The basic steps to add an admin to your Facebook group
To add an admin to a Facebook group you manage, go to the group page, click the three dots in the top right corner, and select Edit Group Settings. Scroll down to the Admins section, click Add Admins, and search for the person's name. Click their profile, then confirm. That person becomes an admin immediately and can now moderate posts, remove members, and change group settings.
You need to be the group creator or an existing admin to add new admins. The person you're adding must already be a member of the group — if they're not, invite them first, wait for them to join, and then promote them.
Facebook also lets you add moderators, which is a lighter role. Moderators can approve posts and remove comments but cannot change group settings or remove members. If you want someone to help manage the group without full admin power, moderator is the better choice.
Key Takeaways
- You must be an existing admin or the group creator to add new admins.
- The person you want to add must already be a member of the group before you can promote them.
- New admins can moderate posts, remove members, and change all group settings immediately after you add them.
- Moderators are a middle option if you want someone to help manage without giving them full control over settings and membership.
- The process takes less than a minute and happens on the group's settings page, not through a separate menu.
Where to find the admin settings on mobile and desktop
On desktop, open your Facebook group and look for the three horizontal dots (called a menu icon) in the top right corner of the group header. Click it and select Edit Group Settings. The settings page opens in a new window. Scroll down until you see the Admins & Moderators section — this is where you add, remove, or change roles.
On mobile, the process is nearly identical. Open the group, tap the three dots in the top right, tap Edit Group Settings, and scroll to find Admins & Moderators. The buttons and options look the same as on desktop, just arranged for a smaller screen.
If you cannot find the three-dot menu, make sure you are viewing the group's main page (not a post within the group) and that you have admin rights. If you are a regular member, you will not see the settings option at all.
What admins can and cannot do
Admins have broad control over the group. They can approve or reject posts before they appear, remove any member, delete comments and posts, pin announcements, change the group description and rules, upload a cover photo, and adjust privacy settings. They can also add other admins and moderators without asking you first.
Admins cannot see private messages between group members, and they cannot force members to stay in the group — members can always leave on their own. Admins also cannot change who the group creator is. If you need to transfer ownership of the group entirely, that requires a different process through Facebook's help center.
Because admins have so much power, only add people you trust completely. If an admin acts badly, you can remove them by going back to the same settings page and clicking the X next to their name.
Moderators versus admins: which role to choose
A moderator can approve posts before they go live, remove comments, and pin posts to the top of the group. They cannot remove members, change group settings, add other moderators or admins, or alter the group description. Moderators are useful if you want someone to help keep the group on topic and remove spam without giving them access to sensitive settings.
An admin can do everything a moderator can do, plus remove members, change all settings, and manage other admins and moderators. Use the admin role for people who will help you run the group day-to-day. Use the moderator role for people who will mainly watch for bad posts and comments.
You can change someone's role at any time. Go back to the Admins & Moderators section, find their name, and click the dropdown next to it to switch between Admin and Moderator or remove them entirely.
Removing an admin or moderator
To remove an admin or moderator, open the group settings and scroll to Admins & Moderators. Find the person's name in the list and click the X button next to it. Confirm the removal when Facebook asks. That person immediately loses their admin or moderator powers but stays in the group as a regular member.
If you want to remove them from the group entirely, that is a separate action. Go to the group member list, find their name, click the three dots next to it, and select Remove from Group. They will no longer see the group or receive notifications about it.
Removing an admin does not delete any posts they made or changes they made to the group. Those remain in place. If an admin made unwanted changes to the group settings, you will need to fix those manually after you remove them.
What happens when you add someone as an admin
The person you add as an admin receives a notification that they are now an admin. They do not have to accept or confirm — they become an admin automatically. They can start moderating posts and changing settings right away.
If the person does not want to be an admin, they can ask you to remove them, but they cannot remove themselves. Only existing admins or the group creator can change admin roles. This is why it is important to ask someone before you promote them, so they are not surprised by the notification.
Adding an admin does not change your own role or power. You remain the group creator (or an admin, if you were already one) and keep all your permissions. Multiple admins can exist in the same group, and they all have equal power — no admin is "higher" than another.
Troubleshooting: why you might not see the admin option
If the Add Admins button does not appear in your group settings, you are likely not an admin. Only the group creator and existing admins can add new admins. If you created the group but still do not see the option, try logging out and back in, or try again on a different browser or device.
If you are trying to add someone who is not yet a member of the group, you must invite them first. They will not appear in the search results until they have joined. Send them a group invite, wait for them to accept, and then return to the admin settings to promote them.
If the person's name does not appear in the search results even though they are a member, try typing their full name or searching by their username instead of their display name. Facebook's search can be picky about how names are formatted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add an admin to a Facebook group I do not own?
Only if you are already an admin of that group. If you are a regular member, you cannot add admins, moderators, or change any group settings. You would need to ask an existing admin or the group creator to give you admin rights first.
What if I add someone as an admin by mistake?
Go back to the group settings, find their name in the Admins & Moderators section, and click the X next to it. They are removed immediately and return to being a regular member. Any posts or changes they made while an admin stay in the group.
Can an admin remove me as the group creator?
No. Admins cannot remove the group creator or change who the creator is. You will always have control over the group, even if you remove all other admins. If you want to give the group to someone else entirely, you must contact Facebook support for help with that transfer.
Do admins see private messages in the group?
No. Admins can see all posts, comments, and member names, but they cannot read direct messages between members. Private messages stay private even from admins and the group creator.
Can I have multiple admins in one group?
Yes. You can add as many admins as you want, and they all have equal power. None of them outrank the others. All admins can add or remove other admins without asking you first, so only promote people you trust completely.