How to approve content requests for media server administrators in 2026

Learn how media server administrators can review content requests, choose a request method, and keep approvals clear.

By VLClean · 2026-10-17

VLClean is published by the makers of Askarr and Watcharr, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Media server administrators can approve content requests by choosing a request method, setting review rules, and checking how approved titles move into the library workflow.

Option	Request method	Cost details
Askarr	Search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1]	The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[1]
Request form	People submit movie or show titles through the chosen form.	not published
Shared request list	People add movie or show ideas to the chosen shared list.	not published

What you need before you start

Media server administrators need a clear rule for which content requests can be approved and who can review them.

Prepare the titles or types of content that are allowed, so requesters know what kinds of movies and shows fit the server. Keep the rules simple, such as whether any title can be requested or only certain types of content.

Have the current library workflow ready, including the tools used to add approved movies and shows. Decide whether every request needs approval before it moves forward or whether some requests follow a different process.

Choose where people will send requests. The choice can be a request tool, a form, or another method that gives requesters a clear place to submit titles.

Step by step

Pick one place where people will send content requests, such as a request website or another chosen method, and tell everyone to use only that place.

Write down who reviews each request and what rules decide whether a title is approved.

Create a short note for requesters that explains who can send requests, what types of titles are accepted, and how they will know a request was handled.

Share the request location and instructions with the people who can submit titles. Include how to search for a title and how to send the request.

Review new requests on a regular schedule, approve the titles that match the rules, and remove requests that should not move forward.

Check the request process after people start using it and update the instructions if parts of the process cause confusion.

Keep approval decisions consistent so requesters understand why titles are accepted or declined.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site. Askarr is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] People search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and their own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1]

You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. ^[1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1]

A request form can be used when people need a place to submit movie or show titles. A shared request list can be used when people add movie or show ideas to a shared list.

Before choosing a tool, check how it handles title searches, approvals, updates, and the way requests move into the library workflow.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid sharing a request method without explaining the rules. Requesters need to know what types of titles can be requested and who decides what gets approved.

Avoid choosing a tool without checking how it fits the current way movies and shows are added to the media library. The request process should be clear for both the people sending titles and the person managing the server.

Avoid forgetting to review requests after setup. A request list can become harder to manage if old or unwanted requests are left without attention.

Avoid skipping account and privacy checks. Review what information a tool asks for and what access it uses before sharing it with other people.

Frequently asked questions

How can media server administrators approve content requests?

Media server administrators can choose a request method, decide who can submit titles, and explain what happens after a request is sent. The process works best when requesters have a clear place to send titles and administrators have simple rules for reviewing each request before approval.

Can Askarr help media server administrators review requests?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. ^[1] Askarr plans include a request history with live status. ^[1]

Does Askarr require changes to the media server?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1]

How do people find movies and shows to request with Askarr?

People can search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can also be pasted to find the title. ^[1]

What should be checked before choosing a content request tool?

Check how a tool handles requests, title searches, updates, and the process for adding movies and shows. Askarr has request history with live status. ^[1] Compare those details with the way the media server is managed before choosing a request method.

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[1]

Try Askarr

Sources

Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)