> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://cosmos-docs-cosmjs-docs.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Contract Administration

> Migrate contracts to new code, transfer admin privileges, and manage the contract lifecycle

Contracts with an admin address can be migrated to new code versions and have their admin transferred or cleared. These operations are central to the CosmWasm upgrade lifecycle.

## Migrating a Contract

Migrate moves a contract to a new code ID while preserving its address and state. The contract must have an admin, and the migration message is passed to the new code's `migrate` entry point.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Upload the new code">
    ```typescript theme={"system"}
    const newWasmCode = readFileSync("./my_contract_v2.wasm");
    const { codeId: newCodeId } = await client.upload(address, newWasmCode, "auto");
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Migrate the contract">
    ```typescript theme={"system"}
    const migrateResult = await client.migrate(
      address,
      contractAddress,
      newCodeId,
      { new_field: "default_value" },
      "auto",
    );
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

The migrate message (fourth argument) is contract-defined. It typically handles schema changes, data migrations, or field initialization for the new version.

<Note>
  Only the contract's admin address can call `migrate`. The sender must match the admin set during instantiation (or a subsequent `updateAdmin` call).
</Note>

## Updating the Admin

Transfer admin privileges to a different address:

```typescript theme={"system"}
await client.updateAdmin(address, contractAddress, "osmo1newadmin...", "auto");
```

After this call, only `osmo1newadmin...` can migrate the contract or change the admin again. The original admin loses all privileges.

## Clearing the Admin

Remove the admin entirely, making the contract permanently non-upgradeable:

```typescript theme={"system"}
await client.clearAdmin(address, contractAddress, "auto");
```

<Warning>
  Clearing the admin is irreversible. The contract can never be migrated or have its admin updated again. Only do this when you are certain the contract should be immutable.
</Warning>

## Contract Lifecycle Summary

| State                | Can Migrate | Can Change Admin | How to Reach                         |
| -------------------- | ----------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| Admin set            | Yes         | Yes              | `instantiate` with `admin` option    |
| Admin transferred    | Yes         | Yes              | `updateAdmin`                        |
| Admin cleared        | No          | No               | `clearAdmin`                         |
| No admin (from init) | No          | No               | `instantiate` without `admin` option |

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Querying Contracts" icon="magnifying-glass" href="/cosmjs/v0.38.x/guides/cosmwasm/querying">
    Verify contract metadata and code history after migration.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Gas and Advanced Usage" icon="gauge-high" href="/cosmjs/v0.38.x/guides/cosmwasm/gas-and-advanced">
    Gas estimation, custom messages, and the wasm query extension.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>