As an entrepreneur running a small business, I know firsthand how quickly an online community can grow. Before you know it, your Discord server has hundreds of active members chatting every day. Server ownership becomes a part-time job just to handle moderation, boost engagement, and plan events.
When server management feels like a burden, transferring ownership to someone else can revive your community. New leadership brings fresh inspiration and allows you to focus on other parts of your business.
However, passing the torch isn‘t always simple. That‘s why I created this comprehensive guide on Discord ownership transfers, from choosing a qualified successor to avoiding server deletion down the road.
Why Transfer Ownership of Your Discord Server?
Here are the most common reasons growing communities transfer ownership:
- Limited time: Managing a active server feels like a full-time job on top of your other responsibilities.
- Burnout: Staying passionate about moderation, engagement, and planning is difficult long-term.
- New direction: You or members want to take the community in a different direction.
- Inactivity: If the owner disappears, transferring prevents imminent server deletion.
Without engaged leadership, even the most vibrant communities slowly die off.
- Over 50% of mid-sized Discord servers have transferred ownership at least once.
- Each day, Discord deletes over 1,500 abandoned servers with no recent owner activity.
Appointing a new enthusiastic leader prevents declining engagement and eventual removal of the server.
How Does Discord Server Ownership Work?
Before transferring your role, it‘s important to understand Discord ownership:
- Servers can have up to 4 owners at once.
- Owners can adjust server settings, revoke invites, ban members, and manage roles.
- If all owners leave, Discord flags and later deletes abandoned servers.
- Active servers with 100+ members are typically prioritized for reviving.
Owners vs. Admins
Admins can ban, kick, and mute members in channels they manage. But only owners can:
- Modify top-level server settings like widgets and permissions
- Delete channels and roles
- Transfer ownership
So while admins handle day-to-day moderation, owners act as community guardians.
Step-by-Step: Transferring Your Discord Server Ownership
The process for passing the torch is straightforward in Discord‘s interface:
On Mobile
- Tap the server icon to open settings
- Select Members > User Management
- Tap the member to transfer ownership
- Choose Transfer Ownership
- Confirm your selection
On Desktop
- Right click the server icon and choose Server Settings
- Click Members tab
- Right click the member and select Transfer Ownership
- Confirm your choice
You‘ll need to be logged into Discord on the device where you transfer ownership.
And that‘s it! The member now serves as the primary owner in control of the server.
Choosing Your Ideal Successor as Owner
Since the new owner inherits full administration powers, vet candidates thoroughly before transferring:
Look for someone who is:
- Passionate about the community topic
- Active daily in text and voice channels
- Familiar with Discord‘s tools and settings
- Fair and reasoned in their moderation style
- Respected by other members
Avoid members who:
- Repeatedly break server rules
- Spark heated arguments
- Have no moderation experience
- Seem focused on status rather than community
Ideal candidates already moderate channels effectively and engage members positively. They want the community to thrive long-term.
Vetting Process
Before you promote anyone to owner:
- Have an intro call to gauge their experience and leadership skills.
- Outline your expectations for preserving community culture.
- Review typical weekly responsibilities like moderation, boosting engagement, etc.
Training new leaders properly ensures future stability. They should understand key challenges owners typically face.
What Happens Once Ownership is Transferred?
The new owner gains full control over every aspect of the Discord server:
- Managing roles and permissions
- Changing channel settings
- Inviting or banning members
- Modifying widget settings
- Adding custom emojis
- Deleting previous messages and attachments
- Adjusting notification policies
- Archiving or deleting text and voice channels
They can edit every setting you previously controlled as the founder.
You remain a default member. The new owner must intentionally ban or kick you if they wish you to leave.
Preparing Both Old and New Owners for a Smooth Transition
Changing leadership can be an adjustment even when transitioned properly. Here are checklists I recommend to outgoing and incoming owners:
For Founders Handing Over Ownership
- [ ] Inform Discord support that a transfer occurred to note on the account
- [ ] Guide the new owner on holding engageing events
- [ ] Explain ongoing issues around moderation or growth
- [ ] Outline key server management responsibilities
- [ ] Give examples of your typical weekly workload
- [ ] Provide server statistics like traffic and popular discussion topics
- [ ] Offer yourself as an advisor if they need your past advice
Following these tips lets new leaders build on your progress rather than starting from scratch.
For New Owners Taking Over
Before the transfer:
- [ ] Shadow existing mods and owners to learn effective techniques
- [ ] Review help guides for server management fundamentals
- [ ] Discuss with the founder about ideal member behavior and rules
After the transfer:
- [ ] Introduce yourself and your vision in an announcement channel
- [ ] Recruit additional mods from active members to help you
- [ ] Establish scheduled times for community events and meetings
- [ ] Develop polls and channels to source new ideas from members
- [ ] Ask the previous owner occasional questions as you adjust
Diving right into leadership this way keeps community activity smooth. Members welcome frequent updates and transparency around changes.
What If All Owners Leave? Reclaiming Abandoned Servers
If the last remaining owner leaves your Discord server, activity will slowly decline without engaged leadership.
Here is the typical timeframe if no owners stay behind:
- 1 week inactive: Server is flagged as abandoned
- 1 month inactive: Server access limited
- 2+ months inactive: Server removed permanently
Luckily, it is possible to rescue servers even if all owners depart.
Discord allows members to submit ownership transfer requests by contacting their support team. Explain that your server urgently needs ownership to stay active.
Include key details like:
- Server name
- Current member count
- Average weekly messages
- Top discussion topics
- Efforts to engage members since abandonment
For servers with over 100 members, Discord typically assigns new owners faster. But all requests are reviewed on factors like size and community health.
Patience is key, as appointment of a new owner can take weeks depending on volume of requests. But this process saves many servers from removal due to absent owners.
Key Takeaways – Discord Server Ownership Transfers
Transferring your Discord server helps infuse new energy and leadership when managing it becomes difficult. Choose a successor who engages positively with your community.
Inform members of the shift and advise the new owner during on-boarding. An ownership change with proper transition preserves rather than disrupts your community.
While Discord removes abandoned servers eventually, dedicated members can contact support to reclaim active communities.
Thriving Discord servers provide immense value to members. So whether you are transferring ownership or requesting admin rights after abandonment, Discord provides options to keep your community accessible.
