Organizations often need to move SharePoint data between tenants due to mergers, acquisitions, company restructuring, or tenant consolidation. In my experience working with Microsoft 365 environments, migrating SharePoint between tenants requires careful planning because permissions, metadata, workflows, and content structures must remain intact.

In this guide, I will explain how to move SharePoint from one tenant to another, including manual methods, limitations, and the most efficient migration approach.

Why Organizations Move SharePoint Between Tenants

Before performing a SharePoint tenant-to-tenant migration, I always recommend understanding the business reasons behind the move.

Common scenarios include:

Company mergers or acquisitions
Tenant consolidation
Rebranding or domain changes
Department or business unit separation
Migration to a new Microsoft 365 environment

Regardless of the reason, the primary goal is usually to transfer SharePoint sites, document libraries, lists, and permissions without losing data integrity.

Also read: Migrate SharePoint List to Another Site

Things I Always Prepare Before Moving SharePoint to Another Tenant

Proper preparation significantly reduces migration risks. Whenever I plan a SharePoint tenant migration, I follow these preparation steps.

1. Analyze Existing SharePoint Environment

First, I audit the current SharePoint tenant and identify:

Number of sites
Document libraries
Lists and metadata
Custom permissions
Workflows and automation
External sharing settings

This helps me estimate migration complexity.

2. Check Storage and Licensing in the Target Tenant

Before starting the migration, I verify that the destination tenant has:

Sufficient SharePoint storage
Active Microsoft 365 licenses
Proper administrative access

3. Map Users Between Tenants

User mapping is essential because permissions must be reassigned in the destination tenant.

For example:

Old Tenant
user@oldcompany.com

New Tenant
user@newcompany.com

Without user mapping, permissions may break after migration.

4. Prepare the Destination SharePoint Sites

I usually create the destination sites in advance so the migration tool knows where to place the data.

Example:

Old site
https://oldtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/HR

New site
https://newtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/HR

Related article: Copy Document Library to Another SharePoint Site

Method 1: Move SharePoint to Another Tenant Using Manual Download and Upload

This is the simplest method but only suitable for small environments.

Step 1: Download Files from SharePoint

Open the SharePoint site.
Navigate to the Document Library.
Select the folders or files.
Click Download.

SharePoint will create a ZIP file containing the selected content.

Step 2: Extract Files Locally

Once downloaded:

Extract the ZIP file.
Organize files into folders.

Step 3: Upload Files to the New Tenant

Log in to the destination tenant.
Open the SharePoint site.
Go to the document library.
Click Upload → Files or Folder.
Upload the downloaded data.

Limitations of the Manual Method

In my experience, manual migration has several drawbacks:

Metadata is lost
Permissions are not preserved
Version history is removed
Time-consuming for large environments
No automation for bulk migration

Because of these limitations, I rarely recommend manual migration for production environments.

Method 2: Move SharePoint Tenant to Tenant Using OneDrive Sync

Another approach I sometimes use for smaller projects is OneDrive Sync.

Step 1: Sync SharePoint Library

Open the SharePoint document library.
Click Sync.
The library will sync with the local OneDrive client.

Step 2: Copy Files to Local Storage

Once synced:

Open the synced folder on your computer.
Copy files to another local folder.

Step 3: Upload to the New Tenant

Log in to the new SharePoint tenant.
Open the document library.
Upload the copied files.

Limitations of OneDrive Sync Migration

Although this method is slightly easier than manual downloads, it still has major limitations:

No permission migration
Metadata loss
Version history loss
Sync limitations for large libraries

Method 3: Move SharePoint from One Tenant to Another Using a Migration Tool

In large SharePoint environments, manual migration methods are not practical. During several tenant migration projects I worked on, I found that using a professional migration solution is the most reliable approach to move SharePoint data without losing permissions, metadata, or version history.

One tool that I have successfully used for SharePoint tenant migrations is the SysTools SharePoint Migration Tool. It allows administrators to migrate SharePoint sites, document libraries, lists, and permissions between Microsoft 365 tenants with minimal manual effort.

Unlike manual methods, this solution ensures that the entire SharePoint structure is preserved, including folders, metadata, and user permissions.

Common Challenges I Encounter During SharePoint Tenant Migration

Even with proper planning, I occasionally encounter issues such as:

Permission Conflicts

Users may not exist in the destination tenant.

Large File Sizes

SharePoint file size limits can affect migration.

Custom Workflows

Workflows created with Power Automate or SharePoint Designer may need reconfiguration.

External Sharing Links

Shared links often need to be recreated.

Best Practices I Follow for SharePoint Tenant-to-Tenant Migration

Based on my experience, these practices help ensure a successful migration.

Perform a Pilot Migration

I always test migration with a small dataset first.

Backup SharePoint Data

Before moving any content, I create a backup.

Communicate With Users

I inform employees about migration timelines to avoid disruptions.

Run Migration During Off-Peak Hours

Scheduling migration during non-business hours minimizes user impact.

Final Thoughts

Moving SharePoint from one tenant to another can seem complex, but with proper planning and the right approach, it becomes manageable.

In my experience, manual methods are only suitable for small migrations, while larger organizations should rely on specialized migration tools to ensure data integrity, permissions preservation, and minimal downtime.

By auditing your environment, mapping users, preparing destination sites, and performing pilot migrations, you can move SharePoint between tenants smoothly and securely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can SharePoint be migrated between tenants?

Yes, SharePoint content such as sites, document libraries, and lists can be migrated between tenants using manual methods, PowerShell, or specialized migration tools.

Does SharePoint tenant migration preserve permissions?

Manual migration methods usually do not preserve permissions. However, professional migration tools can maintain user permissions and access settings.

Is SharePoint tenant-to-tenant migration possible without downtime?

Yes. In most cases, migration can be scheduled during off-peak hours to minimize user disruption.

What is the easiest way to move SharePoint to another tenant?

For small migrations, manual download and upload may work. For enterprise environments, migration tools are the most efficient and reliable solution.

How to Move SharePoint from One Tenant to Another