How to import title lists for Radarr Sonarr operators in 2026

Learn how Radarr and Sonarr operators can bring title lists into their setup with Watcharr and other import methods.

By VLClean · 2026-10-23

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

Radarr and Sonarr operators can import title lists by choosing a list source, preparing their apps, and connecting a method that turns lists into usable movie or show entries.

Option	Import method	Cost details
Watcharr	Paste one public IMDb list to get one Radarr link for movies and one Sonarr link for shows. ^[1]	not published
Manual list import	Copy titles from the chosen list source and add them through the selected workflow.	not published
Custom list workflow	Use a chosen list process and check how it connects titles to Radarr or Sonarr.	not published

What you need before you start

Radarr and Sonarr operators need a clear source for the movie or show titles they want to import. Decide whether the list should come from a public IMDb watchlist or another method that fits the server workflow. Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1]

Make sure Radarr and Sonarr are ready to receive imported titles if they are part of the process. Check which app should handle movies and which should handle shows before adding a list.

Review the titles before importing them, especially when a list contains items that may not match the library rules. A simple naming and review process can make future list updates easier to manage.

Choose whether the list should stay connected for future changes or only be used as a one-time source. The choice affects how often the operator needs to review new titles. If you sign in, Watcharr re-reads your list about every 15 minutes and warns you when a list fails three reads in a row. ^[1]

Step by step

Choose a title list source that matches the movies and shows the server should collect.

Check whether the chosen method creates separate movie and show imports or needs manual sorting before titles reach Radarr or Sonarr.

Connect the list method to the library workflow and confirm that imported titles appear in the correct app.

Review the imported titles and remove anything that does not match the server rules.

Tell other household members how the list process works if shared lists are part of the setup.

Check the list later to confirm that changes are handled in the way expected.

When choosing a method, look at where lists come from, how titles are matched, how updates are handled, and what information the service needs to work.

Tools that can do it

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. Watcharr lets operators paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one link for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1]

Each Watcharr link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5 minutes. ^[1] A bookmark can be clicked inside Radarr or Sonarr to add the list using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. ^[1]

Watcharr accepts public IMDb watchlists or lists from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] The links are built from the IMDb list id, so the same list gives the same two links. ^[1]

Another option is a manual process where operators copy titles from a chosen list and add them through their own workflow. Review the available methods to see how title matching, updates, and list sources work before choosing.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid importing a list without checking how movie and show titles are separated. A mismatch between the list and the target app can create extra review work.

Avoid skipping title checks before allowing updates to reach the library. Review how a method handles titles that cannot be matched.

Avoid choosing a tool without checking its list sources and update behavior. The way a tool handles lists can affect how much manual work remains.

Avoid forgetting account and privacy checks. Review what information a tool asks for and what access it uses before connecting it to a server workflow.

Frequently asked questions

How can Watcharr import IMDb lists for Radarr and Sonarr?

Watcharr can import a public IMDb list by creating one link for Radarr with movies and one link for Sonarr with shows. ^[1] Operators can use those links as part of their Radarr and Sonarr workflow when managing title lists.

Does Watcharr update Radarr and Sonarr title lists automatically?

Watcharr links act like small Radarr or Sonarr servers, so Radarr checks them every 15 minutes and Sonarr checks them every 5 minutes. ^[1] Signed-in users can also have Watcharr re-read lists about every 15 minutes. ^[1]

Can Watcharr combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr Sonarr import?

Signed-in Watcharr users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the household, and a title on two lists is added only once. ^[1] This can help operators manage multiple public lists through a single import path.

What happens when Watcharr cannot match a show title?

Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it cannot match, and tells operators which ones it skipped. ^[1] This gives operators a way to review unmatched shows before changing their library workflow.

What should Radarr Sonarr operators check before choosing an import tool?

Operators should check list sources, title matching, update handling, and the way imported items reach Radarr or Sonarr. Watcharr runs as one Cloudflare app with a Cloudflare database, plus a GitHub job that reads IMDb. ^[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)