Update authority is the permission that controls who can change a Solana token's name, logo, and description. For memecoins and community tokens, revoking it signals that the branding is permanently locked - no one can rebrand the project after launch.
What is Update Authority?
Update authority is the permission that controls who can change a Solana token's on-chain metadata. Token metadata includes the name, symbol, logo image, description, and external links such as the website, Twitter, and Telegram.
The wallet holding update authority can change any of these fields at any time by submitting a metadata update transaction on-chain. By default, this wallet is the one that created the token. The change is immediate and reflected across Solscan, Dexscreener, Raydium, and any wallet that displays token metadata.
What Metadata Does Update Authority Control?
Field
What it sets
Token Name
The full display name shown in wallets and on DEXs
Symbol
The ticker shown in price feeds (for example SOL, PEPE)
Logo Image
The icon shown on Raydium, Jupiter, Solscan, and in wallets
Description
The text description of the token visible on explorers and tools
External Links
Website, Twitter/X, and Telegram links attached to the token
Why Update Authority Can Be a Risk
An active update authority means the token's name, logo, and description can be changed at any time by whoever holds the authority. This matters to traders because:
Buyers may have purchased based on specific branding - a name, logo, or community identity that attracted them
A sudden name or logo change can signal a rebrand rug, where a creator abandons one project and repurposes the token under a different identity
The community that formed around the original branding has no protection against the change
Some bad actors use metadata updates to impersonate legitimate projects after building initial liquidity
For memecoins and community tokens where branding is the product, update authority should be revoked once you are happy with your token's appearance. Once revoked, the metadata is permanently locked and nothing - not even the original creator - can change the name, logo, or description.
Update Authority vs Mint and Freeze Authority
Solana tokens have three separate authorities. All three are checked by experienced traders before buying.
Authority
What it controls
Effect when revoked
Update Authority
Who can change token metadata (name, logo, description)
Name, logo, and description are locked permanently
Mint Authority
Who can create new tokens
Supply is permanently capped - no new tokens can be minted
Freeze Authority
Who can lock individual holder accounts
No holder account can ever be frozen
When Should You Revoke Update Authority?
Revoke immediately at creation if your memecoin branding is final and you want to signal full commitment from day one
Wait before revoking if you are still refining your logo or description and expect to make changes shortly after launch
Keep active if you run a DeFi protocol or product that legitimately needs to update its metadata URI as the product evolves
For memecoins, revoking at creation alongside mint and freeze authority is the recommended approach - it completes the full trust signal in one transaction
How to Revoke Update Authority at Token Creation
Launchify handles update authority revocation automatically as part of the token deployment process.
Check Revoke Update Authority in the Optional Add-ons sectionTick the Revoke Update Authority checkbox. This adds +0.1 SOL to the fee. You can also select Revoke Mint Authority and Revoke Freeze Authority at the same time to complete a full revocation for +0.3 SOL total.
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Approve the transaction in PhantomConnect Phantom and pay the fee. Update authority is revoked during the deployment process. Your token launches with metadata permanently locked.
Can Update Authority Be Revoked After Creation?
Yes - as long as the creator wallet still holds the update authority, it can be revoked after the fact using the Metaplex CLI or compatible wallet tools. After revocation, the update authority cannot be re-assigned to any wallet. The lock is permanent.
For most users, revoking at creation time via Launchify is simpler because it requires no additional tooling and completes in the same transaction as token deployment.
Full Revocation: Revoking All Three Authorities
Revoking mint, freeze, and update authority together is called full revocation. It sends a clear signal to the market:
Supply is permanently fixed - no new tokens will ever be minted
No holder can ever have their account frozen by the creator
The token's name, logo, and description are locked forever
Full revocation is the highest trust configuration for a new Solana token. On Launchify, selecting all three revocations costs +0.3 SOL added to the base fee. For more detail on the full picture, see the guide to revoking mint authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Update authority is the permission that controls who can change a Solana token's on-chain metadata. This includes the name, symbol, logo, description, and links. The wallet holding update authority can modify any of these fields at any time by submitting a metadata update transaction.
No. Update authority only controls metadata - names, logos, and links. It cannot transfer tokens, change balances, or access holder wallets. However, it can be used to rebrand a token, which some bad actors exploit to redirect a community to a different project after building initial liquidity.
Go to solscan.io and search for the token's mint address. In the Token Details section, look for the Update Authority field. If it shows as null, blank, or the Metaplex burn address, the update authority has been revoked and metadata is permanently locked.
Yes, once your branding is final. For a memecoin where the name, ticker, and logo are the core identity, locking metadata signals commitment to the project. Revoking update authority alongside mint and freeze authority completes the full revocation that the Solana community expects.
Your token logo, name, description, and social links are permanently locked to whatever they were at the time of revocation. They will display exactly the same in wallets, on Dexscreener, on Raydium, and on Solscan forever. Nothing can change them after revocation.
Create a Token with Metadata Locked
Revoke update, mint, and freeze authority at creation. Metadata locked permanently, no CLI needed.