Transferring team ownership in
Canva might sound technical, but it’s actually a quick and easy
process once you know where to look. Whether you’re stepping down as team lead,
passing control to a colleague, or reorganizing your business account, Canva
makes ownership transfer simple, secure, and stress-free. In this guide, you’ll
learn exactly how to transfer Canva team ownership, understand
what happens after the transfer, and discover some best practices to ensure a
smooth transition.
🧭
Understanding Team Ownership in Canva
In Canva, team
ownership refers to the highest level of administrative control within
a team. The team owner is the one who originally created the team and has full
authority over its members, permissions, billing, and designs.
Here’s what the team owner
can do:
- Manage billing
and subscriptions
- Add or remove
members
- Assign
admin or member roles
- Transfer
ownership to another user
- Access and
manage all shared designs
Essentially, the team
owner is the “administrator” of the workspace. If the owner leaves or
changes their Canva plan, it can affect everyone else in the team — so
transferring ownership correctly is vital.
🧩 Why You
Might Need to Transfer Ownership
There are several common
reasons for transferring Canva team ownership:
1.
Changing Roles: The
original creator is leaving the company or switching departments.
2.
Account Management: You’re
handing over management to a marketing or design lead.
3.
Subscription Control: You
want billing handled by another member or finance team.
4.
Organizational Change: Your
team is restructuring or merging with another group.
5.
Personal Use: You’re stepping back
from managing shared designs or projects.
Whatever the reason,
Canva’s built-in ownership transfer tool ensures your team doesn’t lose access
or continuity during the change.
⚙️
Requirements Before Transferring Team Ownership
Before you can transfer
ownership of a team, make sure these conditions are met:
1. You must
be the current team owner.
Only the current owner can
initiate the transfer — admins and members don’t have this permission.
2. The new
owner must already be part of the team.
If they aren’t, invite them
first by email or team link.
3. The new
owner must have a Canva account.
If they don’t, they’ll need
to sign up before the transfer can happen.
4. The team
must have an active Canva Pro subscription.
Team ownership is linked to
the subscription level, so make sure your plan is active before transferring.
🪄
Step-by-Step: How to Transfer Canva Team Ownership
Follow these easy steps to
transfer ownership of your Canva team:
1. Log in to
your Canva account.
Use the same account that
currently owns the team.
2. Open
the Teams page.
From your Canva homepage,
click on your profile picture → Account Settings → Teams.
3. Select
the team you want to transfer.
4. Go to
“Settings.”
You’ll find this option in
the top right corner of the page.
5. Click on
the “Members” tab.
6. Find the
team member you want to make the new owner.
7. Click the
three dots (⋯) next to their name.
8. Select “Make Owner.”
9. Confirm
the transfer.
Canva will ask for
confirmation — click Transfer Ownership to
finalize.
10. Wait for
the new owner to accept.
The new owner will receive
an email notification. They must accept within 7 days, or the
transfer will be canceled automatically.
Once accepted, ownership is
officially transferred, and the new owner gains full control of the team.
⚠️
Important Things to Remember
- Once you transfer ownership, you will no longer be the team owner — unless the new owner reassigns you.
- You’ll
remain part of the team as a regular member (if you stay).
- All
designs, folders, and brand assets owned by the team automatically
transfer to the new owner.
- Only
one owner can exist per team.
- You
cannot reverse a transfer without the new owner transferring it back.
💡 Best
Practices for a Smooth Transition
To make your Canva team
ownership transfer seamless, follow these tips:
1. Choose
the Right New Owner
Pick someone who
understands your team’s workflow, billing, and projects. Ideally, the new owner
should already be an active member.
2.
Communicate Early
Inform your team before
making the switch. It helps avoid confusion and ensures everyone knows who the
new point of contact is.
3. Review
Account Settings
Before transferring, check
for any unresolved billing issues or pending invitations.
4. Backup
Key Files
While Canva keeps
everything intact, it’s smart to download or duplicate important designs as a
precaution.
5.
Confirm Subscription Ownership
If your Canva Pro
subscription is paid through the owner’s account, coordinate billing with the
new owner to avoid interruptions.
6.
Document the Transfer
Keep a quick record of when
and to whom ownership was transferred — especially if your team handles
business or client projects.
🧠 What
Happens After the Transfer?
After the new owner accepts
the invitation:
- The new
owner gains complete administrative rights.
- The previous
owner becomes a regular team member.
- The team
subscription and designs move under the new owner’s control.
- All
shared links, folders, and assets remain intact — no data is lost.
🧾 Common
Issues and How to Fix Them
Issue 1: “Make Owner” option not showing
➡️ Make sure you’re logged
in as the team owner — admins can’t transfer ownership.
Issue 2: New owner didn’t receive the email
➡️ Ask them to check their
spam/junk folder, or resend the invite.
Issue 3: Transfer expired
➡️ Transfers expire after 7
days. Simply repeat the process.
Issue 4: Team not appearing under “Teams” tab
➡️ Confirm you’re using
the same Canva account that owns the team.
Issue 5: Payment stopped working after transfer
➡️ Update billing info under
the new owner’s account settings.
❓ Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I
transfer ownership if I have a free Canva account?
No. Only Canva Pro team
owners can transfer ownership.
2. What
happens if the new owner doesn’t accept the transfer?
The transfer will be
automatically canceled after 7 days, and you’ll remain the owner.
3. Can
there be two owners in a Canva team?
No. Each Canva team can
only have one owner at a time.
4. Can I
transfer ownership back later?
Yes, but only the new owner
can reassign it to you by repeating the same steps.
5. Does
transferring ownership affect my saved designs?
No. All team designs remain
accessible within the team, even after ownership changes.
6. What
if the new owner doesn’t have Canva Pro?
They’ll need to upgrade
before the transfer can complete successfully.
7. Can I
leave the team after transferring ownership?
Yes, you can leave anytime
after transferring ownership.
8. What
if I want to transfer ownership to someone outside my organization?
You can, but it’s
recommended only if they’re trusted and understand your team’s workflow.
9. How
long does the ownership transfer process take?
The process is instant once
the new owner accepts the transfer via email.
10. Is
there a way to contact Canva support for help?
Yes — visit Canva’s Help Center and contact
support if you encounter technical issues.
🏁
Conclusion
Transferring ownership of a
Canva team is simple once you know the process. With just a few clicks, you can
hand over control safely and ensure your team continues running smoothly.
Always double-check permissions, communicate with your team, and verify billing
before finalizing the transfer.
Whether you’re upgrading, delegating, or restructuring, Canva makes team transitions easy and efficient — so your creativity never skips a beat.
