How to get a message when it is added for family group chat requesters in 2026

Learn how family group chat requesters can get a message when a requested movie or show is added, with practical setup steps for requesting and alerts.

By VLClean · 2026-11-11

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

Family group chat requesters can get notified when a requested title is added by using a request tool that sends status updates, setting up a shared channel for alerts, and confirming the notification method works for everyone.

Option	Request method	Cost details
Askarr	Request a movie or show on Askarr, 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

Make sure the people you want to send requests can reach the Plex library they will be watching from. Decide which friends or family members in the group chat should be able to send requests. Prepare the titles or types of content that are allowed so people know what kinds of requests fit the server. Keep the request rules simple, such as whether people can ask for any title or only certain types of movies and shows. Radarr and Sonarr are free helper programs that many Plex owners run to find and add movies (Radarr) and shows (Sonarr) to their library. Have them ready if they are part of the way requested titles are added to the library. Decide who will review requests before anything is added. Choose where people will send requests. The choice can be a request tool, a form, or another method that gives viewers a clear place to submit titles. Confirm that the chosen method can send a message back to the group chat or to each requester when a title is added and downloaded.

Step by step

Pick one place where friends and family will send requests, such as a request website or a shared message thread, and tell everyone to use only that place.
Write down who looks at each request and whether a title needs approval before it is added to the library.
Write a short note for viewers that says who can request, what kinds of titles are accepted, and how they will hear that a title was added.
Send the note and the request location to the friends and family you want to allow, with two lines on how to search for a title and how to submit it.
Look through new requests on a regular day each week, approve the ones you want, and delete the ones you do not.
After a title is added, confirm that the requester receives a message in the group chat or through the tool you chose.
Ask a few viewers after the first week what confused them, and edit your note to fix those points.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Requesting a title on Askarr makes the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr add it. ^[1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time and they then pick up your requests from it. ^[1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1] The Askarr site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] Askarr also allows title searches by pasting a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link. ^[1] 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. Friends and family need to know what types of titles can be requested and who decides what gets added. Avoid choosing a tool without checking how it fits the current way movies and shows are added to the Plex 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. Avoid assuming everyone will see a notification in a busy group chat. Confirm that the tool or method you choose sends a direct message or a clear alert that each requester will notice.

Frequently asked questions

How can family group chat requesters get a message when a request is added?

A requester can use a tool that sends a status update when a title is added and downloaded. Askarr shows when a title was added and downloaded through a webhook from Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Check whether the tool posts the update to a group chat or sends a direct message to the person who requested the title.

Can a request tool work with Radarr and Sonarr to send notifications?

Check how each request tool handles Radarr and Sonarr before choosing one. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time and they then pick up your requests from it. ^[1] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1]

Does Askarr require changes to the Plex server?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed. ^[1] You add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr and they read your requests from it. ^[1]

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

Requesting a title on Askarr makes the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr add it. ^[1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can also be pasted to find the title. ^[1]

What should be checked before choosing a request tool for family group chat notifications?

Check how a tool handles requests, title searches, updates, and the process for adding movies and shows. Askarr's plans include a request history with live status, so check the plan page for which plans include it. ^[1] Compare those details with the way the Plex server is managed and how the group chat prefers to receive alerts 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)