Custom Search
Add custom search links to any site from any show or movie on Simkl
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Add custom search links to any site from any show or movie on Simkl
Last updated
Was this helpful?
The Custom Search feature on SIMKL allows users to enhance their browsing experience by adding quick search links to various external websites, enabling easy access to additional information about Movies, TV Shows, Anime, and even individual episodes.
With this feature, users can create customized search links to find details on IMDb, TMDb, TVDB, AniDB, YouTube, and many other platforms directly from SIMKL pages.
Custom Search enables SIMKL members to integrate search links into their accounts, allowing them to quickly look up movie reviews, news, subtitles, trailers, box office data and more across various websites.
Here:
This feature is particularly useful for:
Finding extra information about movies, shows, or anime.
Quickly searching external sources for ratings, cast, and episode details.
Connecting websites & apps directly to SIMKL for an integrated experience.
With Custom Search Links with Variables, you can dynamically fetch information from external sites using search variables. This is especially helpful for site owners who want to integrate their website into SIMKL.
Custom Search on SIMKL enhances user experience by allowing quick access to external databases and resources. It is integrated into multiple locations within the platform for seamless access.
Below are the primary areas where Custom Search appears:
Custom Search is available on various pages within the SIMKL website, enabling users to look up additional information on their favorite Movies, TV Shows, and Anime. The feature is conveniently placed within:
Movies, TV Shows & Anime Title Pages – Custom Search links can be found under the "Watch Now" section.
Episode Pages – Directly access reviews, guides, and related information.
Discover Pages – Users can explore custom search for their personal watchlists, custom lists, etc.
Customizing Individual titles - Can only add links to show on a specific title page only.
Movies, TV Shows, and Anime Pages
Search for information related to the movie or show title.
Episode Pages
Find episode-specific details such as reviews, discussions, and subtitles.
Discover Pages (Available on all different layouts v2 Beta Feature)
Individual titles
You can also customize these links per title by adding them to individual show pages.
Custom Search is integrated into the SIMKL Lists App on mobile devices & Browser Extension allowing users to quickly access while browsing streaming platforms or related content!
On Mobile:
Search for additional information on their favorite titles directly from their phone.
Quickly access IMDb, TMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, and other databases.
Tap on a title and navigate to the "Search On" section for relevant search links.
On Browser Extension
Click on a title in their watchlist or favorites and open search links.
Find external reviews, cast information, or streaming availability in one click.
Access subtitle databases, ratings sites, and more from the extension's interface.
With Custom Search available in multiple locations, SIMKL ensures that users can instantly look up details, reviews, and availability across various platforms. Whether using the website, mobile app, or browser extension, users can customize and personalize their search experience as they see fit.
Custom Search links on SIMKL allow users to quickly access external resources for movies, TV shows, and anime. However, over time, you may want to modify, remove, or share these links for better usability.
Below is a detailed breakdown of how to add, edit, delete, share, and rearrange Custom Search links in SIMKL.
Under "Add Preset Sites", browse available search link options.
Click "Add to Search Links" for the desired website.
The added links will now appear under "My Custom Search URLs" when browsing shows or movies.
For advanced users, custom links can be created using dynamic variables.
Editing a Custom Search Link allows you to update the name, subtitle, or URL of an existing search link. This is useful when a source changes its URL structure or when you want to refine the link for a better search experience.
Go to Custom Search Settings:
Navigate to Profile > Custom Search in your SIMKL settings.
Locate the link you want to modify:
Scroll through your list of custom search links and find the one that needs updating.
Click the Edit Icon (Pencil):
A pop-up will appear, allowing you to modify the Name, Subtitle, and URL.
Make the necessary changes:
Update the link title, description, or search URL as needed.
Click Save Changes:
Your updated link will be saved and applied immediately across SIMKL.
Example:
If you originally added an IMDb search link like: https://www.imdb.com/find?q=%TITLE%
but now IMDb changed their search query format, you can edit the link instead of deleting and adding it again.
Deleting a Custom Search Link removes it permanently from your list. Use this when a source is no longer relevant, broken, or outdated.
Open Custom Search Settings:
Go to Profile > Custom Search in your SIMKL account.
Find the link you want to remove:
Identify the outdated or unwanted search link.
Click the Delete Icon (Trash Bin):
A confirmation message will appear to prevent accidental deletions.
Confirm the deletion:
Click Yes to delete the link permanently.
Note:
Once deleted, the link cannot be restored, and you will need to recreate it manually if needed.
Deleting a link does not affect global search settings, only your personal saved links.
Sharing Custom Search Links allows you to send your custom search settings to friends or share useful links across the community.
Go to Custom Search Settings:
Open Profile > Custom Search.
Find the link you want to share:
Browse through your saved search links.
Click the Share Button:
A copyable link will be generated.
Send the link to others:
You can paste the link in messages, forums, or social media for others to use.
Why this is useful?
Helpful for groups or friends tracking the same media.
Website owners can share custom searches that redirect users to their platforms.
