How to route requests to a separate library for expat families

Q: Does Askarr need anything installed?

Nothing is installed. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. You add it to those programs as an import list, so the setup happens in Radarr and Sonarr. Read through what each program will change before you start, and keep a short note of those settings so you can undo them later if needed.

Route movie and show requests to a separate library for an expat family, with setup steps, a few tool options, and common mistakes to avoid.

By VLClean · 2026-11-13

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

Routing requests to a separate library for expat families comes down to three decisions: which titles belong in that library, who approves each request, and which single place family members use to send them. The steps below work with any request tool, and the options section lists what to check in each one.

Option	Request method	Cost details
Askarr	Request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1]	The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[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

Expat families need the same basics as any household: a clear list of which titles belong in a separate library, and one person who decides what gets added. Start by naming the library, such as the titles for one language or one part of the family, and write down which kinds of titles belong in it.

Decide who may send requests and who approves them, because a request that reaches the wrong library is the most common cause of confusion. Make sure the server already has the library folders the family will use, and that the person who manages it can reach them.

Pick one request place that everyone will use, such as a request website or a shared message thread, so titles do not arrive from several directions. Finally, agree on how the family will hear that a title was added, so nobody has to ask twice.

Step by step

Routing requests to a separate library works the same way whichever tool you choose.

Name the separate library and write down the kinds of titles it holds.
Decide who may send requests for that library and who approves them before anything is added.
Create the library folders on the server so each approved title has a place to go.
Pick one request place for the whole family, and tell everyone to use only that place.
Write a short note that says which library a request goes to, what titles are accepted, and how people hear that a title was added.
Send the note to each family member who should request titles, with two lines on how to search and how to submit.
Check new requests on a set day each week, route each one to the right library, and remove the ones that do not fit.
After the first week, ask the family what was unclear and edit the note to fix those points.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] A family member can search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and the owner'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 connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1] A title can also be found by pasting a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link. ^[1]

Radarr and Sonarr send a report back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[1]

Two other options fit this job without a named product: a request form, where family members submit titles, and a shared request list, where they add ideas. No facts about other named tools were supplied for this page, so their details are not stated here. Before choosing one, check how it sends a request to a chosen library, who approves requests, and how family members learn that a title was added.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid mixing requests for the separate library with the main library, because a title that lands in the wrong place is hard to find later. Avoid sending the request place to family members without the rules, since people need to know which titles go to which library and who decides.

Avoid skipping the approval step, because an unwanted title can be added before anyone sees it. Avoid forgetting to review requests after setup, since an old list becomes harder to manage. Avoid sharing login details or access keys with any tool before checking what it asks for and what it can reach.

Frequently asked questions

How can expat families route requests to a separate library?

Start by naming the separate library and deciding which titles belong in it. Then decide who may send requests and who approves them, pick one request place for the whole family, and write a short note that explains the rules. Create the matching folders on the server before the first request arrives, and check new requests on a set day each week so each title goes to the right library. These steps stay the same whichever tool you choose.

Does Askarr connect to Radarr and Sonarr?

Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. ^[1] Before you set this up, check which settings in each program you will change, so that the separate library stays separate from the main one.

How do family members find a title to request on Askarr?

A family member can search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1] A title can also be found by pasting a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link. ^[1] Ask each person to use one method consistently and to say which library a title is for, so the owner can check the request when it arrives.

Does Askarr need anything installed?

Nothing is installed. ^[1] Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] You add it to those programs as an import list, so the setup happens in Radarr and Sonarr. Read through what each program will change before you start, and keep a short note of those settings so you can undo them later if needed.

What should be checked before choosing a request tool for expat families?

Check how a tool sends a request to a chosen library, who approves requests, and how family members learn that a title was added. Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[1] Check the plan page to see which plans include that history, and confirm whether it covers the separate library you set up. Compare these points with how your server is managed before you decide.

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)