How to sync viewing lists for watchlist managers in 2026

Learn how watchlist managers can sync viewing lists by preparing sources, choosing tools, and checking how list updates reach media apps.

By VLClean · 2026-11-10

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

Watchlist managers can sync viewing lists by preparing a list source, choosing a sync method, and checking how titles move into their media workflow.

Option	Sync method	Cost details
Watcharr	Paste one public IMDb list to get one Radarr link for movies and one Sonarr link for shows. ^[1]	The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1]
Manual list copy	Copy viewing list details using a chosen manual process.	not published
Other sync tools	Check the tool's supported lists and update method before choosing it.	not published

What you need before you start

Watchlist managers need a clear source list and a place where synced movie and show details should go. Decide which public lists are part of the workflow and which apps should receive the results.

Prepare the access details needed by the chosen tools, such as any app connections or accounts they require. Review whether the tool accepts the type of list being used and how it handles titles that cannot be matched.

Keep the list rules simple before syncing starts. Decide whether several lists should stay separate or become one combined list.

If Radarr or Sonarr are part of the workflow, have those apps ready before choosing a sync method. Radarr handles movies and Sonarr handles shows, so check that the chosen method sends the right type of titles to each app.

Step by step

Choose the viewing list source that should be synced and check that the chosen tool supports that source.

Decide whether movies, shows, or both should be moved into the media workflow. Keep separate rules for each type if needed.

Choose where the synced titles should go. This can be a media management app, a shared list, or another place that fits the workflow.

Add the list to the chosen tool and review how it handles title matching. Check what happens when a title cannot be identified.

Confirm how updates happen after the first sync. Some tools refresh on a schedule, while others require manual action.

Review the synced results before relying on the workflow. Remove unwanted titles and adjust the list rules if needed.

Keep notes about the setup so the same process can be followed when lists change or new viewers are added.

Tools that can do it

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. Watcharr gives you a hosted version that needs nothing to install and lets you paste, copy and browse from any screen in the web app. ^[1] ^[1]

Watcharr lets a user paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. ^[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]

Manual list copy is another way to move viewing lists. Check how much work the method needs and how updates are handled before choosing it.

Other tools can also be considered when syncing viewing lists. Check each tool's supported list sources, update method, and connection options before choosing one.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid choosing a sync method without checking what happens when a title cannot be matched. A workflow can need review when some titles do not move through correctly.

Avoid combining lists without deciding how duplicates should be handled. The rules for shared lists can affect the final results.

Avoid skipping update checks after setup. A list workflow should be reviewed so changes happen in the way expected.

Avoid sharing access details without checking what permissions a tool uses. Review the connection method before adding a sync tool.

Frequently asked questions

How can Watcharr sync viewing lists for Radarr and Sonarr?

Watcharr can take one public IMDb list and create one link for Radarr with movies and one link for Sonarr with shows. ^[1] Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, with Radarr checking it every 15 minutes and Sonarr checking it every 5. ^[1]

Can Watcharr use IMDb watchlists and lists from different screens?

Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] Check the list type before choosing a workflow so the source matches what the tool supports.

Does Watcharr need an installation before syncing viewing lists?

Watcharr's hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] Watcharr also runs as one Cloudflare app with a Cloudflare database, plus a GitHub job that reads IMDb. ^[1]

How does Watcharr handle titles that cannot be matched?

Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it cannot match, and tells users which ones it skipped. ^[1] Check the skipped titles before depending on the synced list.

What should be checked before choosing a viewing list sync tool?

Check the supported list sources, update method, and how titles are handled before choosing a tool. 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]

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)