How to mark episodes as seen in bulk for series completion seekers in 2026

Learn how series completion seekers can mark episodes as seen in bulk and keep their library matched to the shows they finish.

By VLClean · 2026-10-30

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

Series completion seekers can mark episodes as seen in bulk by keeping one record of watched and finished shows, choosing a way for the library to read that record, and letting the tool re-check it on a schedule so the library settles to match. Watcharr, made by the team that publishes this site, reads a public IMDb list and gives one link for Radarr and one for Sonarr so those apps check it on their own schedules.

Option	What it does	Cost details
Watcharr	You paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1]	The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. ^[1]
List reader app	An app the owner runs that reads a watched-titles list and updates the library on a set schedule.	not published
Manual marking in the library tool	Each episode is selected and marked as seen by hand in the library app.	not published

What you need before you start

Before marking episodes as seen in bulk, decide which series count as finished. A completion seeker usually keeps a record of the shows being watched and which ones are done, so a bulk pass has a single source it can follow.

Choose one place that records progress, such as a watchlist kept next to the library, and keep it current so a bulk update reflects the real state. Decide whether the record covers whole series or individual episodes, because that changes how many titles one pass touches.

The library should already be able to hold the shows in the record, and the person managing it should know which app reads the record. When the record changes, the library should be updated to match, so a finished series no longer sits half marked.

Check that the record can be read by the library tool without extra steps, and settle who updates it as new episodes are watched. With the record and the update path agreed, a bulk pass can mark everything at once.

Step by step

Pick one record that holds the series and episodes that count as watched or finished, and make sure everyone who updates it uses the same one.

Write down which app reads the record and how often it checks, so a finished series shows up in the library on a known schedule.

Mark a single show or episode as seen in that app first, following how the tool records one title, before doing a bulk pass.

Run one update to confirm the finished title appears as seen, and fix any title that does not match before continuing.

Apply the same marking to the rest of the watched titles, and scan the record for any it left out.

Let the app re-check on its schedule and confirm the library settles to match the record over time.

After the first bulk pass, look for titles that did not carry over and decide whether the record needs a cleaner entry.

Keep the record only as detailed as the tool can act on it. A pass marks what the record names, so a vague entry leaves a series unmarked, and entries should be kept as detailed as the tool can use.

Tools that can do it

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. You paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] Each link lets the matching app read the IMDb list on its own schedule, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. ^[1]

It accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] The links are built from the IMDb list's identifying code, so the same list always gives the same two links. ^[1] A bookmark you click inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list for you, using that app's access key without sending it anywhere else. ^[1]

It looks up a show's code in TheTVDB, a title database, through the TVMaze and TMDB title services, leaves out shows it can't match, and tells you which ones it skipped. ^[1] The page shows the list's covers in a row, each opening TMDB, a movie and TV information service, for that title's plot, genres, rating, backdrop and trailer. ^[1] If you sign in, it re-reads your list about every 15 minutes and warns you when a list fails three reads in a row. ^[1]

Signed-in users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the whole household, and a title that is on two lists is added only once. ^[1] If a read of the list fails, the links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. ^[1]

You paste, copy and browse from any screen in the web app; the one-click sticker shows on bigger screens. ^[1] The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. ^[1]

No other tool is named here because no source facts about other tools were provided. Before choosing a tool, check how it records watched episodes, keeps the list current, and moves finished shows into the library workflow.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid marking episodes as seen without one record that everyone updates, so a bulk pass reflects only one state. A split record leaves some series marked and others behind.

Avoid choosing a tool without checking how it fits the way the library is run. The tool should read the record on a schedule that matches how quickly a finished series should appear.

Avoid forgetting to re-check after a bulk pass. A title the record could not match stays out of the library, and that series stays unfinished until the entry is fixed.

Avoid skipping account and privacy checks. Review what information a tool asks for and what access it uses before sharing it with other people.

Avoid keeping the record more detailed than the tool can act on it. If the tool reads whole series, an episode-level record adds work without a result.

Frequently asked questions

How can series completion seekers mark episodes as seen in bulk?

A series completion seeker can keep one record of watched and finished shows, choose how the library reads that record, and let the tool re-check it on a schedule so the library settles to match. The key parts are a single record that is kept current and a tool that reads it in a known way, and the tool updates titles according to its record and matching rules.

Can Watcharr mark episodes as seen in bulk?

Watcharr, made by the team that publishes this site, reads a public IMDb list and gives one link for Radarr and one for Sonarr. ^[1] Radarr checks the link every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. ^[1] A title the record cannot match is left out. ^[1]

Does marking episodes as seen require changing the library?

Check what each tool needs before using it. The hosted version needs nothing installed and no account. ^[1] The links are built from the list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. ^[1]

How does Watcharr keep the list current for bulk updates?

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] If a read of the list fails, the links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. ^[1] Signed-in users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link. ^[1]

What should be checked before choosing a tool for bulk marking?

Check how a tool records watched episodes, how often it reads the record, and how finished shows move into the library. Watcharr is licensed for noncommercial use, and no commercial licence is for sale. ^[1] Compare those details with the way the library is managed before choosing a method.

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)