You can transfer a Discord server to someone else by changing who holds the Owner role

To transfer ownership of a Discord server, you give the Owner role to another member and then remove it from yourself. Discord does not have a single "transfer ownership" button. Instead, you manually adjust roles — the person with the Owner role controls the server. This process takes a few minutes and can be reversed if needed.

The person receiving ownership must already be a member of your server. They do not need to be your friend on Discord first, but they must have accepted an invite or been added by someone with permission to do so.

Key Takeaways

  • Only the current Owner can give the Owner role to someone else, and this action cannot be undone by anyone but the new Owner.
  • The new Owner must already be a member of your server before you can assign them the Owner role.
  • After you give away the Owner role, you can remove yourself from the server entirely, or stay as a regular member or moderator.
  • If you change your mind when ready after transferring, you can ask the new Owner to give the role back to you.
  • Multiple people can hold the Owner role at the same time, so you do not have to remove yourself to complete the transfer.

Step-by-step process to give someone the Owner role

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 Roles.

In the Roles list, find the role labeled @everyone or look for a role called Owner if one already exists. If there is no Owner role, you will need to create one first by clicking the plus icon next to "Roles" and naming it "Owner". Make sure this role has the permission Administrator enabled — click the role, then toggle Administrator to on.

Once the Owner role exists and has Administrator permission, go back to Server Settings and click Members. Find the person you want to make Owner, click their name, and select the plus icon next to their roles. Choose the Owner role from the dropdown. That person now has Owner status.

You can now remove the Owner role from yourself by clicking your own name in the Members list and clicking the X next to the Owner role. You will remain in the server as a regular member unless you also remove yourself entirely.

What happens after you transfer ownership

The new Owner can now change server settings, delete channels, remove members, and manage all roles. They have complete control. If you stay in the server, they can remove you, demote you, or change your permissions at any time.

You cannot undo the transfer yourself once the new Owner has the role. If you need to take back control, you must ask the new Owner to give the Owner role back to you. If they refuse or are no longer reachable, you have no way to regain control of the server.

If you want to keep some control after transferring, you can give yourself a high-level role like Moderator before you remove the Owner role. This lets you manage members and channels, but the Owner can still override your decisions or remove the role from you.

Transferring ownership when the current Owner is inactive

If the current Owner has left Discord or is no longer responding, no one else can transfer ownership. Discord does not have a process to reassign ownership based on inactivity or abandonment. The server will remain under that person's name indefinitely.

The only workaround is to create a new server with the same name and settings, then invite members to join it. You will be the Owner of the new server. This is not a true transfer, but it is the only option when the original Owner is unreachable.

Giving multiple people Owner status

You do not have to choose just one Owner. You can give the Owner role to several people at once, and they will all have equal control over the server. Each person with the Owner role can manage settings, remove other Owners, or delete the server entirely.

This approach works well for servers run by teams or communities where decisions are shared. However, it also means any Owner can remove the others or take actions you might not want. Only give the Owner role to people you trust completely.

Removing yourself from the server after transfer

After you transfer the Owner role, you can leave the server by right-clicking the server name and selecting Leave Server. You will be removed when ready and will no longer see it in your server list. You can rejoin later if the new Owner sends you an invite.

Leaving is permanent from your side — you cannot undo it yourself. If you want to come back, someone in the server must send you a new invite link. The new Owner can also block you from rejoining by changing the server's invite settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer ownership to someone who is not in the server yet?

No. The person must be a member of your server first. Send them an invite, wait for them to join, and then give them the Owner role. You cannot assign roles to people outside the server.

What if I accidentally give the Owner role to the wrong person?

Remove the role when ready by going to Members, clicking their name, and clicking the X next to Owner. Then give the role to the correct person. As long as you still have the Owner role yourself, you can fix this at any time.

Can the new Owner remove me from the server?

Yes. Once someone has the Owner role, they have full control and can remove you, ban you, or change your permissions. Only transfer ownership to people you trust completely.

What if the new Owner deletes the server?

They can. Owners have permission to delete servers permanently. There is no way to recover a deleted server or its messages. Make sure the person you transfer to will not do this.

Can I have the Owner role and still let someone else run the server?

Yes. You can keep the Owner role but give another person a high-level role like Administrator or Moderator, and let them handle day-to-day decisions. You remain the technical Owner but share control.