FAQ

1. What is ArrDrop?
ArrDrop is a free, open-source tool that lets you add movies to Radarr from anywhere, even if your home server is offline or behind a firewall.

2. Why use ArrDrop?
ArrDrop lets you queue movies for Radarr on the go, without needing to run your server 24/7.

If you want to reduce electricity costs or limit wear on your hardware by not running your media server all the time, ArrDrop makes it easy to queue movies for later.

It’s also useful if your server lives only on your local network. You can collect movie requests whenever inspiration strikes and let them sync later, without changing how your server is set up.

3. How does ArrDrop work?
ArrDrop has two parts:

• A lightweight online list where IMDb IDs are collected (frontend).
• A Python script that reads this list and adds the movies to Radarr (backend).

The frontend acts like a simple queue. When you add an IMDb ID, it’s stored in a list and nothing else happens at that moment.

The backend script pulls this list only when it runs. It then sends any new movies to Radarr and marks them as processed. There is no real-time connection between the two.

Because of this pull-based design, the frontend and backend operate independently. This keeps the system reliable and predictable.

In most setups, running the sync once a day or on system startup is more than sufficient.

4. How do I set up and self-host ArrDrop?
ArrDrop is self-contained and keeps setup simple. Only requirements are:

• PHP: 7.4+ (frontend)
• Python: 3.8+ (backend)

1. Download ArrDrop from the official GitHub page: https://github.com/The-Error/ArrDrop
2. Upload index.php anywhere on your website to create your drop page.
3. Then run python3 arrdrop-sync.py --setup once on your home server and follow the short setup guide.

After setup, you can run the sync manually or automate it using a cron job.

5. I’m self-hosting. What URL do I paste into the backend?
Use the public URL to movies.txt, which is created in the same folder where you uploaded index.php.

For example:
https://www.example.com/arrdrop/movies.txt

If setup fails even though the URL is correct, check file permissions.

Required permissions (minimal):

• movies.txt: readable by the web server (0644)
• ArrDrop folder: readable and executable (0755)
• index.php: readable by the web server (0644)

No special permissions are needed. Avoid 0777.

6. What if I don’t want to self-host and just want a way to sync?
You can use the official ArrDrop website. It’s completely anonymous—no account, no cookies, no tracking, no ads. Just create a list, paste it into your backend, and you’re ready to go.

Self-hosted ArrDrop is ideal for personal use and full control. The official ArrDrop website uses a slightly modified version called ArrDrop+, which supports multi-user lists while working the same way in the background.

The backend works with both versions, so there’s nothing extra to install or change. If you don’t have a website or don’t want to set one up, this is the fastest way to get started.

7. Which terminal commands does the ArrDrop backend support?
The ArrDrop backend supports a small set of focused command-line options:

• python3 arrdrop-sync.py --setup
  Runs the initial setup and creates the configuration file (arrdrop.conf).
• python3 arrdrop-sync.py --dry-run
  Simulates a sync without adding any movies to Radarr.
• python3 arrdrop-sync.py --log
  Shows which movies were added during the last sync.

8. What files does the ArrDrop backend create?
ArrDrop creates a small number of local files:

• arrdrop.conf for configuration
• processed.txt to track already added movies

No databases or hidden files are used.

9. What input formats does the frontend accept?
The frontend is format-agnostic.

You can paste full IMDb links, plain IMDb IDs, or mixed text. As long as a valid IMDb ID is present, it will be extracted and everything else is ignored.

10. Can I edit the configuration or the Python script manually?
Yes, if you want to.

ArrDrop works out of the box and does not require manual changes. However, everything is open and easy to adjust if you like to tinker.

If you’re using the official ArrDrop list, please use it responsibly. It’s meant for normal personal use and shared fairly by everyone.

11. What happens if I add the same IMDb ID twice?
Duplicates are ignored. Each movie is added only once.

12. Do I need to remove IMDb IDs from the list after they are synced?
No. The backend keeps a local history of already processed movies in processed.txt and will not add the same movie again.

You can delete items from your list to keep it tidy if you want, but this is optional. Newest entries appear at the top, so it’s easy to see what you added most recently.

13. Can ArrDrop search for movies?
No. ArrDrop does not search or discover movies. You find movies on IMDb and paste the IDs into your list.

Radarr handles the lookup and adds the correct movie automatically based on the IMDb ID.

Note: This website (ArrDrop+) has an experimental search and movie lookup feature using the free TMDb API, which has limited monthly calls. It allows you to search for a title and add it to your list by clicking the search result.

14. What happens if Radarr is unreachable?
Nothing breaks.

If Radarr cannot be reached during a normal sync run, the backend continues running and simply skips any movies it cannot add. Failed items are not marked as processed, so you can run the sync again later once Radarr is available.

If Radarr is unreachable during the initial setup (python3 arrdrop-sync.py --setup), you’ll see a clear message telling you that Radarr or the API key could not be reached. Setup pauses at that step until the connection works.

In all cases, ArrDrop fails safely: nothing is added, nothing is lost, and nothing is marked as processed unless it was successfully sent to Radarr.

15. Is ArrDrop+ secure and private?
Yes. ArrDrop+ is privacy-first by design: no accounts, no tracking, and no personal data.

ArrDrop+ uses no cookies, tracking, ads, or analytics. The only thing stored is a plain text file containing your IMDb IDs.

The file name is generated using a secure random identifier that is practically impossible to guess. Nothing is linked to your identity, and you can delete your list at any time.

16. Data sources and attribution
This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.

17. How does ArrDrop differ from nzb360, Addarr, Trakt, etc.?
ArrDrop focuses on one job: a fast, self-hosted, no-friction way to queue movies for Radarr.

Many tools offer broad media management features, tracking, or rich integrations. ArrDrop is intentionally smaller and more focused.

It works well alongside whatever tools you already use and stays lightweight and straightforward: paste IMDb IDs into a list, then sync them into Radarr with a simple script.

18. Is ArrDrop open source?
Yes. ArrDrop is open source and hosted on GitHub under the MIT license. ArrDrop is free to use and works independently of any support.

If it saved you time or was useful to you, you may optionally leave a €1 one-time tip as a gesture of appreciation. This is not a purchase, subscription, or requirement, and it does not unlock features or create any entitlement.

19. What’s with the chest?
Don’t touch it.