Faster setup if someone wants to use the same custom search settings as you.
Quicky Adds the same custom search setting
Example: If you've created a custom Crunchyroll search link or any website, you can share it with other anime fans so they can add it to their SIMKL accounts.
Organizing your Custom Search Links helps you prioritize frequently used sources and maintain a cleaner search experience.
Open Custom Search Settings:
Go to Profile > Custom Search.
Locate the list of saved search links:
You’ll see all Main & More Custom Search Links.
Click & Drag the Move Icon (☰) Up/Down:
Rearrange the order by dragging links into a preferred position.
Changes are saved automatically:
Once moved, the new order is instantly applied.
Why Rearrange Links?
Keep most used links at the top.
Organize links & Rearrange links according to your customization.
Remove clutter and hide rarely used links.
If you frequently use Google, IMDb, and TMDB, you can move them to the top of your search list, so they always appear first.
Managing Custom Search Links effectively helps enhance your browsing experience on SIMKL. Whether you're adding, editing, deleting, sharing, or rearranging, these actions allow you to personalize and optimize your search workflow.
Simkl allows users to add custom search links to specific TV Shows, Movies, or Anime, making it easier to quickly access relevant external content directly from a title's page. This feature helps users find additional information such as reviews, subtitles, streaming availability, and more.
You can add custom search URLs for individual titles by following these steps:
Step 1: Visit the Title Page
Go to the TV Show, Movie, or Anime page for which you want to add a custom search.
Scroll down to the Watch Now section.
Locate the “My Custom Search URLs” area.
Click on “Add URL” to proceed.
Step 2: Enter Custom Search Information
After clicking Add URL, you will be redirected to the Custom Search Settings page:
Enter the Link Name – Example: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Subtitles Search.
Enter a Link Subtitle (Optional) – Example: Reviews, Streaming Search, Watch Online.
Enter the Link URL – Paste the full URL for the external website you want to link to.
Click Save to confirm.
This feature is useful for users who want to quickly access trusted sources for information, streaming, or community discussions related to their favorite shows and movies
These custom links will only appear for the specific title they were added to.
If you want custom search links to be available across all Simkl pages, use the Global Custom Search settings instead.
You can manage or delete individual search links anytime from Profile > Custom Search.
When viewing a movie, show, or anime page, look for "Custom Search URLs".
Click on any preset link to search the title across supported platforms.
Additional search links are hidden & customizable, click "More" to reveal extra options.
For website owners, SIMKL allows integration by adding search links directly into the platform.
Provide your users with this OAuth authorization link:
https://simkl.com/oauth/authorize?response_type=link&client_id=***
(Replace *** with your client ID.)
Once users sign in with Simkl or authorize your app, your custom search settings will be automatically added to their profiles.
Benefits for Website Owners:
Drive traffic to your site directly from Simkl show and episode pages.
Enhance user engagement by allowing users to search directly on your platform.
Support external content sources such as streaming services, reviews, and ratings.
Use variables in search URLs to dynamically link to relevant pages on your site.
Example: https://yourwebsite.com/show/american-princess-s01e01
Developer Tip:
Leverage Simkl’s variable support to customize your search URLs for precise results.
Example: If you run a streaming site, you can integrate a custom search to allow users to check whether a movie or show is available.
Simkl allows dynamic variables to be used in search URLs to make them more efficient. Some commonly used variables include:
Variable
Description
%TITLE%
Full title of the movie/show (e.g., “Breaking Bad”)
%TITLE_SLUG%
Title formatted as a slug (e.g., “breaking-bad”)
%YEAR%
Release year (e.g., “2012”)
%SEASON%
Season number for TV series (e.g., “3”)
%EPISODE%
Episode number for TV series (e.g., “10”)
%TMDB%
TMDb ID for movies and shows
%IMDB%
IMDb ID for the title
Example:
A custom search URL for IMDb reviews:
https://www.imdb.com/title/%IMDB%/reviews/
This will dynamically replace %IMDB% with the actual IMDb ID of the movie or show.
Yes, search links can be deleted anytime from Profile > Custom Search settings.
Website owners can manually add their search URL templates using Developer Settings.
Yes! Drag and move the most used search links to the Main Custom Search Links section for quick access.
It allows for quick searching of relevant information without leaving SIMKL.
Ensure that dynamic variables are used correctly. Incorrect formatting can break the search.
Simkl supports dynamic variables to help tailor search links to your needs. For example, you can use parameters for the show name, episode title, season number, etc.
Yes! Both members and website owners can update their custom search settings anytime from the links provided above.
Custom Search on SIMKL is a powerful tool that helps both users and website owners to integrate external search engines & sites, streamlining access to additional content, reviews, and metadata for movies, TV shows, and anime.
This feature enhances accessibility, saves time, and offers personalized search customization for a better user experience.
By adding, customizing, and managing search links, users can create a personalized and efficient way to access relevant content across the web.
Navigate to Profile > on SIMKL.
Edit your app’s custom search settings here:
