How to approve or decline titles by rule for request approval moderators in 2026

Learn how request moderators can set clear approval rules, review movie and show requests, and choose a request method that fits their library workflow.

By VLClean · 2026-10-27

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

To approve or decline titles by rule, write down the conditions a request must meet, check each title against those conditions, and apply the same decision process to similar requests. Keep a record of decisions and explain what happens after approval or decline. Askarr lets people request movies and shows through a hosted website, while the owner's Radarr and Sonarr add the requested titles. ^[1] ^[1]

Option	Request method	Cost details
Askarr	People search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and the owner's 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
Manual review process	Moderators compare each request with written approval rules and record a decision.	not published

What you need before you start

Before reviewing requests, decide which titles are allowed and which conditions lead to approval or decline. Rules might cover the types of movies and shows accepted, whether a title needs manual review, and who has authority to make the final decision. Write these conditions in plain language so moderators can apply them consistently.

Make sure the people reviewing requests know where new titles appear and how a decision should be recorded. If several moderators share the work, agree on how to handle a title when reviewers disagree or a request does not clearly meet a rule.

Check how requested titles reach the library. Radarr is used to find and add movies, while Sonarr is used to find and add shows. Have these programs ready if they are part of the existing process.

Choose a place to receive requests and decide how requesters will learn whether a title was accepted, declined, added, or downloaded. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Its plans include a request history with live status, so check the plan details before relying on that history for moderation records. ^[1]

Keep the rules focused on decisions moderators can make. A rule should explain what qualifies, what does not qualify, and what to do when the available information is not enough.

Step by step

Write the approval rules. List the conditions that make a title acceptable, such as the kinds of movies and shows the library permits. State which conditions require a decline and which require a closer review. Avoid rules that leave moderators guessing about what a title should do to qualify.

Choose where requests arrive. Give requesters one clear place to submit titles. A request website, a form, or a shared list can provide a starting point. Explain what information requesters should provide and where they can check the result.

Check each title against the rules. Confirm that the request identifies the intended movie or show. Compare it with the written conditions rather than relying on personal preference. If the title is unclear or important information is missing, hold the decision until the details can be checked.

Approve titles that meet the conditions. Record the decision according to the chosen process. Make sure the next person responsible for the library knows that the request has been approved. If approval does not automatically mean a title will be added, explain that distinction to the requester.

Decline titles that do not qualify. Use the stated rule as the reason for the decision. Keep the explanation brief and clear. If the request could qualify after a correction or clarification, explain what needs to change rather than leaving the requester uncertain.

Handle exceptions consistently. Decide in advance who can make an exception and what happens when two moderators reach different conclusions. If no rule covers a request, refer it for review and consider whether the written policy needs clarification. Do not quietly apply a new condition to just one requester.

Check the result after the decision. Review whether the title was added and downloaded when that information is available. Askarr uses a webhook from Radarr and Sonarr to report when a title was added and downloaded, allowing the site to show that status. ^[1] Treat a decision to approve a request separately from the later status of the title.

Review the rules periodically. Look for repeated questions, disputed decisions, and requests that regularly fall into unclear categories. Update the rules when necessary, and tell moderators what changed. Keep the process simple enough that different reviewers can reach consistent decisions without having to interpret every request from scratch.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] People can request a movie or show on Askarr, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1] The owner adds Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and those programs read requests from it. ^[1] Askarr never connects to Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1] A webhook reports when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] These details help explain the request and follow-up process, but moderators should check how their approval rules will be applied before choosing a workflow.

Askarr has a Free plan that costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. ^[1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. ^[1] Each friend who signs up through a user's referral link adds 10 requests a month to that user's limit. ^[1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[1] Check the plan details to confirm the features needed for the moderation process.

A request form can collect movie and show titles before a moderator reviews them. The available facts do not identify a particular form service or its approval features, so check whether the chosen form can support the rules, decision records, and follow-up process required.

A shared request list can give people a place to suggest titles. The available facts do not identify a specific shared-list tool or describe how it handles approval decisions. Check how moderators can mark decisions, explain declines, and keep the list clear as requests are handled.

A manual review process can use an agreed set of rules and a designated reviewer. Choose a way to record the title, decision, and reason so that similar requests receive consistent treatment. Before choosing any method, check how it handles unclear requests, exceptions, and updates to requesters.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid writing rules that depend on personal interpretation. A condition that means different things to different moderators can produce inconsistent decisions. Use plain wording and explain what happens when a request does not clearly qualify.

Avoid treating approval as proof that a title has already been added. The review decision and the later library status are separate parts of the process. Askarr can show when a title was added and downloaded through a webhook from Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Check the available status information before telling a requester that the process is complete.

Avoid declining a request without a reason that follows the stated rules. A short explanation helps requesters understand the decision and may prevent repeated submissions that do not qualify.

Avoid letting exceptions become unwritten rules. When moderators make repeated exceptions, review whether the policy should change and make the revised conditions available to everyone involved.

Avoid choosing a tool based only on how requests are submitted. Check how moderators review titles, record decisions, handle disagreements, and communicate outcomes. If a tool's approval features are not documented in the available facts, confirm those details before relying on it.

Finally, avoid collecting more information than the process needs. Review what a request method asks people to provide and what access it uses. Make sure moderators understand their responsibilities and that requesters know how decisions are handled.

Frequently asked questions

How can moderators approve or decline titles by rule?

Write clear conditions for accepting and declining titles, then compare each request with those conditions. Record the decision and explain the outcome using the same process for similar requests. When a title does not clearly meet a rule, send it for further review instead of inventing a new condition. Review repeated exceptions to decide whether the written rules need clarification.

Can Askarr automatically approve or decline requests by rule?

The available Askarr claims describe title requests, the connection with Radarr and Sonarr through an import list, and status updates from a webhook. ^[1] ^[1] ^[1] They do not specify automatic approval or decline rules. Before choosing Askarr for rule-based moderation, check how approval decisions can be made and whether the process supports the conditions the moderators need.

How does Askarr handle approved movie and show requests?

People request a movie or show on Askarr, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1] The owner adds Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and those programs read the requests from it. ^[1] A webhook reports when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] Check the moderation workflow separately to establish how a request is approved before it proceeds.

Does Askarr need to be installed on the server?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed; Askarr is added as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] This describes the request workflow, not the rules moderators can apply to requests. Check the approval process and the available decision records before using it for a moderation policy.

How much does Askarr cost for title requests?

Askarr's Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. ^[1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. ^[1] Compare the request allowance with expected demand, and check the plan details for the history and status information needed by moderators.

Can moderators track whether an approved title was added?

Askarr uses a webhook from Radarr and Sonarr to report when a title was added and downloaded, so the site can display that status. ^[1] Its plans include a request history with live status. ^[1] Check the plan details and decide how moderators will record the original approval or decline decision, since title status and the moderation decision serve different purposes.

What should moderators check before choosing a request tool?

Check whether the tool supports the rules the moderators need, how it records approval and decline decisions, and how requesters learn the result. Confirm how unclear requests and exceptions are handled. Askarr supports requests for movies and shows and reports when titles are added and downloaded. ^[1] ^[1] The available claims do not establish its rule-based approval features, so verify those details before choosing it for that purpose.

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)