How to send each request to the right instance for mixed library hosts in 2026

Learn how to direct movie and show requests across mixed library hosts, map each Radarr or Sonarr instance, and check request routing options.

By VLClean · 2026-10-31

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

Mixed library hosts can plan a request process by listing the Radarr and Sonarr instances they use, choosing one place for requests, and deciding how each request will be matched to its destination before a title is added.

Option	Request handling	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, and the owner matches each one to the intended instance.	not published
Shared request list	People add movie or show ideas to the chosen shared list, and the owner matches each one to the intended instance.	not published

What you need before you start

When a library uses multiple Radarr or Sonarr instances, start by writing down which instance handles which titles. This gives each request a planned destination before it enters the library workflow.

List each Radarr and Sonarr instance and note what each one handles. The library may separate movies from shows or group titles by other criteria. Record who may send requests, who reviews them, and what happens after a title is accepted.

Radarr and Sonarr are free helper programs that many Plex owners run to find and add movies (Radarr) and shows (Sonarr) to their library. Make sure the instances that will receive requests are ready to handle titles. Decide how the destination will be identified when a request comes in, and keep the instructions simple enough for everyone involved.

Decide who reviews each request and whether a title needs approval before it is added. Keep the rules simple so the person sending a request knows which instance will receive it and how they will hear that it was added.

Step by step

Make a list of the Radarr and Sonarr instances used for the library. Write a short description beside each one so the intended destination is easy to identify.

Choose one place where friends and family can send requests, such as a request website, a form, or a shared list. Tell everyone where to submit titles.

Decide how each request will be matched to an instance. Use clear criteria that reflect the way the library is divided, and write the rules in one place so requests are handled consistently.

Check each incoming request against the destination list before it is approved. If the title could belong in more than one place, resolve the destination before sending it into the library workflow.

Review the title and approve it if it meets the request rules. If it is not wanted, remove it from the request list or explain that it will not be added.

Check that the intended instance reports the expected status when the title is added or downloaded. If the status does not make the destination clear, review the request process and the available status information.

Tell the person who requested the title how to check its progress and where to ask questions. Keep the instructions short and consistent with the process actually being used.

Review requests that were difficult to route and update the destination notes when needed. This helps make later decisions clearer without assuming that every request tool automatically selects the correct instance.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site. It is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] You can request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1] No separate program is installed. You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr as an import list, and they read your requests from it. ^[1] ^[1] The published claims do not specify how requests are assigned to a particular instance when multiple Radarr or Sonarr instances are used. Check how the destination is selected before choosing Askarr for a mixed library.

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 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 into Askarr to find a title. ^[1] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[1]

Askarr's published claims describe requests being read by Radarr and Sonarr, but do not specify a rule for choosing a particular instance when several are used. ^[1] Before choosing Askarr for a mixed library, check how requests can be directed to the intended instance. Other options include a request form or a shared request list, with the destination matched by the person managing requests. Compare the steps each option supports with the way the library is divided.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid routing a request before checking which instance should handle it. When a library is divided across several instances, confirm the intended destination before the title is added.

Avoid keeping the instance list only in memory. Write down what each instance handles so requests can be matched against the same information.

Avoid choosing a tool without checking how it fits the way movies and shows are added to the library. The request process should stay clear for both the people sending titles and the person managing the server.

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 assuming that a request tool automatically chooses among multiple instances. Check the documented routing behavior and confirm how the destination is selected before relying on it.

Frequently asked questions

How can mixed library hosts route each request to the right instance?

A mixed library host can list the Radarr and Sonarr instances used for the library and note what each one handles. Choose one place for requests and write down how each title is matched to its intended destination. Review the destination before a title is added, and tell viewers how to check progress. This process gives requests a clear route without assuming that a tool automatically chooses among multiple instances.

Does Askarr route requests to a specific Radarr or Sonarr instance?

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] The available product claims do not specify how to select a particular instance when several are used. Check how the destination is chosen before using Askarr for a mixed library.

Does Askarr connect to Radarr or Sonarr?

Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1] Nothing is installed. ^[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]

How can viewers find a title to request with Askarr?

Viewers can request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can also be pasted to find the title. ^[1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[1] That status information can help with checking progress, but the published claims do not specify how requests are assigned among multiple instances.

What should be checked before choosing a request tool for mixed library hosts?

Check how a tool directs requests, how titles are found, and what status information it provides. Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[1] Its published claims do not specify how to route a request to a particular instance when multiple Radarr or Sonarr instances are used. Confirm that detail and compare the process with the way the library is divided before choosing a request 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)