How to notify users when requests are ready in 2026

Learn how to set up notifications so requesters know when their movie or show requests are available on your server.

By VLClean · 2026-11-09

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

Request notification watchers can set up a clear process so friends and family learn when their movie or show requests are ready to watch. Choose a notification method, define who sends updates, and keep the steps simple for everyone.

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 viewers can watch, and decide which friends or family members should receive notifications when their requests are ready. Prepare the titles or types of content that are allowed, so people know what kinds of requests fit the server. Keep the notification rules simple, such as whether every request gets an update or only approved ones. 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 Radarr and Sonarr ready if they are used to add requested titles to the library. Decide who will send notifications before anything is added. Choose where notifications will be sent. The choice can be a request tool with built-in alerts, a messaging app, or another method that gives viewers a clear signal that a title is available.

Step by step

Pick one place where friends and family will learn when a request is ready, such as a request website with status updates or a shared message thread, and tell everyone to watch only that place.

Write down who sends each notification and whether a title needs your approval before the update goes out.

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 notification location to the friends and family you want to allow, with two lines on how to check status and what the update looks like.

Review new requests, approve the ones you want, and send the ready notice for each approved title.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site. 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] A bookmark run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. ^[1] You can paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. ^[1] Askarr plans include a request history with live status. ^[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] 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] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Askarr's project file marks its code as private. ^[1] No other tool is named here because no source facts about other tools were provided. 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 a notification 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 tool without checking how it fits the current way movies and shows are added to the Plex library. The notification process should be clear for both the people sending titles and the person managing the server. Avoid forgetting to send updates 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 tool asks for and what access it uses before sharing it with other people.

Frequently asked questions

How can request notification watchers let friends know when a request is ready?

A request notification watcher can choose a notification method, decide who can submit titles, and explain what happens after a request is sent. The important parts are giving viewers a clear place to request movies and shows and keeping the update process easy to follow.

Can a notification tool work with Radarr and Sonarr?

Check how each notification tool handles Radarr and Sonarr before choosing one. Askarr is a hosted website that works with 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 Plex server?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed. ^[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 notification tool for request updates?

Check how a tool handles requests, title searches, updates, and the process for adding movies and shows. Askarr plans list request history with live status, which the source gives without naming a plan, so check the plan page for which ones include it. ^[1] Compare those details with the way the Plex server is managed before choosing a notification 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)