How to get notified when shared requests are ready for couples media sharers

How couples media sharers can get notified when requested movies and shows are ready, with setup steps and options.

By VLClean · 2026-10-21

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

Couples who share a media library can get notified when a shared request is ready by setting up one request process, deciding how each partner is told a title has been added, and checking the request location on a set day each week.

Option	How notifications work	Cost details
Askarr	The site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[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

A couple that shares a media library needs a request process in place before notifications about ready titles can be sent. Make sure the library is available to both partners, and agree on which movies and shows either partner can request.

Decide where requests will be sent, so both partners have one clear place to submit titles. Choose how each partner wants to be told that a requested title has been added, such as an update shown in the request tool.

Radarr and Sonarr are helper programs that find and add movies (Radarr) and shows (Sonarr) to a library. Check whether both programs run on this library, since a chosen tool may use them to add requested titles and report when they are ready. Decide who reviews a request and when a title is shown as ready to watch.

Write down the sharing rules, such as what kinds of titles are allowed and who gets notified when a request is complete, so both partners see the same expectations.

Step by step

Pick one place where both partners send requests, such as a request website or a shared message thread, and check that the place can show when a title becomes ready.

Decide how each partner is told a request is ready, whether through a status shown in the tool or through a separate message, and agree it with both people.

Write down who looks at each request and whether a title needs approval before it is added to the library.

Have both partners check the request location on a set day each week and look for updates on titles that were requested.

Test the process with one request so each partner can confirm they got the update they expected before more titles are sent.

Ask each partner after the first week what confused them about the updates, and edit the written sharing rules to fix those points.

Keep the notification method simple so neither partner needs extra effort to see that a request is ready. A short note that says how updates are shown helps both people stay in step.

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] You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add 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 message from Radarr and Sonarr (a webhook) reaches Askarr, and the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] A bookmark run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. ^[1]

Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[1] You can also paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. ^[1]

For other options, a request form lets both partners submit titles through the chosen form, and a shared request list lets them add ideas to the chosen list. Before choosing a tool, check how it shows updates, handles title searches and approvals, and the way requests move into the library workflow.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid choosing a request method without checking how each partner is told a title is ready. Both people need to see the update without extra effort.

Avoid leaving the notification plan unstated. When partners do not agree on where updates appear, one person can end up doing all the checking, so write the rule down for both.

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 another person.

Frequently asked questions

How can couples get notified when a shared request is ready?

A couple can set up one place where both partners send requests and agree how each person is told a title is ready. The couple should check that the chosen method shows an update when a requested title is added, and both partners should look at the request location on a set day to stay in step.

Can Askarr show when a shared request is ready?

A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the Askarr site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[1] Check the Askarr plan page to see which plans include it. ^[1]

Does Askarr work with Radarr and Sonarr for couples?

Does Askarr require changes to the media library?

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] A bookmark run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. ^[1]

What should couples check before choosing a notification tool?

Check how a tool shows updates, handles title searches and approvals, and moves requests into the library workflow. Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[1] Check the Askarr plan page to see which plans include it. ^[1] Compare those details with the way the shared media library is managed before choosing a 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)