How to monitor library updates for Plex and Jellyfin users in 2026

Learn how Plex and Jellyfin users can track library updates by preparing their workflow and choosing a request or update method.

By VLClean · 2026-10-25

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

Plex and Jellyfin users can monitor library updates by deciding what changes to track, choosing a method for status updates, and keeping the process clear.

Option	Update method	Cost details
Askarr	Request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. ^[1]	The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[1]
Manual update list	Track movie or show changes through the chosen list method.	not published

What you need before you start

Decide which library changes need to be monitored, such as when requested movies or shows are added or downloaded. Prepare the tools that already manage the way titles move into the library. Consider whether updates need to show only completed changes or also show progress before a title is ready. Write down where update details should appear so the people using the library know where to look. Make sure the chosen method matches the amount of information that needs to be checked.

Make sure the people using the library know how updates will be tracked and where they can check progress. Keep the update process clear so everyone knows where to look for information.

Choose whether updates should be checked through a request tool, a list, or another method. Review how each option handles title searches, request progress, and update information before choosing a workflow.

Step by step

Decide what library updates need to be visible. This can include when a requested title is added or when a title finishes downloading.

Choose one place to track updates and tell everyone involved to use that place. Keeping update information in one location can make it easier to follow changes.

Check how the chosen method receives information about titles. Make sure the update flow matches the way movies and shows are added to the library. Review which parts of the update process are visible to the people watching the library. Confirm that the method gives enough detail for the person managing the library to understand what happened. Keep notes about any steps that need to be repeated when new titles are requested.

Set clear rules for requests and updates. Explain who can request titles, who reviews them, and how people can see progress.

Review the update process after setup. Look for confusing steps and adjust the instructions so people know where to find the latest status.

Keep account and access details in mind when choosing a tool. Check what information a tool uses and what connections it needs before sharing it with others.

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] Askarr can be used by requesting 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]

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

Before choosing a tool, check how it handles title searches, approvals, updates, and the way requests move into the library workflow.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid sharing an update method without explaining the rules. People need to know where to check progress and who decides what happens after a request.

Avoid choosing a tool without checking how it fits the current way movies and shows are added to the library. The update process should be clear for both people sending requests and the person managing the library. Avoid creating a process that leaves people unsure about where to find current information. Check whether the chosen method explains changes in a way that matches the library workflow. A clear process can make it easier to follow updates over time.

Avoid skipping privacy and access checks. Review what information a tool uses before sharing it with other people.

Frequently asked questions

How can Plex and Jellyfin users monitor library updates?

Plex and Jellyfin users can choose a method for tracking changes, decide what updates matter, and explain where progress information can be found. The process should make it clear when a title moves through the workflow and who checks the update information.

Can Askarr show when a title changes status?

Askarr can show when a title was added and downloaded through a webhook from Radarr and Sonarr that reports back to the site. ^[1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[1]

Does Askarr require changes to the library server?

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]

How do requests move from Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr?

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]

What should be checked before choosing a library update tool?

Check how a tool handles title searches, updates, and the way requests move into the library workflow. Askarr allows title searches by pasting a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link. ^[1] Compare those details with the way the 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)