Overseerr

Simplify media requests and manage your Radarr and Sonarr libraries.

Overseerr is a web-based media request management tool that streamlines the process of requesting, approving, and managing media content for your Radarr and Sonarr libraries. It’s perfect for homelab users who want to simplify media requests from family members or friends, providing a user-friendly interface and powerful features to handle content discovery and requests automatically.

Key Features

Overseerr integrates tightly with Radarr and Sonarr, allowing users to request movies and TV shows directly. The app handles everything from searching and finding media to sending it to Radarr/Sonarr for download. This automation ensures that media requests are fulfilled quickly and easily without requiring manual intervention from the server admin.

Users can browse existing libraries, see what content is already available, and make requests only for new items. Overseerr’s UI is slick and easy to use, designed for non-technical users who simply want to request content without worrying about the technicalities of download management.

Role-Based Access Control

Overseerr provides role-based access control (RBAC), which is perfect for homelab setups where multiple users may be requesting content. Admins can control who has access to certain features like approving requests, adding users, or managing settings.

For example, you can set up your Overseerr instance to allow requests from users, but only administrators can approve or deny those requests. This gives you full control over your library while keeping the system user-friendly for others.

Integration with Media Servers

Overseerr is designed to work seamlessly with media servers like Plex, Jellyfin, and Emby. It syncs your existing libraries with these servers, providing users with a clear view of what is already available, so there are no redundant requests.

Once content is downloaded by Radarr or Sonarr, Overseerr updates the status of the request, ensuring users know when their requested media is ready to watch on their preferred platform.

Advanced Search and Recommendations

Overseerr offers a powerful search feature that allows users to browse movies and TV shows from various public databases, including TheMovieDB and TheTVDB. Users can see detailed information about each title, including descriptions, release dates, trailers, and cast details, making it easy to find exactly what they want.

Overseerr also supports personalized recommendations. Based on browsing history or popular content, it can suggest movies or TV shows to users, encouraging further exploration of your media library.

Notifications and Approvals

Overseerr integrates with popular notification services like Discord, Slack, and Pushover, sending alerts when a new request is made or when a request has been fulfilled. Admins can also set up automated approval workflows, allowing certain types of requests (e.g., specific genres, ratings, or user roles) to be automatically approved without manual oversight.

For homelab admins who want more control, Overseerr allows manual approval for requests, ensuring that only appropriate content is added to the library. This is particularly useful for shared homelabs where younger users may be making requests.

Monitoring and Metrics

For homelab enthusiasts who want detailed insight into their request system, Overseerr includes a Prometheus metrics endpoint. This allows you to monitor request volume, approval rates, and other performance metrics over time. You can also visualize these metrics using a Grafana dashboard to track how efficiently media requests are being processed.

Multi-Server Support

Overseerr isn’t limited to just one Radarr or Sonarr instance. If you’re running multiple instances (for example, one for movies and one for 4K content), Overseerr can handle them all. This is great for homelabs with more complex setups, where different servers are used for different media types or quality settings.

Simple Setup and Extensibility

Overseerr is simple to set up, running on Docker and other platforms with minimal configuration. Its clean, responsive UI makes it easy to manage media requests on both desktop and mobile devices.

For users looking to extend functionality, Overseerr offers an API that allows for further automation or integration into existing systems, making it a highly customizable tool for your homelab.

Conclusion

Overseerr makes managing media requests a breeze. Whether you’re running a small homelab for personal use or a larger setup with friends and family, Overseerr’s user-friendly interface, integration with Radarr and Sonarr, and powerful automation tools make it an essential tool for automating and simplifying your media requests workflow.