How to Transfer Ownership of a Google Doc

Last Updated : 13 Apr, 2026

Transferring ownership of a Google Docs file gives full control to another user. It is useful for collaboration or handovers, allowing the new owner to edit, share, and manage permissions.

Steps to Transfer Ownership of a Google Doc

Here are the steps on how to transfer ownership of a Google Docs.

Step 1: Open Google Docs

Launch Google Docs in your web browser.

How to Transfer Ownership of a Google Doc
Open Google Docs

Step 2: Select the Document

Now, after opening the Google Docs, open a document you own. We can also create a new document, add some text to it, and then we can transfer the ownership to another user.

Note: It is recommended to rename the document to prevent any prompts when sharing it with another user.

How to Transfer Ownership of a Google Doc
Select the Document

Step 3: Click on Share Icon

After opening the document, navigate to the Share Icon, which is located at the top right corner of the screen and just before the profile picture of our account.

How to Transfer Ownership of a Google Doc
Click on Share Icon

Step 4: Add User Email Address and Click Share

  • Upon selecting the icon, a pop-up window will appear, requesting you to input the email address of the intended recipient with whom you intend to share the document.
  • Consequently, you will be required to provide the email address of the individual whom you wish to designate as the owner of the document.
How to Transfer Ownership of a Google Doc
Add User Email Address and Click Send
How to Transfer Ownership of a Google Doc
Add Email Address of a User and Click Send

OR

After sharing the document to the user to whom you want to make the owner of the document, now again click the share button so that in this step now you can transfer the ownership to another user.

How to Transfer Ownership of a Google Doc
Go to Share Button

Step 5: Click the Drop Down Button and Select Transfer Ownership

Now a drop down arrow will be visible in front of a username and its ID, click on the drop down button and select Transfer Ownership from the options.

How to Transfer Ownership of a Google Doc
Click the Drop Down Button and Select Transfer Ownership

Step 6: Click on Send Invitation

Once you have updated the Transfer ownership option, a new prompt will be open, in which we need to click on the button as a "send invitation". This will send the invitation to the user whose email address we have entered and will notify the user that now the user has been transferred the ownership rights of the document.

Note: You can directly transfer ownership of files and folders to someone in your organization, in this case the transfer doesn’t require the new owner to accept but if you are sending some other user outside the organization then you need to send an invitation link which will be notified to a user.

How to Transfer Ownership of a Google Doc
Click on Send Invitation

Step 7: Preview the Changes

After sending the invitation and having it accepted by the user, preview the changes to verify whether the aforementioned steps have been executed correctly or not.

How to Transfer Ownership of a Google Doc
Preview Ownership Changes
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