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How to run request software in a TrueNAS app container in 2026

Steps to run request software in a TrueNAS app container, with notes on connecting it to Radarr and Sonarr so requests reach your library.

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

Run the request software in its own app container, check that it can see your movie and show folders, and connect it to Radarr and Sonarr. Askarr is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1]

OptionHow requests workCost details
AskarrRequest 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] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [1]
Request formCheck how submitted titles are passed to Radarr and Sonarr.not published
Shared request listCheck how titles on the list are passed to Radarr and Sonarr.not published

What you need before you start

Have your TrueNAS media host running, with Radarr and Sonarr already working. Radarr and Sonarr are the helper programs that add movies (Radarr) and shows (Sonarr) to your library. A request is only useful if they can add the title, so test them first.

Decide which app container will hold the request software, and give it a name you will recognise later. Check that this container can open the folders where your movies and shows are stored, so that added titles land where your library expects them.

Write down who may send requests and who approves them before anything is added. A short written rule, such as which kinds of titles are accepted, saves questions later.

Step by step

  1. Create a new app container on TrueNAS for the request software and give it a clear name.
  1. Set the container so its settings are kept in a folder that survives restarts.
  1. Confirm the container can open your movie and show folders. Requests should end up in the same places your library already uses.
  1. Open the request software in a web browser and create an admin login. Use a password you do not use anywhere else.
  1. Connect the request software to Radarr and Sonarr. For Askarr, add it to each program as an import list, which Askarr describes as a one-time step. [1] Running the bookmark on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and notification link for you. [1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [1]
  1. Test with one title. Confirm that it reaches Radarr or Sonarr and that it shows up in your library. Then invite the people who should be able to request titles and give them one short set of instructions.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add 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 can also find a title from a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link. [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]

For the other options in the table, check how each one handles title search, approvals, and how requests reach Radarr and Sonarr before you choose.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid creating the container before you have checked where your movie and show folders are. A request tool that cannot see the right folders leaves you with titles that go nowhere useful.

Avoid skipping the test with a single title. A setup that looks finished may still fail to pass requests to Radarr or Sonarr, and one test shows that quickly.

Avoid giving out the admin login. Friends and family need only the request page, not the settings for the container or the helper programs.

Avoid leaving old requests in the queue. Review the list on a regular day, approve what you want, and remove what you do not.

Frequently asked questions

How do you run request software in a TrueNAS app container?

Create a dedicated app container, confirm it can open your movie and show folders, and set its settings to survive restarts. Then open the request software in a browser, create an admin login, and connect it to Radarr and Sonarr. Test with one title before inviting anyone else to send requests. Keep the admin login private, because friends and family only need the request page.

Does Askarr work with Radarr and Sonarr on TrueNAS?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time, and they read your requests from it. [1] Nothing is installed in the container; you add Askarr as an import list. [1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1]

Can Askarr show whether a requested title was added?

A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back, so the Askarr site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] Check the plan page to see which plans include it before you choose a plan.

Can Askarr be tried before signing up?

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] Askarr has a demo you can try without signing in. [1]

What should TrueNAS users check before choosing request software?

Check how each tool passes requests to Radarr and Sonarr, how it handles title search, and whether you can approve a request before a title is added. Askarr can find a title from a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link. [1] Running the bookmark on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the Askarr list and notification link for you. [1]

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1]

Try Askarr

Sources

  1. Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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