Yahoo Groups – changing moderators

Jul 6th, 2008 | By Eileen | Category: Networking

Do you need to change a Yahoo Group moderator or owner? Here are step-by-step instructions.

I’ve started around 20 (or more?) Yahoo Groups, including AJmarketing, wildartdolls, and ArtistsJournals2 (AJ2, now WAJ2).  When they become too popular for me to manage, I generally turn them over to new owners and moderators.

So, when people need to change Yahoo Groups moderators or ownership, they often ask me how to do this.

Here’s how to switch moderators/owners at any Yahoo group:

1. The current moderator/owner goes into the list of members.  That’s accessed by clicking “Members” in the left column at the Yahoo Groups page.  See the long, tall graphic at right.

2. Click on “Edit membership” under the name of the person who will be the new moderator/owner.  (See the second illustration, below.)

3. Click on “Change to owner” … or “Change to moderator” if that’s more appropriate.

4. If the person is simply being appointed as a moderator, the owner will assign privileges in the next screen… how much the new moderator is allowed to do, that affects the entire group.  (For example, unless the moderator is trusted, the owner might not want to give him or her permission to delete the entire group.)

5. Click “Make moderator” or “Make owner” at the foot of the page.  At the next screen, if you’re back at the individual’s membership screen, click “Save changes”. (That’s important.)

6. The new moderator/owner will receive notice of the change, and may have to reply that it’s okay.

7. If the old moderator/owner is leaving, he or she will go to his (or her) own membership page in that group, and select “Make member.”  Be sure to save the changes similarly to what you did in step 5, above.

8. If the old moderator/owner is leaving the group, he or she will then choose “Leave  group” at the group’s homepage. (There may be a similar option at the membership page.  Either one will work.)

That should do it!

6 comments
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  1. Heather Smith December 20th, 2008 12:19 pm :

    Thank-you – great description – just searching for that answer!!

  2. harlie Brown December 8th, 2009 9:21 pm :

    Thanks. Have two to change right now.

  3. KAZIM January 6th, 2010 11:06 am :

    THANKS FOR THE INFO…
    HOW WE WILL MANAGE A GROUP IF WE DO NOT KNOW THE NEW MODERATOR WHO HIDES HIMSELF FROM GROUP? NO ONE KNOWS HIM…THIS CRATES PROBLEM IN THE GROUP..
    REGARDS

  4. Rai January 14th, 2010 4:12 am :

    Hi,

    What if the moderator has lost the access to his ID……so we now have a moderator ID with no moderator …

    How can we assign a new moderator without the intervention from the old moderator ID?

    thanks & regards,

    Rai

  5. Aisling January 14th, 2010 11:11 am :

    Hi Rai,

    I have no idea what to do, and I’ve been in that same situation myself. Until Yahoo actually responds to support requests with more than a form letter… I have no idea what to do!

    Sorry, I wish I had a better answer.

    Sincerely,
    Ais

  6. Aisling January 14th, 2010 11:13 am :

    Hi Kazim,

    I suggest starting a new group. I’m assuming that you’ve contacted the moderator and asked to be appointed as an assistant moderator or co-moderator…?

    A group with no visible moderator and problems in the group… it’s time to take the active and contributing members to a new group.

    Good luck!

    Sincerely, Ais

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