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Written By Rohan Wiese
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Updated on March 19th, 2026
Migrate SharePoint On-Premises to Online Safely Without Data Loss
Microsoft SharePoint On-Premises is a locally hosted platform where organizations manage their own servers, storage, and security. SharePoint Online is a cloud-based platform managed by Microsoft as part of Microsoft 365, offering automatic updates and anytime access from any device. However, migrating between the two can lead to compatibility issues, permission errors, or data loss. This article explains manual methods and discusses how to use the Aryson Microsoft 365 Migration Tool to migrate SharePoint On-Premises to Online safely. Download Now Purchase Now
TL;DR
- SharePoint On-Premises migration fails due to compatibility issues, permission errors, large file sizes, or network interruptions – always audit with SMAT and create a full backup before starting.
- Use SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) for small to medium migrations or PowerShell cmdlets for bulk automated migrations to move content safely to SharePoint Online.
- If manual methods fall short, use Aryson Microsoft 365 Migration tool to migrate sites, libraries, lists, permissions, & metadata without any data loss.
Why Migrate SharePoint On-Premises to Online?
Enterprises get several advantages when they migrate to SharePoint Online instead of maintaining an on-premises environment. Listed below are some of those advantages.
- IT Admins would no more require costly server hardware, maintenance, & infrastructure management.
- Microsoft itself handles all updates, patches, & feature releases in SharePoint Online.
- SharePoint Online allows users to access files, sites, & data from any device, anywhere.
- Moreover, it offers integration with Microsoft 365 apps like Teams, OneDrive, etc.
- Also, the built-in advanced security, compliance tools, & data encryption.
Pre-Migration Checklist Before You Begin
Before we proceed to the migration process, it is important to prepare both your source & destination tenants thoroughly. Follow the below checklist to ensure a secure migration.
- Run an inventory of all sites, document libraries, & lists in your on-premises SharePoint.
- Make sure to use SMAT to scan your SharePoint Server farm & identify the possible migration blockers.
- Also, clean up all outdated, duplicate, or irrelevant data to reduce the migration load.
Prepare the SharePoint Online Environment
Once you attempt all the required pre-migration steps, set up & configure the destination environment correctly. Follow the mentioned below steps to accomplish a secure connection.
- First, set up the destination Microsoft 365 tenant.
- Create the required site structure in SharePoint Online before migration begins.
- Assign the correct admin roles & user permissions at the destination so that access is immediately available post-migration.
- Make sure that all the on-premises user accounts are assigned in Microsoft 365.
Backup Your On-Premises Data Before Migration
Keeping the data secure during the entire migration is the top most priority. Therefore, always create a full backup of your on-premises SharePoint environment before you initiate the actual migration.
- Create a full backup of your on-premises SharePoint environment.
- Store the backup in a secure, separate location such as an external drive or independent cloud storage isolated from the source.
- Never rely solely on the migration tool as a safety net, as a verified backup is the only guarantee against permanent data loss.
Proven Methods to Migrate SharePoint On-Premises to Online
In this section, we will mainly focus on the most effective methods to migrate SharePoint On-Premises to Online safely.
- Using SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT)
- Using PowerShell for SharePoint Migration
Read through each of these methods carefully and try them as per your technical environment and requirements. In case the manual methods do not help you, it is better to use the automated software mentioned below for the same.
Method 1: Using SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT)
The SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) is a free & easy-to-use migration solution that helps you migrate content from on-premises SharePoint sites to Microsoft 365. It allows users to leverage the latest collaboration, intelligence, & security solutions. This method is ideal for small to medium-sized migrations & does not require users to have any advanced technical knowledge.
Steps to Migrate Using SPMT are as Follows
- First, download & install the SharePoint Migration Tool from the official Microsoft website.
- After that, launch the software & use the admin account credentials to login.
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Note: The account must have at least Site Admin privilege. |
- Click Add a New Migration & select SharePoint Server as your migration source type.
- Provide the required source site URL, provide the login credentials if prompted >> Next.
- Now, provide the URL of the destination site & select the required document library.
- Click Add and review migration settings >> confirm the source-to-destination mapping,
- Click Migrate >> monitor the migration process & track progress through SPMT’s reporting features.
