How to let parents request movies with one tap in 2026

[description] Let parents request movies and shows with one tap: prepare Radarr and Sonarr, choose a simple request method, and set a weekly review routine.

By VLClean · 2026-11-13

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

Set up a request method that works with Radarr and Sonarr, give parents a simple way to search and tap a title, and review requests on a regular schedule.

Option	Request method	Cost details
Askarr	Search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds 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 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 Plex server already has the movies and shows that parents can watch, and decide which family members should be able to send requests. Prepare the titles or types of content that are allowed, so parents know what kinds of requests fit the server. Keep the request rules simple, such as whether parents 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 parents will send requests. The choice can be a request tool, a form, or another method that gives parents a clear place to submit titles.

Step by step

Choose one place, such as a request website or a shared list, that parents can reach from the device they already use, and make sure every request goes there.
Note who reviews each request and whether pre-approved categories can be added without a check-in.
Draft a one-page note for parents: which titles count, how many taps a request takes, and when to expect news about a title they sent.
Sit with your parents while they complete one full test request, from search button to confirmation screen, and adjust the note where they pause.
Put the request page or list on the tablet or phone home screen so it sits under one tap instead of hiding in a settings menu.
Check new requests at the same time each week, approve the ones that fit, and remove the ones that do not.
Call or visit every two weeks at first to ask what felt unclear, and tweak the note until the process stops needing explanation.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is made by the VLClean team that publishes this site. It runs as a hosted website, so an adult child gives parents a link instead of a new app. ^[1] A parent requests a movie or show on Askarr, and the adult child's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. ^[1] Askarr never reaches back to those programs, so no API keys move across the connection. ^[1] The adult child watches the site to see when a title lands and finishes downloading. ^[1] A parent can also paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find a title. ^[1] Free: $0, 10 requests a month ^[1]; Plus: $3.99 a month, 50 requests a month ^[1]; Pro: $6.99 a month, unlimited requests ^[1]

A request form gives parents a set of fields to fill in. Parents type the title and submit it, and the adult child adds the requested title in Radarr or Sonarr. Check the form provider's pricing before choosing it.

A shared list, such as a shared document, lets parents add ideas at their pace. The adult child checks the list during the weekly review and marks each entry done. Cost depends on the storage or document host in use.

A chat thread in a messaging app the family already uses keeps requests in a familiar place. Parents send a title in the agreed chat thread, and the adult child checks that thread during the weekly review.

None of these options carries source-provided details, so compare each one's tap count, approval flow, and price before picking.

Common mistakes to avoid

Try one request together during setup. A flow that feels obvious to the adult child often buries the search box or the request button in a screen parents skip, so run the flow once with them watching before handing over the link. Do not assume a parent will remember the rules. A one-page note, written after a first session, beats a long policy nobody re-reads. Check the request list regularly. Review new requests on a set day each week so old or unwanted requests do not pile up. Do the privacy check before handing over a request tool. Look at what account information any request tool asks for before handing it to someone who does not manage the server, and note which details are optional. If a request tool would let a parent see someone else's requests, decide whether that is acceptable for the household. Finally, avoid changing the request channel after parents have begun using it. Changing a familiar link or icon can cause confusion, so keep the request location the same once parents start using it.

Frequently asked questions

How can adult children let parents request movies and shows with one tap?

An adult child gives parents one link that works with the library already running, writes the rules on a page they will find, and agrees on a weekly review time. Easy requests and clear follow-up are practical considerations when the process is set up and later adjusted.

Can a request tool work with Radarr and Sonarr?

Look at whether the tool you are considering moves a name, email, or account before a request arrives. Pick the one whose sign-up flow asks for the least, and check the privacy page once a year in case the terms shift. If a tool would let a parent see someone else's requests, decide whether that is acceptable for the household.

Does Askarr require changes to the Plex server?

Askarr is a hosted site that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] There is no app to install; you add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr as a list they read your requests from. ^[1]

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

A parent can request a movie or show on Askarr, and the adult child's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1] A parent can also paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. ^[1]

What should be checked before choosing a request tool for parents?

Look at how many requests each plan covers per month, how the parent hears a title was added, and how long the queue holds an old request. Askarr shows a request history with live status on its plans. ^[1] Compare the requests expected each month with the plan's monthly allowance before choosing.

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)