How to let relatives request films and shows in Jellyfin in 2026

Set up a simple way for relatives to ask for films and shows on a Jellyfin server, with steps, options to compare, and common mistakes to avoid.

By VLClean · 2026-11-04

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

Give relatives one place to send requests, a short set of rules, and a regular day to review them. Askarr is one option: on Askarr, a person requests a film or show, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1]

Option	Request method	Cost details
Askarr	On Askarr, a person requests a film or show, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1]	The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[1]
Request form	Relatives submit film or show titles through the chosen form.	not published
Shared request list	Relatives add film or show ideas to the chosen shared list.	not published

What you need before you start

Before relatives can send requests, decide who is allowed to ask. Make a list of the people, such as parents, siblings or cousins, and confirm that each one can reach the place where requests will be sent.

Write down the kinds of films and shows that are welcome, such as recent releases, older films, or particular series, so people know what fits the library. Set a simple rule for who approves a request before anything is added.

Choose the request place before you tell anyone about it. It can be a request website, a form, or a shared list. Send one request yourself from start to finish so you know what relatives will see, and decide how you will let the person who asked know when a title has been added.

Step by step

Choose one place where relatives will send requests, such as a request website, a form, or a shared list, and tell everyone to use only that place.

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

Write a short note for relatives that says who can ask, what kinds of films and shows are accepted, and how they will hear that a title was added.

Send the note and the request place to the relatives you want to include, with a short explanation of how to search for a title and how to send it.

Look through new requests on a regular day, approve the ones you want, and remove the ones you do not.

After the first few requests, ask a couple of relatives what was confusing, and update your note to answer those points.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[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]

Relatives can request a film or show on Askarr, and the owner's own Radarr and Sonarr add it. ^[1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can be pasted to find the title. ^[1] Radarr and Sonarr send a report back to the site, so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[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] Each friend who signs up through your link adds 10 requests a month to your limit. ^[1] You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. ^[1]

No source for those tools is shown, so check each tool's page. No facts about other named tools were supplied for this page, so check each tool's own page for how it handles requests, approvals, and updates before you choose.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid sharing a request place without explaining the rules. Relatives need to know which films and shows can be requested and who decides what gets added.

Avoid choosing a tool before checking how it fits your current Jellyfin library. The request steps should be clear both for the people asking and for the admin who manages the server.

Avoid letting old requests pile up. A request list is harder to manage when old or unwanted items are left without attention, so review it on a set day.

Avoid skipping privacy checks. Look at what information a tool asks for and what access it uses before you share it with relatives.

Frequently asked questions

How can Jellyfin admins let relatives request films and shows?

Pick one place where relatives send requests, such as a request website, a form, or a shared list. Write a short note that explains who can ask, what kinds of films and shows are welcome, and who approves each request before it is added. Then review the requests on a regular day each week and tell people when a title has been added. Keeping one place and one set of rules makes the process easy for everyone to follow.

Does Askarr work with Radarr and Sonarr?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[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] Before you rely on this, confirm that your Jellyfin library is fed by those programs in your own setup.

Does Askarr need to be installed on the Jellyfin server?

Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Askarr is a hosted website, so relatives use it through the web. ^[1] Radarr and Sonarr only need the import list added once. ^[1] Check your own setup before changing anything, and write down your current library settings so you can undo a change if you need to.

Can Askarr find a film or show from a link?

Yes, a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can be pasted to find the title. ^[1] Relatives can also search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1] The link method is useful when a relative already has a page open for the film or show they want, because the right title is found without guessing from a name.

What should be checked before Askarr is chosen for a family?

Check the plan first, since 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] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status, so confirm that the plan you pick has it. ^[1] A demo account with sample data is also available to try before you sign up for a plan. ^[1]

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)