How to send requests to separate 4K instances for 4K library managers in 2026

Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site. Learn how 4K library managers can send movie and show requests to separate 4K instances.

By VLClean · 2026-10-26

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

4K library managers can set up a request process by preparing their library workflow, choosing a request method, and sharing clear instructions with viewers.

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

A 4K library manager runs separate 4K instances, meaning movies and shows are added through their own workflow instead of the main library's. Make sure every 4K instance already has the movies and shows that viewers can watch, and decide which friends or family members 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 4K instances. Keep the request rules simple, such as whether people can ask for any title or only certain types of movies and shows.

Radarr and Sonarr are free helper programs that many Plex owners run to find and add movies (Radarr) and shows (Sonarr) to their library. Have them ready if they are part of the way requested titles are added to the 4K instances, and note which 4K instance each one feeds.

Decide who will review requests before anything is added. Choose where people will send requests, so each 4K instance gets a clear place viewers can submit titles to.

Step by step

Pick one place where friends and family will send requests, such as a request website or a shared message thread, and tell everyone to use only that place for the 4K instances.

Decide which requests go to which 4K instance. Write down whether a title is for the main library or a specific 4K instance, so nothing lands in the wrong one.

Set up the request method so it points at the 4K instances that should receive new titles, and confirm that each one can read incoming requests.

Write a short note for viewers that says who can request, what kinds of titles are accepted for the 4K instances, and how they will hear that a title was added.

Send the note and the request location to the friends and family you want to allow, with two lines on how to search for a title and how to submit it.

Look through new requests on a regular day each week, approve the ones you want for the 4K instances, and delete the ones you do not.

Check that each approved request reached the right 4K instance and was added to that library, not a different one.

Ask a few viewers after the first week what confused them, and edit your 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] Askarr can be used by searching for a movie or show on Askarr and requesting it, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1]

You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time, and they then pick up your requests from it. ^[1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1]

The Askarr site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] Askarr also allows title searches by pasting a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link. ^[1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1]

A request form or a shared request list may be worth considering, but no source facts about these options were provided. Check how each option handles title searches, approvals, updates, and routing requests to separate 4K instances before choosing one. Before choosing a tool, check how it handles title searches, approvals, updates, and the way requests move into each 4K instance's workflow.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid sending every request to one place without sorting it to the right 4K instance. A title meant for the 4K library can end up added to the main library instead, so decide the target before anyone submits.

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 4K instances. The request process should be clear for both the people sending titles and the person managing the library.

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.

Frequently asked questions

How can 4K library managers send requests to separate 4K instances?

A 4K library manager can choose a request method, decide which titles go to which 4K instance, and explain what happens after a request is sent. The important parts are giving viewers a clear place to request movies and shows and keeping the review process easy to follow, so each title lands in the right library.

Can a request tool work with Radarr and Sonarr 4K instances?

Check how each request tool handles Radarr and Sonarr before choosing one. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time, and they then pick up your requests from it. ^[1]

Does Askarr require changes to the Plex server's 4K instances?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1] Check that a managed 4K instance can read an import list before setting up a request flow for it.

How do friends find movies and shows to request with Askarr?

Friends and family can search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can also be pasted to find the title. ^[1] The Askarr site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1]

What should be checked before choosing a request tool for 4K instances?

Check how a tool handles requests, title searches, updates, and the process for sending each title to the right 4K instance. Askarr plans list a request history with live status, so check the plan page for which ones include it. ^[1] Compare those details with the way each 4K instance is managed 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)