Method 2: Using PowerShell for SharePoint Migration
The PowerShell cmdlets for SharePoint migration are based on the SPMT migration engine & can be used to move files from SharePoint 2010 & SharePoint 2013. Users can migrate the document libraries and list items, and file shares to Microsoft 365. This method is best suited for IT administrators who need to handle bulk or automated migrations with greater control and flexibility.
Simplified Tutorial to Migrate Using PowerShell
- First, download & install the SharePoint Online Management Shell.
- After that, open it & select Run as Administrator option.
- Run the following command to import the SPMT migration module:
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Import-Module Microsoft.SharePoint.MigrationTool.PowerShell |
- Run the Register-SPMT Migration cmdlet to create & initialize a migration session.
- Add your on-premises migration task using the following command.
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Add-SPMTTask -SharePointSourceCredential $SPCredential -SharePointSourceSiteUrl $SourceSiteUrl -TargetSiteUrl $SPOUrl -MigrateAll |
- Run Start-SPMTMigration to begin the registered migration session immediately.
- Run the Show-SPMTMigration command to bring up the migration status, task ID, source location, and target location.
- After completing, verify whether all the migrated content, permissions, & metadata at the SharePoint Online destination.
Method 2: Best Solution to Migrate SharePoint On-Premises to Online
Aryson Microsoft 365 Migration Tool is an admin-friendly software that helps organizations migrate to the on-premise SharePoint to Sharepoint Online using Graph API. This software can efficiently move SharePoint sites, document libraries, files, folders, & lists without disturbing the folder structure & hierarchy. Moreover, it uses the secure OAuth authentication to make sure that the data remains within the Microsoft system. Additionally, it offers precise site mapping and filtering options. As it is a Graph API based solution, even the retirement of EWS would not affect the migration process. Using the same utility, professionals can migrate Old SharePoint to new SharePoint. Make sure to follow the steps below to achieve a secure migration of data.
Steps to Migrate SharePoint On-Premises to Online
- Download & install the Aryson Microsoft 365 Migration Tool.
- Next, choose the SharePoint card from the dashboard.
- Then, add the On-premise account as the source >> sign in with required credentials.
- Now, locate the required Sharepoint sites to migrate >> click Continue.
- Add SharePoint Online as the destination >> log in with admin details.
- Next, map the source and destination sites & verify the mapping.
- Afterwards, use the advanced filters if required & enable them.
- At last, click on “Start migration” & give confirmation if prompted.
Conclusion
In this blog, we discussed the several reasons & pre-migration checklist for SharePoint migration. Along with that, we explored the proven manual methods to migrate SharePoint On-Premises to Online safely. The manual methods were suitable for a small amount of SharePoint data. Whereas the automated software is ideal for enterprises who handle large datasets. In case you face any issues while using the software, contact our tech support team for personalized assistance.
FAQs
Q1. What is the safest way to migrate SharePoint On-Premises to Online?
Ans- Using the Microsoft SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) along with a verified pre-migration backup is the safest approach. For complex environments, the Aryson SharePoint Migration Software ensures complete migration without data loss.
Q2. Will my permissions and metadata be preserved during migration?
Ans- Yes, both SPMT and the Aryson migration tool are designed to preserve user permissions, metadata, and folder hierarchy throughout the migration process.
Q3. What happens if the migration fails midway?
Ans- If migration fails midway, you can restore your environment using the pre-migration backup. SPMT also generates detailed error reports to help identify and fix the issue before retrying.
Q4. Can I migrate SharePoint without any third-party tool?
Ans- Yes, Microsoft provides free native options such as the SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) and PowerShell cmdlets that can handle on-premises to online migration without third-party software.
Q5. How long does a SharePoint On-Premises to Online migration take?
Ans- Migration time depends on data volume, network speed, and the number of sites being migrated. Small migrations may complete in hours, while large enterprise migrations can take several days.
About The Author:
Rohan Wiese is a Technical Writer at Aryson Technologies. He is an expert Email Forensic, Cloud Computing, and a passionate nerd with over 10 years of experience in technical content writing. He writes about Cloud Migration, Database Recovery, Email Backup, Windows, Mac, and Tech.
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