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How to get status updates from a bot in Matrix chat

Set up a bot that posts request and download status into a Matrix chat room, with steps, tool options, and mistakes to avoid.

By VLClean ยท

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

Askarr shows when a title was added and downloaded on its own website. [1] For updates that arrive inside a Matrix chat room, check how each tool sends its messages before you choose one.

OptionStatus updatesCost details
AskarrShows when a title was added and downloaded, on the Askarr site. [1]The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1]
A chat bot in the roomCheck whether it posts updates into the room and how it is set up.not published
A shared status listCheck whether updates reach the room or only the list.not published

What you need before you start

Decide which Matrix chat room should receive the updates, and which people in that room should see them. Write down the events you want reported, such as a request being received, a title being added, or a download finishing.

Have the account that will run the bot ready, and tell the people in the room that the bot will post there. Keep the rules short: who may ask for a title, and who will see the updates.

If you already run Radarr for movies or Sonarr for shows, have them open and ready, because some status tools connect to them. Check the setup notes of each tool to see what it needs.

Step by step

  1. Pick the room where updates should appear, and invite only the people who should see them.
  1. Write down the events you want reported, such as a request being added or a title being downloaded.
  1. Choose one tool for requests and status, and check how it posts updates before you connect it to the room.
  1. If the tool works with Radarr or Sonarr, follow its setup notes to connect it once, and keep your API keys private.
  1. Make one test request and confirm where the status appears.
  1. After a week, ask the people in the room whether the updates are clear, and change the rules if they are not.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site. It is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time 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 webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back, so the Askarr site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1] These updates appear on the Askarr site, so check whether they can reach your Matrix room before you rely on them there.

The table lists the other options with what to check for each. No approved facts about those options are included here, so the cells name the questions to ask rather than details about the tools.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid sending updates into a room before the people in it have agreed to receive them. Some people will not want a steady stream of messages in a shared space.

Avoid choosing a tool without checking where its updates appear. An update on a website is not the same as a message in a room, and the difference matters for the people who need to see it.

Avoid leaving the rules for requests unclear. An open rule can fill the room with titles nobody asked to track.

Avoid forgetting to review the updates after setup. Old or repeated messages can make the room harder to follow.

Frequently asked questions

How can Matrix chat users get status updates from a bot in chat?

A bot in a Matrix room can post updates when a request changes, if the tool you choose sends its messages there. Start by naming the room and the events you want reported. Then check each tool's setup notes to see whether its updates go into the room or only onto a website. Test with one request before you rely on the updates for the whole group.

Does Askarr post status updates into a Matrix chat room?

Askarr shows when a title was added and downloaded on its own website. [1] Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1] This page has no approved detail about posting into a Matrix room, so check the setup notes before you rely on room updates.

Does Askarr need access to Radarr and Sonarr keys?

Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [1] Nothing is installed, so the setup is a matter of adding Askarr as a list rather than adding software. [1] Check these details against the setup notes before you connect anything.

Can Askarr find a title from a link?

You can paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. [1] You can also try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [1] A bookmark run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [1] Trying the demo first lets you see how the dashboard works before you set anything up.

What should be checked before choosing a bot status tool for Matrix?

Check where updates appear, whether they go into the room or only onto a website, and which events they report. Check who can request titles and who will see the updates. Check the plan page for the price and plan you need. Askarr's plans include a request history with live status, so check the plan page to see which plan includes it. [1]

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1]

Try Askarr

Sources

  1. Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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