How to remove an admin from a channel

Removing an admin from a Telegram channel is a straightforward process, but it requires you to be the channel owner (creator). Regular admins cannot remove other admins unless the owner has specifically granted them that permission. Here's everything you need to know about managing and removing administrators from your Telegram channel.

Understanding Admin Hierarchy in Telegram

Telegram channels have a strict permission hierarchy that determines who can add or remove administrators. At the top sits the channel owner (creator), who has absolute control over all admin appointments. Below the owner are admins, whose permissions vary based on what the owner has granted them.

Key Rules of Admin Management

  • Only the channel owner can remove any admin by default
  • An admin can only remove another admin if they have the Add New Admins permission and they were the one who appointed that admin
  • Admins cannot remove admins who were appointed by the owner or by other admins above them
  • The channel owner can never be removed — ownership must be explicitly transferred

Important: If you're not the channel owner, you'll need to ask the owner to remove the admin for you, unless you originally appointed that admin and still hold the Add New Admins permission.

Step-by-Step Guide: Removing an Admin

Step 1: Open Channel Settings

Open your Telegram channel and tap on the channel name at the top of the screen. This takes you to the channel info page. On desktop, you can also click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner and select Channel Info.

Step 2: Navigate to the Administrators List

Scroll down to the Members section and tap on Administrators. You'll see a full list of all current admins, including their roles and custom titles (if any). The channel owner will be marked with a crown icon or labeled as "Owner."

Step 3: Select the Admin to Remove

Tap on the admin you want to remove. This opens their admin permissions page, where you can see all the rights currently assigned to them — such as Post Messages, Edit Messages, Delete Messages, Invite Users via Link, and others.

Step 4: Dismiss the Admin

Scroll to the bottom of the permissions page and tap the "Dismiss Admin" button (on iOS) or "Remove Admin" (on Android and desktop). Confirm the action when prompted.

Step 5: Verify the Change

After dismissing the admin, they will immediately lose all administrative privileges. They will remain a subscriber of the channel (unless it's a private channel and you also remove them as a member). Check the Administrators list again to confirm they no longer appear there.

On Telegram Desktop

  1. Open the channel and click the channel name in the header
  2. Click Administrators in the right panel
  3. Click on the admin you want to remove
  4. In the permissions window, click "Dismiss Admin" at the bottom
  5. Confirm the action

What Happens After Removing an Admin

When you remove an admin from your channel, several things happen immediately:

  • They lose all admin permissions — they can no longer post, edit, delete messages, or manage the channel in any way
  • They remain a subscriber — removing admin status does not kick them from the channel. They can still view content like any regular subscriber
  • Their custom admin title disappears — if you had assigned a custom title (like "Editor" or "Content Manager"), it is removed
  • Recent Actions log preserves their history — any actions they performed as admin remain visible in the Recent Actions log for 48 hours
  • They are not notified — Telegram does not send a notification when someone is dismissed as admin, though they will notice the loss of permissions when they try to perform admin actions

Tips & Best Practices

  • Review permissions before removing: Before dismissing an admin, check if they have scheduled posts or are managing ongoing tasks (like pinned messages or invite links). Removing them mid-task can cause disruptions.
  • Use custom admin titles strategically: Assign titles like "Content Editor," "Moderator," or "Analytics Manager" so you always know each admin's role. This makes it easier to decide who to keep and who to remove when restructuring.
  • Limit the Add New Admins permission: Only grant this to your most trusted admins. If too many people can appoint admins, your channel's admin list can grow uncontrollably, and tracking who appointed whom becomes difficult.
  • Keep your admin count lean: For channels with under 10,000 subscribers, 2–3 admins are usually sufficient. For larger channels (50,000+), you might need 5–8, but rarely more. Fewer admins means fewer potential security issues.
  • Audit your admin list regularly: Set a monthly reminder to review your administrators. Remove any inactive admins or people who no longer contribute to channel management. This is especially critical for channels displayed on platforms like tgchannel.space, where professional management reflects positively on your channel's credibility.
  • Transfer ownership carefully: If you need to step away from managing a channel, transfer ownership to a trusted person rather than simply adding them as an admin. Only the owner has full control.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Trying to remove an admin without owner privileges
Why it's wrong: Regular admins cannot remove other admins unless they specifically appointed them and have the Add New Admins permission. Many people assume any admin can remove any other admin, which is not the case.
How to avoid: Always check your own role first. If you see a crown icon next to your name in the admin list, you're the owner. If not, contact the owner to handle admin removals.

Mistake 2: Confusing "Remove Admin" with "Remove from Channel"
Why it's wrong: Dismissing someone as admin only strips their permissions — it doesn't remove them from the channel. If you want them completely gone, you need to take the additional step of banning or removing them as a subscriber.
How to avoid: After dismissing the admin, go to the Members or Subscribers list, find the person, and select Remove from Channel or Ban User if you want them fully gone.

Mistake 3: Not revoking invite links created by the removed admin
Why it's wrong: Admins can create custom invite links for the channel. When you remove an admin, the invite links they created remain active. This means they could still share those links or others could use them.
How to avoid: After removing an admin, go to Invite Links in the channel settings and revoke any links created by that person.

Mistake 4: Removing an admin who manages the channel's bot
Why it's wrong: Some admins are responsible for managing bots that auto-post content, moderate comments, or handle analytics. Removing the admin without reassigning bot management can break automated workflows.
How to avoid: Before removing the admin, check if they manage any bots connected to your channel. Transfer bot admin rights to another trusted admin first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a removed admin rejoin as an admin on their own?
No. Once dismissed, a person cannot regain admin status by themselves. Only the channel owner (or an admin with the Add New Admins permission) can re-appoint them. They remain a regular subscriber unless also removed from the channel.

Does the removed admin get notified?
No, Telegram does not send any notification when an admin is dismissed. However, the person will notice the change when they can no longer access admin features like posting messages or viewing channel statistics.

Can I temporarily suspend an admin's permissions instead of removing them?
Telegram does not have a "suspend" feature for admins. However, you can edit their permissions and remove all rights (uncheck every permission box) while keeping them listed as an admin. This effectively makes them an admin in name only, with no functional capabilities. You can restore their permissions later.

How many admins can a Telegram channel have?
Telegram allows up to 50 admins per channel. While this is a generous limit, most channels operate effectively with far fewer. Having too many admins increases the risk of conflicting actions and security issues.

Can I see what actions an admin performed before I removed them?
Yes, but only for the last 48 hours. Go to Channel Settings → Recent Actions to view a log of all admin activities, including message deletions, permission changes, and member bans. This log is available even after the admin has been dismissed.