled] = useState(true);
+  const [mode, setMode] = useState<string>(EVENTS);
   const [retentionDays, setRetentionDays] = useState(10);
   const [saving, setSaving] = useState(false);
 
   const { data: stats } = useSWR("stats", { revalidateOnFocus: false });
 
-  // Calculate storage estimate
   const storageInfo = stats?.service?.storage?.["/tmp/frigate/recordings"];
   const freeGb = storageInfo ? Math.round(storageInfo.free / 1024) : null;
   const cameraCount = cameraNames.length;
@@ -41,14 +47,17 @@ export default function SetupRecording({
   const handleSave = useCallback(async () => {
     setSaving(true);
     try {
+      const record: Record<string, unknown> = { enabled };
+
+      if (enabled) {
+        record.alerts = { retain: { days: retentionDays } };
+        record.detections = { retain: { days: retentionDays } };
+        // written even when off, so switching modes back turns it off again
+        record.continuous = { days: mode === CONTINUOUS ? retentionDays : 0 };
+      }
+
       await axios.put("config/set", {
-        config_data: {
-          record: {
-            enabled,
-            alerts: { retain: { days: retentionDays } },
-            detections: { retain: { days: retentionDays } },
-          },
-        },
+        config_data: { record },
         requires_restart: 1,
       });
       onNext();
@@ -57,7 +66,7 @@ export default function SetupRecording({
     } finally {
       setSaving(false);
     }
-  }, [enabled, retentionDays, onNext, t]);
+  }, [enabled, mode, retentionDays, onNext, t]);
 
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col gap-4 py-4">
@@ -89,6 +98,36 @@ export default function SetupRecording({
 
       {enabled && (
         <>
+          <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
+            <Label>{t("setupWizard.recording.modeLabel")}</Label>
+            <RadioGroup value={mode} onValueChange={setMode}>
+              {MODES.map((option) => (
+                <div key={option} className="flex flex-col gap-0.5">
+                  <div className="flex items-center space-x-2">
+                    <RadioGroupItem
+                      value={option}
+                      id={`recording-mode-${option}`}
+                      className={
+                        mode === option
+                          ? "bg-selected from-selected/50 to-selected/90 text-selected"
+                          : "bg-secondary from-secondary/50 to-secondary/90 text-secondary"
+                      }
+                    />
+                    <label
+                      htmlFor={`recording-mode-${option}`}
+                      className="cursor-pointer text-sm font-medium"
+                    >
+                      {t(`setupWizard.recording.modes.${option}.label`)}
+                    </label>
+                  </div>
+                  <p className="ml-6 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                    {t(`setupWizard.recording.modes.${option}.description`)}
+                  </p>
+                </div>
+              ))}
+            </RadioGroup>
+          </div>
+
           <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
             <Label htmlFor="retention-days">
               {t("setupWizard.recording.retentionDays")}
@@ -99,21 +138,29 @@ export default function SetupRecording({
               min={1}
               max={365}
               value={retentionDays}
+              // drop the spinner arrows; typing and arrow keys still work
+              className="[appearance:textfield] [&::-webkit-inner-spin-button]:appearance-none [&::-webkit-outer-spin-button]:appearance-none"
               onChange={(e) =>
                 setRetentionDays(Math.max(1, parseInt(e.target.value) || 1))
               }
             />
+            <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+              {t(`setupWizard.recording.retentionHint.${mode}`)}
+            </p>
           </div>
 
-          {freeGb !== null && estimatedDays !== null && cameraCount > 0 && (
-            <p className="rounded-md bg-muted p-3 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-              {t("setupWizard.recording.storageEstimate", {
-                free: freeGb,
-                days: estimatedDays,
-                cameras: cameraCount,
-              })}
-            </p>
-          )}
+          {mode === CONTINUOUS &&
+            freeGb !== null &&
+            estimatedDays !== null &&
+            cameraCount > 0 && (
+              <p className="rounded-md bg-muted p-3 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+                {t("setupWizard.recording.storageEstimate", {
+                  free: freeGb,
+                  days: estimatedDays,
+                  cameras: cameraCount,
+                })}
+              </p>
+            )}
         </>
       )}
 

web/src/pages/SetupWizard.tsx

@@ -5,9 +5,12 @@ import SetupDetector from "@/components/setup/SetupDetector";
 import SetupHwAccel from "@/components/setup/SetupHwAccel";
 import SetupRecording from "@/components/setup/SetupRecording";
 import SetupWelcome from "@/components/setup/SetupWelcome";
+import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Card, CardContent } from "@/components/ui/card";
+import { useTheme } from "@/context/theme-provider";
 import { useCallback, useReducer } from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
+import { LuMoon, LuSun } from "react-icons/lu";
 import { toast } from "sonner";
 import axios from "axios";
 
