How to link requests to existing media apps for Unraid server owners in 2026

How Unraid server owners can link movie and show requests to existing media apps with practical setup steps.

By VLClean · 2026-10-30

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

Unraid server owners can link movie and show requests to the media apps already on the server by preparing the library workflow, choosing one clear request method, and matching each request to the app that adds it.

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] The Pro plan has no monthly request limit. ^[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

Unraid is built around an app ecosystem, so the way requests flow into the library usually starts with the media apps you already run. Make sure those apps are installed and working before you set up a request method. Decide which friends or family members should be able to send requests and which kinds of titles fit the server.

Radarr and Sonarr are free helper programs that many Unraid 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 get added. Decide who reviews requests before anything is added to the library.

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. List the media apps on the server that add content so each incoming request can be matched to the right app, and choose one place where people send requests.

Step by step

List the media apps on the Unraid server that already add content, such as Radarr for movies and Sonarr for shows, so each request maps to the app that handles it.

Choose 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.

Check how a chosen request tool hands a requested title to the existing media apps before you ask anyone to use it.

Write down who looks at each request and whether a title needs your 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.

Ask a few viewers after the first week what confused them, and edit your note to fix those points.

Tools that can do it

Option 1: Askarr. Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site. It is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed. ^[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 webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] You can paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. ^[1] A webhook is a message one app sends to another when something happens. A bookmark you 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; check the plan page for which plans include 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 has no monthly request limit. ^[1] Each friend who signs up through your link adds 10 requests a month to your limit. ^[1] The dashboard can be tried with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. ^[1]

No other tool is named here because no source facts about other tools were provided. Before choosing a request method, check how it handles title searches, approvals, updates, and the way requests move into the existing media apps on the Unraid server.

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 request method without checking how it hands a requested title to the existing media apps on the Unraid server. 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 request tool asks for and what access it uses before sharing it with other people.

Frequently asked questions

How can Unraid server owners link requests to existing media apps?

An Unraid server owner can pick one clear place for requests, decide who can submit titles, and match each request to the media apps that already add content, such as Radarr for movies and Sonarr for shows. The important parts are giving viewers a clear place to request movies and shows and keeping the review process easy to follow once requests are linked to the apps on the server.

Can a request tool work with Radarr and Sonarr on Unraid?

Check how each request tool handles Radarr and Sonarr before choosing one. 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]

Does Askarr require changes to the Unraid server?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed. ^[1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1]

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

Friends and family can search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds 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 Unraid?

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; check the plan page for which plans include it. ^[1] Compare those details with the way the Unraid server is managed 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)