How to transfer Discord server ownership
To transfer ownership of a Discord server, you go to Server Settings, select the Members tab, find the person you want to make owner, click the three-dot menu next to their name, and select "Transfer Ownership." Discord will ask you to confirm by typing the server name. The new owner receives a notification and must accept the transfer before it takes effect. You keep your account and remain in the server, but lose admin permissions unless the new owner grants them back.
The transfer is permanent once accepted. You cannot undo it through Discord's interface, so choose carefully and make sure you trust the person receiving ownership. If you change your mind after they accept, you would need to ask them to transfer it back to you.
Key Takeaways
- The person receiving ownership must already be a member of the server before you can transfer it to them.
- You will lose all admin and moderator permissions the moment the transfer completes, unless the new owner manually restores them.
- The new owner must accept the transfer notification for it to become official; they can decline and the server stays in your name.
- Discord does not log or notify other members when ownership changes, so only you and the new owner will know it happened.
Step-by-step process for transferring ownership
Open Discord and go to the server you want to transfer. Click the server name at the top left to open the dropdown menu, then select "Server Settings." On the left sidebar, click "Members." Scroll through the list to find the person you want to make owner, or use the search bar at the top to find them faster.
Once you find them, hover over their name and click the three vertical dots (the menu icon) on the right side of their row. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Select "Transfer Ownership." Discord will open a confirmation dialog asking you to type the exact name of your server. Type it correctly and click the "Transfer" button. The system will then send a notification to the new owner.
The new owner will see a notification in their Discord notifications area. They must click on it and accept the transfer. Until they accept, you remain the official owner. Once they accept, the transfer is complete and they become the new owner immediately.
What happens to your permissions after the transfer
The moment the new owner accepts the transfer, your owner status disappears. You will no longer see the owner crown icon next to your name in the member list, and you lose access to Server Settings, moderation tools, and any admin features you had. You become a regular member with no special permissions.
The new owner can restore your admin or moderator role if they choose to. To do this, they would go to Server Settings, click Members, find your name, click the three-dot menu, and select a role from the list. If they do not restore your permissions and you want to help manage the server, you will need to ask them to do so.
Preparing before you transfer ownership
Before you hand over the server, make sure the person you are transferring to understands what ownership means. They will control all server settings, channels, roles, and moderation. They can delete channels, remove members, change the server name, and make any other changes they want. If you have concerns about how they will run it, discuss expectations beforehand.
Back up any important information you want to keep. While the new owner cannot delete your direct messages or personal account data, they can delete channels and messages in the server itself. If there are conversations or files you need to preserve, download or screenshot them before the transfer happens.
Consider whether you want to stay in the server after transferring ownership. You can leave at any time, but staying allows you to see what the new owner does with it. If you plan to stay, ask the new owner to restore your moderator role so you can help manage things if needed.
If the person you want to transfer to is not a member yet
The person must join the server before you can transfer ownership to them. Send them the server invite link and have them accept it. Once they appear in your Members list, you can proceed with the transfer steps above.
If the server is private and they do not have an invite link, you can create one. Go to Server Settings, click Invites, and click "Create Invite." Set the expiration time and maximum uses if you want to limit it, then share the link with them. They click the link, join the server, and then you can transfer ownership.
What to do if the transfer does not go through
If you click "Transfer Ownership" and nothing happens, check that the person is actually in the server and that you typed the server name correctly in the confirmation dialog. Discord requires an exact match, including capital letters and spaces.
If the new owner does not see a notification, ask them to check their Notifications tab in Discord. Sometimes notifications get buried if they have many servers. They can also check by going to their User Settings and looking for pending actions. If they still do not see it after a few minutes, try the transfer again.
If you get an error message, make sure you have a stable internet connection and try again. If the problem continues, Discord's status page will show if there are any service outages affecting your region. You can also contact Discord Support through their Help Center, though they may not be able to reverse a transfer that already completed.
Transferring ownership when the original owner is inactive
If you are a moderator or admin but not the owner, and the owner has not logged in for months, you cannot transfer ownership without their account. Discord does not have a process to remove an inactive owner or reassign ownership to someone else. The only option is to ask the original owner to log in and do it themselves.
If the original owner's account is permanently deleted or compromised, you may be able to contact Discord Support with proof that you created the server or have been managing it. Discord handles these cases individually, but there is no may provide they will transfer ownership. In the meantime, you can run the server as a moderator or admin, though you will not have full control over settings like the server name or deletion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer ownership to someone who is not in my server yet?
No. The person must join the server first and appear in your Members list. Send them an invite link, wait for them to accept, and then you can transfer ownership to them.
What if I transfer ownership by mistake?
If the new owner has not accepted yet, ask them not to accept the notification and it will expire. If they already accepted, you would need to ask them to transfer the server back to you. Discord does not have a way to undo an accepted transfer on your own.
Will other members know the ownership changed?
Discord does not send a notification to the entire server when ownership transfers. Only you and the new owner will know it happened unless you tell people or they notice the owner crown icon changed.
Can I transfer ownership to a bot?
No. Bots cannot own servers. You can only transfer ownership to a real Discord user account. However, you can give a bot high-level permissions so it can manage the server on behalf of the owner.
Do I lose my messages and direct messages when I stop being owner?
No. Your personal account, messages, and direct messages stay with you. You only lose the ability to manage the server. Messages you posted in the server remain visible to everyone.