Adding moderators is the fastest way to keep your group running when you're not online
To add a moderator to your Facebook group, go to your group, click the Members tab, find the person you want, click the three dots next to their name, and select "Make moderator". That person will then see a notification asking them to accept the role. Once they accept, they can remove members, delete posts, and respond to join requests — all the tasks that keep a group functioning without you having to do them yourself.
The key difference between a moderator and a regular member is what they're allowed to do. A moderator can delete posts and comments, remove members, approve or deny people trying to join, and pin important posts to the top. A regular member can only post and comment. If you want someone to manage the group but not have full moderator powers, Facebook also offers an "admin" role that sits between moderator and member — admins can do everything moderators can do, plus they can change group settings and add other admins or moderators.
Key Takeaways
- Moderators can remove members and delete posts, but cannot change group settings or add other moderators — only the group creator can do that.
- You can add up to 10 moderators and up to 10 admins to a single group, so you have room to build a real management team.
- A person must already be a member of your group before you can make them a moderator, so invite them first if they haven't joined yet.
- Moderators receive a notification when you add them and must accept the role — they don't automatically become moderators just because you clicked the button.
How to find the Members tab and locate the person you want to promote
Open your Facebook group and look at the left side of the screen. You'll see tabs labeled "About", "Members", "Photos", and others. Click "Members" to see a list of everyone in your group. The list shows the most recently active members first, but you can search for a specific person by typing their name in the search box at the top of the Members section.
Once you find the person, look to the right of their name. You'll see a three-dot menu icon (sometimes called a "more" button). Click that icon and a dropdown menu will appear with several options, including "Make moderator" and "Make admin". Choose whichever role you want to give them.
Understanding the difference between moderator and admin roles
A moderator can delete posts and comments, remove members from the group, approve or deny join requests, and pin posts. They cannot change the group's name, description, privacy settings, or cover photo. They also cannot add other moderators or admins — only the group creator can do that. Moderators are good for people who will spend time keeping the group clean and welcoming, but don't need to make big decisions about how the group works.
An admin can do everything a moderator can do, plus change group settings, add other admins and moderators, and manage group rules. Admins are for people you trust completely with the group's direction. Most groups have one or two admins and several moderators. If you're running a large group, you might have one admin who handles settings and policies, and three or four moderators who handle day-to-day posts and members.
What happens after you add a moderator
When you click "Make moderator", Facebook sends that person a notification. They'll see a message saying they've been invited to be a moderator and asking if they accept. They must click "Accept" before they actually become a moderator. Until they accept, they're still just a regular member.
Once they accept, they'll see new options when they look at posts and members. They can now delete any post or comment in the group (not just their own), remove any member, and approve people waiting to join. They'll also see a "Moderator" label next to their name in the Members list so everyone knows they're in charge.
Removing a moderator or changing their role
If you need to remove someone's moderator powers, go back to the Members tab, find their name, click the three-dot menu, and select "Remove as moderator". They'll stay in the group as a regular member unless you remove them entirely. You can also change a moderator to an admin (or vice versa) by clicking the three-dot menu and selecting the new role.
The person will get a notification when you remove them as a moderator. They won't lose access to the group, but they'll no longer be able to delete posts, remove members, or approve join requests. If you want to remove them from the group entirely, that's a separate action — click "Remove from group" instead.
How many moderators you can have and when to add more
Facebook allows up to 10 moderators and up to 10 admins per group, so you have room to build a real team. A small group (under 500 members) usually needs one or two moderators. A medium group (500 to 5,000 members) works better with three to five moderators covering different time zones or topics. A large group (over 5,000 members) may need eight or more moderators just to keep up with posts and join requests.
The best time to add a moderator is before you need one — before the group gets too big to manage alone, or before you know you'll be away for a week. If you wait until spam is flooding the group or members are complaining about slow responses, you're already behind. Look for people who post helpful comments, answer questions from new members, and seem to care about keeping the group friendly.
Choosing the right people to be moderators
The best moderators are people who are already active in your group and who follow the rules themselves. Look for members who post regularly, respond kindly to questions, and don't start arguments. Ask them directly before you make them a moderator — don't surprise them with the role. A conversation like "I've noticed you're really helpful in the group. Would you be interested in being a moderator?" gives them a chance to say yes or no, and tells them what you expect.
Avoid making someone a moderator just because they're your friend or because they asked. The best moderators are people who understand your group's purpose and will enforce the rules fairly. If you make someone a moderator and they start deleting posts they disagree with (instead of posts that break the rules), or they remove members unfairly, you can remove them as a moderator and talk about what went wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a moderator add other moderators?
No. Only the group creator (you) can add or remove moderators and admins. A moderator can manage posts and members, but they cannot change who has moderator power. This protects your group from someone adding their friends as moderators without your permission.
What if a moderator is doing a bad job?
You can remove them as a moderator at any time by going to Members, finding their name, clicking the three-dot menu, and selecting "Remove as moderator". They stay in the group as a regular member. You can also talk to them first about what you'd like them to do differently — sometimes a moderator just needs clearer guidelines about what posts to delete or which members to remove.
Can I make someone a moderator if they're not in the group yet?
No. They must be a member first. Invite them to join the group, wait for them to accept, and then make them a moderator. You can't skip this step.
Do moderators get paid?
No. Moderators are volunteers. Facebook does not pay moderators, and you should not expect to pay them either unless you're running a business group where moderation is part of someone's job. Most moderators do it because they care about the group.
Can I see what moderators are doing in my group?
Not in detail. Facebook doesn't show you a log of which moderator deleted which post or removed which member. You can see the activity in your group (posts deleted, members removed) but not who did it. If you need to track moderator actions closely, you may need to ask them to report what they did or to message you before taking big actions.