How to sync an IMDb watchlist into Radarr for movie collectors in 2026

Step by step guide for movie collectors who want an IMDb watchlist to add films to Radarr on its own, with a tool option and common mistakes.

By VLClean · 2026-10-09

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

Make your IMDb watchlist public, turn it into a link Radarr can read, add that link to Radarr as a list, then check that the films show up. The hosted Watcharr turns a public IMDb list into a Radarr link without an account. ^[1] ^[2]

Option	What it does	Refresh	Account
Watcharr hosted version	Turns a public IMDb list into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link ^[1]	Radarr checks the link every 15 minutes, Sonarr every 5 ^[3]	No account needed ^[2]
Watcharr signed in	Combines several IMDb lists into one Radarr link, adding a shared title once ^[4]	Re-reads your list about every 15 minutes when signed in ^[5]	Signed-in users only, for combining lists ^[4]
Other list tools	not published	not published	not published

What you need before you start

A few things should be ready before you touch Radarr.

A working Radarr. It should already be running and able to add a movie by hand. Syncing a list only automates what Radarr does when you click add.
A public IMDb list. The tool that reads your list needs to see it without logging in. Open the list in a private browser window. If you cannot see the films there, change the list privacy on IMDb first.
Your Radarr API key. This is the secret code Radarr gives to other tools so they can talk to it. You find it in Radarr's general settings. Keep it private.
A quality profile and a root folder in Radarr. Radarr asks which quality and which folder to use for films that arrive from a list. Decide these now so the new films land where your collection lives.
A short list to test with. Start with a small list so you can see quickly whether the films arrive.

If you also run Sonarr for shows, keep its API key nearby. Many lists mix films and series, and Radarr only wants the films.

Step by step

These steps work with any tool that can turn an IMDb list into something Radarr can read.

Check the list is public. Open the IMDb watchlist or list while logged out. If it loads, a tool can read it.
Copy the list address. Copy it from the browser bar. Make sure it is the list itself and not a single film page.
Turn the list into a Radarr link. Give the address to your chosen tool. It should hand back a link that Radarr understands as a list source. Copy that link.
Open Radarr's list settings. In Radarr, go to Settings, then Lists, and choose to add a new list. Pick the type that matches the link your tool gave you.
Paste the link. Fill in the name, then paste the link where Radarr asks for the list address.
Choose what happens to new films. Pick the quality profile and root folder you prepared. Decide whether Radarr should search for each film as soon as it is added or only add it to the library and wait.
Save and test. Use Radarr's test button if it has one. A failed test usually points at a wrong link or a list that is not public.
Run a manual update. Do not wait for the next scheduled check. Trigger a list update in Radarr and open the Movies page to see what arrived.
Compare with IMDb. Open your IMDb list next to Radarr and check that the films you expect are there. Titles that do not match will be missing, so note them and add them by hand.
Leave it running. After the first good run, Radarr checks the list on its own schedule. New films you add to IMDb will follow.

Tools that can do it

This page describes only Watcharr. For any other list tool, read its own documentation and check three things: whether it reads public lists, whether it produces a link Radarr accepts as a list, and what it says about how often it refreshes.

Watcharr is made by VLClean, 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] It accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list, including mobile-site and language-path links. ^[6]

Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. ^[3] The same list always gives the same two links. ^[7] If a read of the list fails, the links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. ^[8]

A bookmark you click inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list for you, using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. ^[9] The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[2]

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. ^[5] 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. ^[4]

Check the licence before you use it. Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. ^[10] Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. ^[11]

Common mistakes to avoid

Leaving the list private. Test the list in a logged out window before you blame Radarr.
Pasting a film page instead of the list. The address must point to the list or watchlist, not to one title inside it.
Sharing your API key. The key lets another tool control Radarr. Only enter it in tools you trust, and prefer methods that keep it inside your own apps.
Skipping the quality profile. If the default profile is wrong for your collection, every film that arrives will be grabbed in the wrong quality. Set it before the first run.
Auto search on a huge first list. A long list can queue a lot of downloads at once. Add the films first, review them, then turn searching on.
Expecting instant results. Radarr checks lists on a schedule, and a scheduled run can be delayed. Trigger a manual update when you are testing.
Ignoring unmatched titles. If a film does not appear, look it up in Radarr by hand. Lists and databases sometimes name the same film differently.
Ignoring the licence. Read the terms of any tool before relying on it, especially if your use is not purely personal.

Frequently asked questions

Does an IMDb watchlist have to be public to sync into Radarr?

Watcharr reads public lists: it accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list, including mobile-site and language-path links. ^[6] Before you try, open your list in a logged out browser window. If the films show, the list is public. If they do not, change the privacy setting on IMDb.

How often does Radarr check an IMDb list link?

With Watcharr, each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. ^[3] You can also run a manual list update inside Radarr when you want to see results straight away, for example while testing.

Is an account needed to use Watcharr with Radarr?

The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[2] Signing in adds extras: it re-reads your list about every 15 minutes and warns you when a list fails three reads in a row. ^[5]

What happens if IMDb cannot be read for a while?

If a read of the list fails, the Watcharr links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. ^[8] Signed-in users also get a warning when a list fails three reads in a row. ^[5]

Can a household share one IMDb sync into Radarr?

Signed-in Watcharr 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. ^[4]

Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. ^[10]

Try Watcharr

Sources

Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)