Discord has rapidly grown from a chat app for gamers into a vital communication tool for communities, businesses, and social groups. Managing a Discord server is a serious responsibility—it involves moderating users, configuring roles, and ensuring the smooth operation of the server. But what happens when the original owner wants to step down and pass the reins to someone else? Transferring ownership of a Discord server is a straightforward but important operation that should be done with care and clear communication.
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If you’re the current owner of a Discord server and no longer want to manage it, you can transfer ownership to another user through the server settings. The new owner must already be a member of the server, and ideally, someone you trust. This action is irreversible unless the new owner chooses to transfer it back. Ownership transfer maintains server continuity without needing to create a new server or invite everyone again.
Why Ownership Transfer Matters
Moving ownership of a server is more than just a symbolic gesture—it grants the new owner full control over server settings, permissions, integrations, and administrative decisions. This is especially critical for:
- Project handovers in community development or collaboration settings
- Business continuity when organizations shift leadership
- Personal reasons such as stepping back from digital responsibilities or taking a break
Choosing the right person to take over is essential. Once you transfer ownership, all administrative rights, including the ability to delete the server or change its settings, are handed over to the new owner.
Who Can Transfer Ownership?
Only the current server owner has the right to transfer ownership. Even administrators or users with the highest roles cannot execute this task unless they are designated as the owner of the server. If you’re not seeing the transfer option, double-check that you’re logged into the correct Discord account and that you are indeed the original server owner.
Pre-Transfer Checklist
Before you transfer ownership, take these preparatory steps to ensure a smooth transition:
- Inform the team or community: Let your moderators, admins, or community members know about the upcoming change to avoid confusion or concern.
- Review roles and permissions: Make sure that roles and permissions are correctly set up for the new owner to avoid any administrative bottlenecks.
- Backup key settings: It’s a good idea to record important settings, bots, custom emojis, and channel structures as a reference, in case changes need to be reversed.
- Double-check the chosen user: Ensure the user you’re transferring ownership to is active, responsible, and understands what the role entails.
Step-by-Step: How to Transfer Ownership
Follow these exact steps to transfer ownership of a Discord server:
- Open Discord and access your server: Log in and navigate to the server for which you want to transfer ownership.
- Open Server Settings: Click the server name in the top-left corner, then click Server Settings from the dropdown menu.
- Go to the Members tab: In the left sidebar, click on Members under the User Management section.
- Find the user: Scroll or search to locate the person you want to transfer ownership to. Ensure this person is already a member of your server.
- Click the three dots: Next to the user’s name, click on the three-dot icon to open additional actions.
- Select Transfer Ownership: A confirmation prompt will appear. Be sure to read it carefully.
- Confirm the transfer: Depending on your account settings, you might need to input your password or verify the action via email or 2FA.
After you confirm, the user becomes the new owner immediately. Your account remains in the server, but your highest permissions will be determined by roles, not ownership.
Important Considerations After the Transfer
Once ownership is transferred, you’ll lose access to ownership-exclusive controls, such as final decision-making authority on server deletion and invitation permissions. Consider these post-transfer tips:
- Maintain admin status: If agreed upon, the new owner can grant you an admin role to still help manage the community without being the owner.
- Coordinate a handover: Discuss responsibilities, workflows, and any system integrations with the new owner.
- Exit gracefully: If you plan to leave the server, it’s courteous to say your farewells and provide relevant information to the remaining leadership.
If You’re the New Owner: What to Do Next
Taking over a Discord server requires diligence. As the new owner, here are steps to follow:
- Review existing roles and settings: Understand the current structure to avoid disrupting user experience.
- Communicate with the community: Introduce yourself officially to members and moderate any concerns about the ownership transition.
- Update security settings: Enable two-factor authentication for the server to maintain integrity and prevent unauthorized access.
- Revise the server roadmap: If applicable, develop a plan for server improvements, events, or policy changes.
Stay respectful of the vision established by the previous owner, especially if the community is active and well-structured. Earning the trust of existing moderators and members is crucial in maintaining a stable environment post-transfer.
What Happens If the Owner Becomes Inactive?
In cases where a server owner becomes inactive and cannot manually transfer ownership, Discord has a system in place. If the server is part of a Community Server and meets certain activity requirements, Discord’s support team might allow an admin or long-time moderator to request ownership via a support ticket. However, successful cases of this are relatively rare and require documented evidence of inactivity and a strong rationale.
To avoid such complications, it’s best to proactively transfer ownership before stepping away from the platform permanently or for an extended period.
Common Issues and How to Solve Them
Users sometimes run into difficulties during a transfer. Here are a few common problems and quick fixes:
- The option to transfer ownership is missing: Double-check that you are logged in as the current server owner.
- Cannot find the user: Make sure the intended new owner is a member of the server.
- Technical issues or errors: log out and log back into Discord, or try the browser version if the desktop app has problems.
If all else fails, consider reaching out to Discord Support for further assistance.
In Summary
Transferring ownership of a Discord server is a critical process that ensures proper stewardship of your community or organization. By following the proper procedures and communicating clearly, you can pass control on to a trusted individual with minimal disruption. Always make sure that this decision is well-considered, and take measures to secure a structured handover.
With the right planning and a respectful approach, you enable your server’s continued growth—even after you’ve stepped aside.
