---
{"title": "How to approve requests by rule for shared Plex server groups", "description": "Learn how shared Plex server groups can approve movie and show requests by rule, with setup steps, common mistakes and tool options.", "url": "https://vlcleanplayer.com/how-to-approve-requests-by-rule-for-shared-plex-server-groups/", "date": "2026-11-01"}
---
Learn how shared Plex server groups can approve movie and show requests by rule, with setup steps, common mistakes and tool options.

A shared Plex server group can approve requests by rule by writing the rule first, choosing one place where requests arrive, and checking each request against that rule before anything is added. Askarr is one option for collecting requests; it is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. [^1]

| Option | Request method | Cost details |
|---|---|---|
| Askarr | You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [^1] | The 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] |
| Request form | People submit titles through the chosen form. | not published |
| Shared request list | People add titles to the chosen shared list. | not published |

## What you need before you start

Before you approve anything by rule, the Plex server needs its movies and shows in place, and everyone in the group should know which library they are asking to add to.

Write the rule in plain words. A good rule names the kinds of titles accepted, such as movies only, shows only, or both, and says whether a title already on the server should be turned away.

Decide who holds the approval role. In most shared groups, one or two people look at requests, and everyone else needs to know who that is. Agree on how quickly people can expect an answer, so nobody is left guessing.

Radarr and Sonarr are helper programs. Radarr adds movies to a library and Sonarr adds shows. If your group uses them, have them running and know where requests will arrive before you start. Make a list of the people in the group and what each one may request.

## Step by step

1. Pick one place where requests arrive, and tell everyone in the group to use only that place.

2. Write the approval rule in plain words and post it where every member can read it.

3. Decide who reviews requests and who has the final say when two people disagree.

4. Check each new request against the rule. Approve the requests that fit, and decline the rest with a short reason.

5. Tell the person who asked what happened: added, declined, or still waiting.

6. Ask a few group members after the first month what confused them, and change the rule wording to fix those points.

7. Review the rule again whenever the group changes, such as when someone joins or leaves, so the approval steps still match who is in the group.

## Tools that can do it

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] 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 person requests a movie or show on Askarr, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [^1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can be pasted to find the title. [^1] A webhook, a small automatic message that Radarr and Sonarr send to the site, reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [^1] You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [^1]

The 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] Askarr's project file marks its code as private. [^1]

This page does not cover how Askarr handles approvals, so check how your group wants requests reviewed before you rely on any tool for that part.

Other options for collecting requests include a request form and a shared request list. Details of these options are not covered on this page, so check each one's approval steps directly before choosing.

## Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid sharing a request place without writing down the rule. Group members need to know which kinds of titles are accepted and who decides what gets added.

Avoid approving requests in a different way each time. When the rule is applied differently to different people, members stop trusting the process and start sending requests in other places.

Avoid letting old requests sit without a decision. A request list becomes harder to manage when requests that were never answered build up.

Avoid skipping the check of who can see what. Review which information a tool asks for before you share its request place with the group.

## Frequently asked questions

### How can shared Plex server groups approve requests by rule?

Set the approval rule first, then choose one place where requests arrive, and check each request against that rule before it is added. Write the rule in plain words so every person in the group reads it the same way. Review requests on a set day so nothing waits too long, and tell each person whether their title was approved, declined, or is still waiting.

### Can Askarr work with Radarr and Sonarr for shared Plex groups?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [^1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [^1] Settle your approval rule separately from the tool, so the same rule applies to every request, whatever tool it arrives through.

### Does Askarr need to be installed on the Plex server?

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] Before you change any settings in Radarr or Sonarr, write down what they currently say so you can return to them if the group decides to stop using Askarr.

### How much does Askarr cost for a shared Plex server group?

The 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] Each friend who signs up through your link adds 10 requests a month to your limit. [^1] Pick the plan that matches how many requests your group usually sends, and check the current limits on the Askarr site, since the page does not list them here.

### Can Askarr show whether a requested title was added?

A webhook, a small automatic message that Radarr and Sonarr send to the site, reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [^1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status, so check the plan details before you rely on it and before the group counts on what the site will show each member. [^1]

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [^1] - [Visit Askarr](/go/start)

## Sources

[^1]: Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start)