How to export history for backup from book and film trackers in 2026

Learn how to prepare book and film tracker history for backup, compare export options, and check what each tool saves before choosing a method.

By VLClean · 2026-10-29

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

To back up book and film tracker history, identify which records need to be preserved, check each service's export options, save the files in a separate location, and verify that the saved data can be read. Choose an export method that matches the information to preserve, such as titles, ratings, watch history, reading progress, or lists. Watcharr can turn one public IMDb list into a Radarr link for movies and a Sonarr link for shows. ^[1]

Option	What it does	Cost details
Tracker's own export	Use the source service's documented export process to obtain the records it makes available.	not published
Downloaded backup file	Keep an unchanged copy of an export and store another copy separately.	not published
Spreadsheet or file viewer	Open a supported file to inspect its contents and check that the expected fields are readable.	not published
Watcharr	Turn one public IMDb list into separate Radarr and Sonarr links for movies and shows. ^[1]	The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1]

What you need before you start

Before exporting history, decide which records the backup needs to preserve. A book tracker might contain reading history, ratings, notes, and lists, while a film tracker might contain watched titles, ratings, and watchlists. These are examples of data to look for, not a guarantee that every service can export each type.

Make a list of the services that hold the records, and check which export formats each one offers. Look for a download or export option in the account settings, data settings, or help pages. Check whether the export includes the dates, ratings, notes, and list membership that matter to the backup.

Prepare a folder for the downloaded files and a second location for a separate copy. Keep the original exports unchanged so they can be used for recovery or comparison later. Give each file a name that identifies the service and the date it was exported.

Decide whether the goal is to preserve a readable record, move history into another tracker, or keep a list available to another application. These goals can require different file formats and different information. A list that can be imported into another app is not necessarily a complete backup of the account's history.

For a film workflow that uses Radarr and Sonarr, have those applications ready if the purpose is to turn an IMDb list into movie and show lists for them. Watcharr accepts public IMDb lists and watchlists and provides a separate link for each application. ^[1] This is a list workflow, so check whether it covers the actual records that need to be preserved.

Step by step

Choose the history to preserve. Write down which services hold the records and which details matter. Include any reading or viewing dates, ratings, notes, and lists that would be difficult to recreate. Keep a separate checklist for each service.

Find the service's export instructions. Open the service's settings and help information, and search for its account data export or history download option. Check what the export contains and which file formats are available. If there is no clear export option, check the service's official documentation before relying on a third-party tool.

Request or download the export. Follow the service's stated process. If the service provides more than one export choice, select the one that preserves the records needed for the backup. Keep the original downloaded file, even if a different format will later be needed for another app.

Save a clearly named copy. Put the export in a folder named for the service, with the export date in the filename. Keep a second copy in a separate storage location. Avoid relying on the same device or folder for both copies, because losing access to one location could affect both.

Check the saved file. Open the file using an appropriate viewer or application. Confirm that it contains recognizable titles and the fields expected from the export. Check that records near the beginning and end of the file are present, and look for missing dates, ratings, notes, or list entries if those matter. A successful download alone does not prove that the backup contains everything needed.

Check whether the file can be restored or imported. If the aim is to move history to another tracker, read the destination service's import instructions. Confirm that it accepts the source format and preserves the relevant fields. Do not assume that an export from one service can be imported directly into another.

Record the backup details. Keep a short note stating which service was exported, when the export was made, what it contains, and where both copies are stored. Note any fields that the service does not include or that could not be verified.

Repeat when the history changes. Decide how often the backup needs updating based on how often records change. When making a new export, keep the earlier copy until the newer one has been checked. This makes it easier to spot missing information and recover an earlier version if needed.

Tools that can do it

The right option depends on whether the goal is a copy of account history, a list that another app can use, or a record that can be restored later. Check the source and destination formats before choosing a method.

The tracker’s own export feature. Start by checking the service that stores the history. Its documentation is the place to confirm which records and file formats are available. Check whether the export includes dates, ratings, notes, and lists, and whether it can be imported again. Those details must be confirmed for the specific tracker rather than assumed.

