How to transfer owner on Discord
To transfer ownership of a Discord server, the current owner must 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 will receive a notification and must accept the transfer before it takes effect. You cannot transfer ownership to a bot or to someone who is not already a member of the server.
The transfer is permanent once accepted. The person who receives ownership gains full control of the server, including the ability to delete it, change all settings, and remove any member including the previous owner. Make sure you trust the person completely before transferring.
Key Takeaways
- The current owner must initiate the transfer through Server Settings > Members, not through any other menu.
- Discord requires you to type the server name to confirm the transfer, which prevents accidental ownership changes.
- The person receiving ownership must accept the transfer; it does not happen automatically.
- Once transferred, the new owner has complete control and can remove the previous owner from the server.
- You cannot transfer ownership to a bot account or to someone who has not joined the server yet.
Step-by-step process for transferring ownership
Open Discord and go to the server where you are the owner. Click the server name at the top left to open the dropdown menu, then select "Server Settings." This opens a panel on the left side of your screen.
In the Server Settings panel, click "Members" to see the full list of people in your server. Scroll through the list to find the person you want to make owner. Click the three-dot menu icon (⋮) next to their name. A dropdown menu will appear with several options.
Select "Transfer Ownership" from that menu. Discord will open a confirmation dialog asking you to type the server name exactly as it appears. Type it correctly and click the "Transfer Ownership" button to proceed. The person you selected will receive a notification that they have been offered ownership.
What happens after you send the transfer request
The person you chose will see a notification in Discord saying they have been offered ownership of the server. They do not automatically become owner—they must accept the offer. If they do not accept within a reasonable time, the transfer remains pending and you can cancel it by going back to Server Settings and selecting a different member or choosing not to transfer at all.
Once they accept, ownership transfers immediately. The new owner will see a "You are now the owner" message, and you will drop to whatever role you held before (usually Member or Moderator, depending on your settings). The new owner can now change all server settings, delete the server, remove members, and make other owners.
Restrictions on who can receive ownership
Discord does not allow you to transfer ownership to a bot, even if the bot is a member of the server. Bots cannot own servers. If you want to transfer ownership, it must be to a real Discord user account.
The person must also already be a member of the server. You cannot transfer ownership to someone who has not joined yet. If you want a specific person to own the server, invite them first, wait for them to join, and then initiate the transfer.
Preparing before you transfer ownership
Before transferring ownership, make a list of the most important server settings and roles so the new owner understands the structure. If the server has custom roles, moderation rules, or automated bots, explain how they work and what the new owner needs to maintain.
Consider whether you want to stay in the server after transferring ownership. If you do, decide what role you should have—Member, Moderator, or something else. The new owner can assign you any role they choose, so discuss this beforehand if possible.
If the server has sensitive information, channels with restricted access, or important documents, make sure the new owner knows where they are and how to protect them. Once ownership transfers, you no longer have the authority to change these things.
What to do if the transfer fails or gets stuck
If the person you chose does not accept the transfer offer within a few days, the offer may expire. You can initiate a new transfer request to the same person or to someone else. Go back to Server Settings > Members, find the person, and select "Transfer Ownership" again.
If you see an error message saying the transfer cannot complete, check that the person is still a member of the server and that their account is in good standing (not suspended or restricted by Discord). If they have left the server, you will need to invite them back before you can transfer ownership to them.
If you accidentally started a transfer to the wrong person, you can cancel it before they accept. Go to Server Settings > Members and look for the person you chose. The option to transfer ownership should still be available; select it again to initiate a new transfer, which will cancel the previous one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer ownership to multiple people?
No. Discord servers have one owner at a time. However, you can make other people Administrators, which gives them most of the same powers as the owner except the ability to delete the server or transfer ownership again. If you want shared control, create multiple Administrators instead of transferring full ownership.
What happens to my roles and permissions after I transfer ownership?
You keep whatever role the new owner assigns to you. If you had a custom role as owner, that role disappears when ownership transfers. The new owner can create a new role for you or leave you as a regular Member. You have no automatic role after the transfer.
Can I get ownership back after I transfer it?
Only if the new owner transfers it back to you. Once you give up ownership, you cannot reclaim it yourself. Make sure you trust the new owner completely, because they can remove you from the server entirely and you would have no way to undo it.
Do I need to be online when the other person accepts the transfer?
No. The transfer happens on Discord's servers, not on your device. You can be offline when they accept. You will see a notification the next time you open Discord confirming that ownership has changed.
What if I want to delete the server instead of transferring it?
Only the owner can delete a server. Go to Server Settings, scroll to the bottom, and click "Delete Server." Discord will ask you to confirm by typing the server name. The server and all its channels, messages, and data will be permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.