@@ -24,8 +27,9 @@ type WizardState = {
   currentStep: number;
   cameraNames: string[];
   detectorHardwareKey?: string;
-  // whether any step wrote config with requires_restart, which only takes
-  // effect after a restart (camera adds apply live and don't count)
+  // camera name -> detect stream codec
+  detectCodecs: Record<string, string>;
+  // camera adds apply live, so they don't count toward needing a restart
   restartRequired: boolean;
   configuredSteps: {
     camera: boolean;
@@ -38,7 +42,11 @@ type WizardState = {
 type WizardAction =
   | { type: "NEXT_STEP" }
   | { type: "PREV_STEP" }
-  | { type: "CAMERAS_ADDED"; cameraNames: string[] }
+  | {
+      type: "CAMERAS_ADDED";
+      cameraNames: string[];
+      detectCodecs: Record<string, string>;
+    }
   | {
       type: "STEP_CONFIGURED";
       step: keyof WizardState["configuredSteps"];
@@ -50,6 +58,7 @@ type WizardAction =
 const initialState: WizardState = {
   currentStep: 0,
   cameraNames: [],
+  detectCodecs: {},
   restartRequired: false,
   configuredSteps: {
     camera: false,
@@ -73,6 +82,7 @@ function wizardReducer(state: WizardState, action: WizardAction): WizardState {
         ...state,
         currentStep: state.currentStep + 1,
         cameraNames: action.cameraNames,
+        detectCodecs: action.detectCodecs,
         configuredSteps: { ...state.configuredSteps, camera: true },
       };
     case "STEP_CONFIGURED":
@@ -101,8 +111,11 @@ function wizardReducer(state: WizardState, action: WizardAction): WizardState {
 }
 
 export default function SetupWizard() {
-  const { t } = useTranslation(["views/setup"]);
+  const { t } = useTranslation(["views/setup", "common"]);
   const [state, dispatch] = useReducer(wizardReducer, initialState);
+  const { theme, systemTheme, setTheme } = useTheme();
+
+  const isDark = (theme === "system" ? systemTheme : theme) === "dark";
 
   const handleSkipSetup = useCallback(async () => {
     try {
@@ -118,13 +131,20 @@ export default function SetupWizard() {
     }
   }, [t]);
 
-  const handleCameraNext = useCallback((cameraNames?: string[]) => {
-    if (cameraNames && cameraNames.length > 0) {
-      dispatch({ type: "CAMERAS_ADDED", cameraNames });
-    } else {
-      dispatch({ type: "SKIP_STEP" });
-    }
-  }, []);
+  const handleCameraNext = useCallback(
+    (cameraNames?: string[], detectCodecs?: Record<string, string>) => {
+      if (cameraNames && cameraNames.length > 0) {
+        dispatch({
+          type: "CAMERAS_ADDED",
+          cameraNames,
+          detectCodecs: detectCodecs ?? {},
+        });
+      } else {
+        dispatch({ type: "SKIP_STEP" });
+      }
+    },
+    [],
+  );
 
   const handleHwAccelNext = useCallback((saved: boolean) => {
     dispatch({ type: "STEP_CONFIGURED", step: "hwaccel", savedConfig: saved });
@@ -174,6 +194,7 @@ export default function SetupWizard() {
         return (
           <SetupHwAccel
             detectorHardwareKey={state.detectorHardwareKey}
+            detectCodecs={state.detectCodecs}
             onNext={handleHwAccelNext}
             onBack={handleBack}
             onSkip={handleSkipStep}
@@ -204,6 +225,19 @@ export default function SetupWizard() {
 
   return (
     <div className="flex min-h-dvh items-center justify-center bg-background p-4">
+      <Button
+        type="button"
+        variant="ghost"
+        size="icon"
+        className="fixed right-4 top-4 text-muted-foreground hover:text-primary"
+        aria-label={t(isDark ? "menu.darkMode.light" : "menu.darkMode.dark", {
+          ns: "common",
+        })}
+        onClick={() => setTheme(isDark ? "light" : "dark")}
+      >
+        {isDark ? <LuSun className="size-4" /> : <LuMoon className="size-4" />}
+      </Button>
+
       <Card className="w-full max-w-lg">
         <CardContent className="p-6">
           <StepIndicator

web/src/types/hardware.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@ export type DetectionHardware = {
   unlimited: boolean;
 };
 
+export type HwaccelFamily = {
+  key: string;
+  // keyed by codec, or a single "any" preset when it decodes every codec
+  presets: Record<string, string>;
+};
+
 export type HwaccelRecommendation = {
-  preset: string;
+  recommended: string;
+  available: HwaccelFamily[];
 };