Every time you created a new document on Google Docs, the document is owned by you. It might be shared with colleagues where they can view, comment, or modify the content, but the ownership remains unchanged.
If you delete the document, others would lose access too. Therefore, if you are no longer part of the team, you should transfer the ownership of the document to someone who are still actively working on it.
Here are the steps needed to transfer Google Docs ownership.
1. Open the Google Docs document.
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 3 open google docs 1 How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/open-google-docs-1-1024x576.jpg)
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 3 open google docs 1 How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/open-google-docs-1-1024x576.jpg)
2. Click the Share button on the top right corner of the page.
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 4 share 1 How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/share-1.jpg)
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 4 share 1 How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/share-1.jpg)
3. Enter the name or email address of the person you want to transfer the document ownership.
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 5 enter email How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/enter-email.jpg)
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 5 enter email How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/enter-email.jpg)
4. Set their status to Editor, then click Send.
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 6 editor How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/editor.jpg)
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 6 editor How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/editor.jpg)
5. Now, click the Share button again.
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 7 share 2 How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/share-2.jpg)
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 7 share 2 How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/share-2.jpg)
6. Click the Editor menu on their name, then select Transfer ownership.
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 8 transfer ownership How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/transfer-ownership.jpg)
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 8 transfer ownership How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/transfer-ownership.jpg)
7. Click Send Invitation. They will be noticed by email.
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 9 send invitation How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/send-invitation.jpg)
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 9 send invitation How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/send-invitation.jpg)
8. Ask them to open the invitation message and click Accept.
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 10 accept How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/accept.jpg)
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 10 accept How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/accept.jpg)
9. After that, Reload the Google Docs page.
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 11 reload How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/reload.jpg)
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 11 reload How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/reload.jpg)
10. If you click the Share button again, it will show that you are no longer the owner of the document.
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 12 editor owner How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/editor-owner.jpg)
![How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs 12 editor owner How to Change Document Ownership on Google Docs](https://vegadocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/editor-owner.jpg)
You may also remove your access from the document once it has been fully transferred. Therefore, you won’t be linked to the document anymore.