If you share your Plex server with friends or family, you’ve heard it: “Can you add [movie/show]?” Overseerr replaces those text messages with a clean request system that integrates directly with Sonarr and Radarr.
What Overseerr Does
Overseerr is a request management tool between your Plex users and your download automation. Users browse and request through a Netflix-like UI. You approve, and Sonarr/Radarr handle the rest.
- Plex authentication: Users log in with their Plex account — no separate registration
- Request tracking: See what’s been requested, approved, downloaded, and available
- Auto-approval: Set per-user policies. Trusted users auto-approve; others need review
- Notifications: Discord, Slack, email, Telegram when requests are filled
Setup Requirements
- Plex Media Server
- Radarr for movie requests
- Sonarr for TV show requests
- A download client connected to Sonarr/Radarr (qBittorrent, SABnzbd, NZBGet)
Docker Installation
Overseerr runs cleanly in Docker alongside your other services:
- Map port 5055 for the web UI
- Create a persistent config volume
- No GPU needed — Overseerr is a lightweight Node.js app
Initial Configuration
- Open the web UI and sign in with your Plex admin account
- Connect your Plex server (hostname, port, libraries to monitor)
- Connect Radarr (URL, API key, quality profile, root folder)
- Connect Sonarr (URL, API key, quality profile, root folder)
- Import your Plex users and set permission levels
User Management Best Practices
Permission tiers
- Admin (you): Full access, can approve/deny, configure servers
- Trusted users: Auto-approve enabled, can request movies and TV
- Regular users: Can request, but requires admin approval
- View only: Can browse but not request
Request limits
Set per-user limits to prevent abuse: 10 movies/week and 5 TV series/week is a reasonable starting point.
Quality Profiles
Configure different quality profiles in Radarr/Sonarr and assign through Overseerr:
- 4K UHD: For users on high-bandwidth connections with 4K clients
- 1080p: Default for most users. Good balance of quality and file size
- 720p: For users on slow connections or mobile-only viewing
Alternatives
- Petio: Simpler UI, fewer features. Good for small servers
- Ombi: The predecessor. Still works but development has slowed
- Jellyseerr: Fork of Overseerr that supports Jellyfin too
Need Help?
Getting Plex, Sonarr, Radarr, and Overseerr all working together is a multi-service setup. Our Pro Build tier covers the full stack.