3 January 2026

What Is Jellyseerr? A Beginner’s Guide

Blog

Managing, requesting, and organizing your media content has never been more streamlined, thanks to tools designed for home automation and media server optimization. Among these tools, Jellyseerr has risen in popularity, especially among enthusiasts of media servers like Jellyfin. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just starting to explore the world of automated media requests, understanding Jellyseerr can elevate your home streaming experience significantly.

TLDR (Too long, didn’t read)

Jellyseerr is a web-based request and media management system built for Jellyfin, allowing users to easily request movies and TV shows. It automates the handling of content requests, integrates seamlessly with download managers like Radarr and Sonarr, and enhances the end-user experience for both administrators and general users. Designed with simplicity and flexibility in mind, Jellyseerr is perfect for anyone hosting a Jellyfin media server. If you’re looking to make content sharing, managing, and requesting more efficient, Jellyseerr could be the tool you need.

What Exactly Is Jellyseerr?

Jellyseerr is an open-source application designed as a companion to the popular media server software Jellyfin. It acts as an interface through which users can request TV shows and movies. Admins can then manage and automate the process of downloading those requests using download tools like Radarr and Sonarr.

This tool is especially useful in shared media server environments, where multiple users want the ability to request new content without requiring direct admin interaction. Inspired largely by Overseerr, which is used in the Plex ecosystem, Jellyseerr is tailored natively for Jellyfin support.

Key Features of Jellyseerr

Jellyseerr comes packed with features designed to make media request and management intuitive and efficient. Among the most notable:

Native Jellyfin Integration: Jellyseerr is built specifically for Jellyfin, providing tight integration and seamless functionality.
Search Across Providers: Enables searching through popular media databases such as TMDb (The Movie Database) and TVDb for accurate metadata and media info.
User Management: Admins can set permissions based on user levels, making it suitable for any size of private or public user groups.
Radarr and Sonarr Automation: Automates the media download process by interfacing with Radarr (for movies) and Sonarr (for TV Shows).
Notifications and Status Updates: Users and admins receive updates on the status of their requests, from approval to download completion.
One-click Request Interface: Clean and modern UI that lets users find and request content in seconds.

Why Use Jellyseerr?

While Jellyfin is excellent for organizing and serving your local media content, it lacks a built-in mechanism for handling content requests and automating new media acquisition. This is where Jellyseerr comes in. It provides a frontend for users to:

Request missing TV shows and movies.
Track the progress of those requests.
Avoid duplicated or unwanted downloads.
Access better metadata and content artwork.

For administrators, Jellyseerr drastically reduces the headaches of manual downloads and content vetting. It empowers your user community while maintaining content quality and oversight.

How Does Jellyseerr Work?

Jellyseerr works by bridging multiple components in a home media server setup. Here’s a simplified flow:

A user logs into the Jellyseerr interface using their Jellyfin credentials.
They search for a TV show or movie within Jellyseerr.
If the content doesn’t already exist in Jellyfin, they can create a request with a single click.
Jellyseerr communicates with Radarr or Sonarr to initiate the download process.
Once the content is downloaded and sorted by Radarr/Sonarr, it appears in Jellyfin.
The user gets notified that their request has been fulfilled.

Because the whole process is automated through background services, users enjoy a near hands-free experience, and administrators are freed from the manual drudgery of managing new content.

Installing Jellyseerr

Installation is straightforward and typically done through Docker, although manual installation is possible. Here’s a quick overview of the Docker-based setup:

Install Docker and Docker Compose on your server if it’s not already set up.
Create a docker-compose.yml file using the official Jellyseerr image.
Update environment variables such as port, volume paths, and config folder location.
Run the container using docker-compose up -d.

Once running, Jellyseerr will be accessible via your browser, and you can begin configuring your Jellyfin, Radarr, and Sonarr integrations through the UI.

User Roles and Permissions

Jellyseerr supports role-based access, which means not everyone gets admin powers. You can define:

Admins: Full access to settings, integrations, and user management.
Normal Users: Can request and view content, monitor request status.
Restricted Users: Limited access based on content types, tags, or specific rules.

This system is perfect for multi-user environments such as families, friends, or small communities who share a Jellyfin server.

Jellyseerr vs. Overseerr – What’s the Difference?

Although both Jellyseerr and Overseerr serve a similar purpose in different ecosystems, their use cases differ:

Jellyseerr: Built specifically for Jellyfin, with native connections and best compatibility.
Overseerr: Designed for Plex environments, and does not integrate with Jellyfin.

If you’re using Jellyfin as your media server, Jellyseerr is the right choice. It ensures smoother compatibility and tailored features that support the unique architecture of Jellyfin.

Ongoing Development and Community Support

Since Jellyseerr is an open-source project, it benefits from an active developer and contributor community. Updates and new features are rolled out regularly, based on community feedback. You can join discussions or report issues via their GitHub repository or Discord channel.

Conclusion

Jellyseerr is a must-have tool for anyone running a Jellyfin server and looking for a way to streamline content requests and management. Whether you’re sharing your server with friends or you just want an easier way to keep it stocked with the latest media, Jellyseerr offers a polished, powerful solution that integrates the best parts of the media server ecosystem into one simple interface.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is Jellyseerr free?
A: Yes, Jellyseerr is 100% free and open-source.
Q: Can Jellyseerr work without Radarr or Sonarr?
A: Technically yes, but it won’t fulfill requests automatically. Radarr and Sonarr provide automation that makes Jellyseerr most effective.
Q: Does Jellyseerr support mobile devices?
A: Yes, the web interface is responsive and works well on smartphones and tablets.
Q: Can I host Jellyseerr on a Raspberry Pi?
A: Yes, as long as Docker is supported, Jellyseerr can be hosted on a Raspberry Pi.
Q: How safe is Jellyseerr?
A: Like other open-source tools, security comes down to your environment configuration—keep Docker and Jellyseerr updated and use secure credentials.
Q: Is Jellyseerr only for Jellyfin?
A: Yes, Jellyseerr is tailored specifically for Jellyfin. If you’re using Plex, consider Overseerr instead.