How to sync history when back online for offline-first media loggers in 2026

Learn how to sync media history after reconnecting, prepare saved records, avoid duplicate entries, and compare tools for managing media lists.

By VLClean · 2026-11-10

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

To sync media history after reconnecting, check where the saved records are stored, confirm which device or service holds the latest copy, and use the chosen app's supported sync or import method. Keep a backup before combining records, check for duplicate entries, and confirm that the restored history is complete. Choose a tool based on the type of history it handles and where that history needs to go.

Option	How it handles the task	Cost details
App-provided account syncing	Check whether the original app can restore and combine saved history.	not published
File export and import	Check which saved records can be exported and whether the destination accepts them.	not published
Device backup and restore	Check whether the device backup includes the original media history.	not published
Watcharr	Provides separate Radarr movie and Sonarr show links from one public IMDb list. ^[1]	not published

What you need before you start

Before syncing media history, identify which app or device holds the records and where the records need to appear after reconnecting. A media logger may keep its history on a device, in an account, or in a file. The right recovery method depends on where the saved information lives.

Make sure the device has a working internet connection and that the account used for the original records is available. If the app provides a way to export or back up its history, keep a copy before starting. This gives you something to check if the restored records do not match the original history.

Decide which device or account should be treated as the main copy. This matters when more than one device has saved entries since the last connection. Check whether the app offers automatic updates, manual imports, or a way to combine records.

Prepare a short list of what needs to be restored. This might include watched titles, saved movies, television shows, dates, or other information recorded by the original app. Check whether the destination supports those same details.

Finally, decide how to check that the sync has finished correctly. A successful connection does not necessarily mean every saved record has been transferred.

Step by step

Check the available backup. Look for an account-based copy, an exported file, or another saved version of the history. If the app provides a backup option, make a fresh copy before changing anything. Keep the original file somewhere safe until the restored history has been checked.

Reconnect the device. Restore the internet connection and open the original app. Sign in to the account that holds the records, if an account is required. Check whether the app begins updating automatically or asks for a manual action.

Choose the correct direction of sync. If several devices contain different entries, decide which copy should supply the missing history. Check whether the app combines records or replaces one copy with another. Avoid choosing an option that could overwrite newer entries without first keeping a backup.

Use the supported transfer method. Follow the app's instructions for account syncing, importing a saved file, or restoring a backup. If the destination is another service, check that it accepts the original file type and the information contained in it.

Check the restored records. Compare the restored history with the original copy. Look for missing titles, repeated entries, incorrect dates, and records that appear under the wrong account. Check older entries as well as recent ones.

Resolve duplicate records carefully. If the same title appears more than once, check whether the entries represent separate viewing events or duplicate copies of the same record. Keep information that matters before removing anything.

Confirm that the history is available elsewhere. If the records need to appear on another device, open that device and check the destination. Do not assume that restoring one copy automatically updates every connected device.

Keep a fresh backup. Once the restored history has been checked, save another copy if the app supports it. Make a note of the account and transfer method used so the next recovery is easier to manage.

Review the next update. Check the app again after its next scheduled or manual update. This helps identify whether the connection is continuing to work or whether another action is needed.

Tools that can do it

The right tool depends on whether the goal is to restore an existing viewing history, combine saved records, or keep movie and television lists available to other media management apps.

App-provided account syncing

An app's own account syncing option may be the most direct route when the original history belongs to that service. Check which records it transfers, whether it combines information from multiple devices, and what happens when two copies contain different entries.

File export and import

An export and import method can provide a separate copy of saved history. Before choosing this approach, check the available file formats, which details are included, and whether the destination can recognize the original records. Keep an unchanged copy of the exported file until the imported history has been checked.

Device backup and restore

A device backup may be relevant when the original records are stored locally. Check whether the backup includes the media app's saved information and whether restoring it affects other information already on the destination device.

Watcharr

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. Watcharr takes one public IMDb list and provides a Radarr link for movies and a Sonarr link for shows. ^[1] Radarr checks each Watcharr link every 15 minutes, and Sonarr checks its link every 5 minutes. ^[1]

Watcharr can accept public IMDb watchlists and lists from the desktop site, phone site, and IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] Signed-in users can also combine several IMDb lists into shared movie and show links for a household, with a title appearing only once when it is on multiple lists. ^[1]

Its links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly if a later list read fails. ^[1] The hosted version requires no installation or account. ^[1]

Other media history tools

Before choosing another service, check its supported history sources, backup options, import formats, account requirements, and how it handles records from more than one device.

The important distinction is between restoring past activity and keeping a list of titles available to another app. Check that the tool handles the actual records that need to be transferred rather than assuming that support for movie and show lists also means support for viewing history.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid deleting the original history before confirming that the restored copy is complete. Keeping an unchanged backup makes it easier to recover missing entries if an import or restore does not go as expected.

Avoid assuming that reconnecting automatically combines every device's records. Check which copy is being treated as the main version and whether the app replaces existing information or combines entries.

Avoid overlooking duplicate records. Two entries for the same title may represent separate viewing events, so compare their details before removing either one.

Avoid choosing a tool based only on its ability to handle movie and show lists. A list of titles and a record of viewing activity are different kinds of information. Check which one the service actually supports.

Avoid assuming that every record transfers with its original details. Dates, watched status, descriptions, and other information may depend on the source and destination. Check the available information before starting.

Avoid ignoring account access and privacy. Confirm which account contains the original records, what information a service requests, and where the saved history will be kept.

Finally, avoid treating a successful connection as proof that the job is complete. Open the destination, check the records, and keep a backup of the restored history.

Frequently asked questions

How can offline-first media loggers sync history after reconnecting?

Check where the original history is stored and whether the app supports account syncing, file imports, or backup restoration. Reconnect the device, follow the supported transfer method, and compare the restored records with the original copy. Keep a backup until missing entries, duplicate records, and incorrect dates have been checked.

Can media history be restored without losing existing records?

The safest approach is to keep a separate copy of the existing history before restoring or importing anything. Check whether the chosen app combines records or replaces the destination copy. Compare the original and restored versions before removing duplicates or deleting older entries. The available recovery options depend on the original app and the format in which it saves information.

Can Watcharr sync viewing history between devices?

Watcharr accepts public IMDb watchlists and lists and provides separate links for Radarr movies and Sonarr shows. ^[1] Check whether the records to be transferred include viewing dates, watched status, or just a list of titles. Check the original logger's own history export or recovery options for that task.

Does Watcharr require installation to use the hosted version?

The hosted version of Watcharr needs no installation and no account. ^[1] It accepts public IMDb watchlists and lists from the desktop site, phone site, and IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] Watcharr takes one public IMDb list and provides a Radarr link for movies and a Sonarr link for shows. ^[1] Check whether that is the information needed before choosing it.

What should be checked before choosing a media history sync tool?

Check which history sources the tool accepts, whether it can export or import saved records, and what happens when multiple copies contain different information. Confirm whether dates and watched status are retained and whether the destination combines or replaces existing records. Also check account requirements, backup options, and whether the tool handles viewing history or only lists of movies and shows.

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)