How to schedule list updates for automation focused homelab users in 2026

Learn how automation focused homelab users can prepare, schedule, and compare list update options for media library workflows.

By VLClean · 2026-10-26

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

Schedule list updates by choosing a source list, deciding how often it should be checked, and using a tool that matches the way titles move into the library workflow.

Option	Update method	Cost details
Watcharr	Paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one link for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1]	No install and no account are needed for the hosted version. ^[1]
Manual schedule	Run a chosen update process on a schedule.	not published
Custom workflow	Build a schedule around the tools already in use.	not published

What you need before you start

Prepare the list source you want to update and decide which library workflow should receive the changes.

Have Radarr or Sonarr ready if they are part of the process that turns lists into movies or shows in the library. Decide whether updates should happen automatically or after a review step.

Choose where the list updates should come from and how often the check should happen. Keep the schedule clear so the process is easy to maintain.

Review the access used by any tool before connecting it to a media workflow. Check whether the tool needs an account, a list link, or a connection to another service.

Step by step

Pick the list source that will provide movie or show titles, and confirm that it can be used with the update method you choose.

Decide the update schedule. A frequent schedule can keep changes current, while a less frequent schedule can reduce how often checks happen.

Choose the place where updated titles should go. This can be a manual review step or a connection to the tools already managing movies and shows.

Set up the chosen update method and check that the list is being read correctly.

Review the first updates and confirm that the titles match the list you intended to use.

Write down the schedule and any review rules so future changes are easier to manage.

Check the workflow from time to time and adjust the schedule if the list changes or the library process changes.

Tools that can do it

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site.

Watcharr lets a user paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one link for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server. ^[1]

Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] A bookmark clicked inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. ^[1]

Watcharr is a hosted option that needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] Watcharr runs as one Cloudflare app with a Cloudflare database, plus a GitHub job that reads IMDb. ^[1] The links are built from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. ^[1] Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it cannot match, and tells you which ones it skipped. ^[1] If a user signs in, Watcharr re-reads the list about every 15 minutes and warns when a list fails three reads in a row. ^[1]

Other approaches include a manual schedule or a custom workflow. Check how each option handles list reading, updates, and the connection to the library tools before choosing one.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid choosing a schedule before checking how often the source list can be read and how updates move into the library workflow.

Avoid assuming every title will move through the process the same way. Check what happens when a title cannot be matched or needs review.

Avoid sharing access details without checking what a tool uses and where those details go.

Avoid forgetting to document the schedule. A simple note about the list source, update timing, and review steps can make future changes easier.

Frequently asked questions

How can Watcharr schedule list updates?

Watcharr uses list links that act like small Radarr or Sonarr servers. ^[1] A user can paste one public IMDb list to get separate links for movies and shows. ^[1]

Can Watcharr update Radarr and Sonarr lists automatically?

Watcharr provides links that Radarr and Sonarr can check as part of their normal process. ^[1] A bookmark clicked inside Radarr or Sonarr can add the list using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. ^[1]

Does Watcharr need installation before scheduling list updates?

The hosted version of Watcharr needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] In the web app you paste, copy and browse from any screen, and the one-click sticker shows on bigger screens. ^[1]

What should automation focused homelab users check before choosing a list update tool?

Check how the tool reads lists, how often updates happen, and how titles move into the library workflow. Watcharr can accept public IMDb watchlists or lists from the desktop site, phone site, or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1]

Can Watcharr combine lists for a household?

Signed-in Watcharr users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the whole household, and a title on two lists is added only once. ^[1] If a list read fails, the links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. ^[1]

Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. ^[1]

Try Watcharr

Sources

Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)