How to run request software on a Synology NAS in 2026

Set up a clear request process on a Synology home NAS by preparing your media workflow, choosing a request method, and checking access.

By VLClean · 2026-10-31

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

A Synology media host can run a request process by getting the media workflow ready, deciding how requests will be reviewed, and choosing a way for people to submit titles. Askarr is a hosted site that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1]

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]
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 Synology home NAS already has the media workflow that viewers use, and decide which people should be able to send requests.

Prepare the titles or types of content that are allowed, so people know what kinds of requests fit the media library. Keep the request rules simple, such as whether people can ask for any title or only certain types of movies and shows.

Have Radarr and Sonarr ready if they are part of the way requested titles are added to the library. Radarr handles movies and Sonarr handles shows. Decide who will review requests before anything is added.

Choose where people will send requests. The choice can be a request tool, a form, a shared list, or another method that gives viewers a clear place to submit titles.

Before installing or connecting anything on the NAS, note which services already handle the media library and which person is responsible for approving requests.

Step by step

Pick one place where friends and family will send requests, such as a request website, a form, or a shared message thread. Tell everyone to use only that place.

Write down who looks at each request and whether a title needs approval before it is added to the library. This keeps the request process separate from the decision to add content.

Check the connection between the request method and the existing media workflow. If Radarr or Sonarr is responsible for adding requested titles, make sure the chosen method can work with that arrangement before changing anything on the NAS.

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 people you want to allow, with simple directions on how to search for a title and how to submit it.

If the chosen method requires something to be added or changed on the Synology NAS, review what it asks for before making the change. Check what access it uses and which existing services it connects to.

Look through new requests on a regular day, approve the ones you want, and remove the ones you do not. Keep the review step separate from the instructions given to viewers.

Ask a few viewers after the first week what confused them, and edit the instructions to fix those points. Also check whether requests are reaching the part of the media workflow that is supposed to handle them.

Keep a simple record of the request process so another person who manages the NAS can understand who reviews requests, where they arrive, and what happens after approval.

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] 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] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1]

A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] To use the bookmark, run it on your Radarr or Sonarr page, and it saves the list and webhook there for you. ^[1] You can paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. ^[1]

A request form is another option. People submit movie or show titles through the chosen form. Check how the form passes requests to the existing media workflow and whether a separate review step is needed.

A shared request list is another option. People add movie or show ideas to the chosen shared list. Check how the list is reviewed and how approved titles move into the existing media workflow.

A shared message thread can also be used as a request location. People send titles in the chosen message thread, while the NAS manager reviews those messages and handles approved requests through the existing workflow.

Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[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]

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 tool without checking how it fits the current way movies and shows are added to the Synology media library. The request process should be clear for both the people sending titles and the person managing the NAS.

Avoid making changes before checking what access a request method uses. Review the requested connections and permissions so they match the way the home NAS is managed.

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 tool asks for and what access it uses before sharing it with other people.

For Askarr, check the request flow and the way status is reported before choosing it. Askarr uses a webhook from Radarr and Sonarr to report when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1]

Frequently asked questions

Can a Synology NAS run request software for a media library?

A Synology home NAS can be used as part of a request process by preparing the existing media workflow, choosing where requests arrive, and deciding who approves them. If Radarr or Sonarr handles the addition of movies or shows, check that the chosen request method works with that workflow before making changes to the NAS.

Can Askarr work with Radarr and Sonarr on a Synology NAS?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[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]

Does Askarr require anything to be installed on the Synology NAS?

Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Askarr is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Before choosing the request method, check the current Radarr and Sonarr setup and make sure the person managing the NAS is comfortable with the connections being added.

How can people request movies and shows with Askarr?

You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. ^[1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can also be pasted to find the title. ^[1]

What should be checked before choosing request software for a Synology NAS?

Check how a tool handles title searches, request approval, status updates, and the process for moving approved titles into the existing media workflow. Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[1] Also check the access a tool uses, where requests are handled, and whether its pricing matches the amount of requesting expected.

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)