A downloaded file kept as a backup. When a service provides a downloadable export, keeping an unchanged copy gives the backup a reference file. Store another copy separately and verify that the file opens. Check the service's documentation for the file format and the information it includes.

A spreadsheet or file viewer. A suitable viewer can help inspect a downloaded file and confirm that its contents are readable. Before relying on it, check whether the format can be opened without changing the original file. Viewing a file is not the same as exporting the account history or restoring it into a tracker.

Watcharr. Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. It accepts public IMDb watchlists and lists from the desktop site, the phone site, and IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] You paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] Each link gives Radarr the movies and Sonarr the shows, which Radarr checks every 15 minutes and Sonarr checks every 5. ^[1] These links are built from the IMDb list's ID, so the same list always gives the same two links. ^[1]

Watcharr also shows the list's covers in a row, with each cover opening TMDB's plot, genres, rating, backdrop, and trailer. ^[1] If a show cannot be matched to a TheTVDB ID, it is left out and identified as skipped. ^[1] These features describe a list workflow for sending movie and show lists to Radarr and Sonarr. Check whether a list-based workflow meets the backup goal before choosing it.

Watcharr's hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence, and older versions remain under MIT. ^[1] Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. ^[1]

Before choosing an alternative tool, check its supported sources, export formats, treatment of dates and ratings, and whether it can restore the saved information.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid assuming that a list export contains the full account history. A list of titles may not preserve dates, ratings, notes, reading progress, or other details. Check the exported fields against the records that need to be kept.

Avoid keeping only one copy. A backup stored alongside the original data may be lost at the same time as the original. Keep another copy in a separate location and check that both files open.

Avoid treating an import list as a complete archive. A link that supplies titles to another application serves a different purpose from a downloadable file containing historical records. Confirm which purpose the chosen tool supports before depending on it for recovery.

Avoid assuming that two trackers use the same fields or title identifiers. A destination application may handle dates, ratings, notes, or matching titles differently. Check the import documentation and preserve the original export before attempting a conversion.

Avoid overwriting an earlier backup before checking the new one. A fresh download might be incomplete or contain fewer fields than expected. Compare the new file with the previous copy and retain the older version until the new one has been verified.

Avoid overlooking privacy and licensing. Review what information a service receives, what access it uses, and whether its terms allow the intended use. For Watcharr, commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. ^[1]

Frequently asked questions

How can book and film trackers export history for backup?

Start with the service that stores the records and check its official export instructions. Download the available data, keep the original file, and inspect the saved contents. Confirm that the export includes the fields needed for recovery, such as dates, ratings, notes, or list membership. Keep another copy in a separate location and record when the export was made.

Does an exported tracker list contain the full reading or viewing history?

That depends on the service and the export format. A list of titles is not necessarily a complete account history. Before relying on a file, check whether it includes the dates, ratings, notes, reading progress, or other details that matter. Use the tracker's own documentation to confirm what is included, and keep the original export for reference.

Can Watcharr export IMDb history for a general backup?

Watcharr accepts public IMDb watchlists and lists and provides one link for Radarr with movies and another for Sonarr with shows. ^[1] ^[1] These features describe a list workflow for Radarr and Sonarr. Check IMDb's own data options if the goal is to preserve a broader record of viewing activity.

Can Watcharr send IMDb movies and shows to Radarr and Sonarr?

Watcharr turns one public IMDb list into a Radarr link for movies and a Sonarr link for shows. ^[1] Radarr checks its link every 15 minutes, and Sonarr checks its link every 5. ^[1] Shows that cannot be matched to a TheTVDB ID are skipped and identified. ^[1] Check whether this list workflow serves the intended purpose before treating it as a backup.

What should be checked before choosing a tracker backup tool?

Check which sources the tool supports, what information its exports preserve, which file formats it provides, and whether another service can import the result. Confirm whether dates, ratings, notes, and list membership are included if they matter. Also check where the data is stored, what access the tool requires, and whether its licence permits the intended use. Keep an independent copy of any export before trying a conversion.

Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. ^[1]

Try Watcharr

Sources

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