How Discord Server Ownership Works
A server, a bot, and a developer team each have an owner, and they are not the same kind of owner.
Is this your situation?
You see a crown icon, a bot checkmark, or a team name on Discord and want to know who is actually in charge. This page explains what server, bot, and developer team ownership each cover.
What it is
A server owner can transfer ownership of a Discord server to another server member. After an ownership transfer, the access the previous owner retains depends on the permissions tied to their new role. An app added to a server will appear as a member in that server. A developer team is the foundation for building and managing apps on Discord, and lets users share ownership of their applications. There can only be 1 owner per developer team.
How Discord handles this
- A server owner can transfer ownership to another server member.
- After transfer, the previous owner stays a server member.
- Once transferred, Discord's Support team cannot transfer a server back.
- Only one person can own a developer team at a time.
- Ownership of a developer team can be transferred.
Side by side
| Owner type | What they control | Can it be transferred |
|---|---|---|
| Server owner | Can transfer ownership of the server to another member. | Yes, to a server member. |
| Developer team owner | Has full control over the team and all its applications. | Yes, ownership can be transferred. |
| Developer team admin | Can manage team settings and applications. | Not stated by Discord |
| Developer team developer | Can access and modify applications. | Not stated by Discord |
| App added to a server | Appears as a member of that server. | Not stated by Discord |
Common mistakes
- Assuming the previous owner loses all access After a transfer, the previous owner stays a member of the server.Why it happens: Their remaining access depends on the permissions tied to their new role.
- Expecting Support to undo a transfer Once a server is transferred, Support cannot transfer it back.Why it happens: Review the ownership transfer process before acting.
- Confusing team roles with the team owner The Admin role can manage team settings but cannot take destructive actions on the team.Why it happens: Only the Owner role has full control over the team and all applications.
Quick reference
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Server owner | Can transfer ownership of the server to another member. |
| Transfer back | Discord's Support team cannot transfer a server back once it is transferred. |
| Developer team | The foundation for building and managing apps on Discord. |
| Team Owner role | Has full control over the team and all applications. |
| Team Admin role | Can manage team settings and applications. |
| Team Developer role | Can access and modify applications. |
| Team Read-only role | Can view applications but cannot make changes. |
| One owner per team | There can only be one owner per developer team. |
Frequently asked questions
Can a developer team have more than one owner?
There can only be one owner per developer team.
Does the previous owner lose server access after a transfer?
After completing the ownership transfer, the previous owner will still be a member of the server.
Can an ownership transfer be undone?
Once a server has been transferred, Discord's Support team is not able to transfer it back.
What can a developer team's Admin role do?
An Admin can manage team settings and applications but cannot take destructive actions on team-owned apps.
Keeping track of who has access
Confusion about who owns a server, a bot, or a developer team builds as roles change hands over time. Delvia keeps a clear record of who holds ownership across your Discord servers and teams.
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