Anyone who has tried a SharePoint tenant migration knows it is not just about moving files. Permissions, folder hierarchy, metadata—all of it has to come along, which is exactly why you need dedicated software instead of manual copy-paste. If you are comparing different migration solutions before choosing one, check out our guide on Tenant-to-Tenant Migration Tools in 2026 for a detailed comparison of the top options. Organizations also need to change environments because of business separation and internal restructuring. As a result, it needs to collect and merge user data and migrate it to the single tenant owned by another organization. Some setups also call for a move of existing data into a new tenant altogether—think mergers, acquisitions, and similar cases. These scenarios demand extra care and careful handling.
According to Microsoft’s official documentation, we have to review cross-tenant SharePoint migration for supported scenarios and their requirements.
SharePoint |
Tenant-to-Tenant |
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SharePoint is a web-based platform built for teams to store, share & work together securely inside an organization. |
A tenant is basically a Microsoft 365 account for any organization. |
Some different types of data can be transported:
For additional information about SharePoint migration scenarios and common migration questions, refer to: SharePoint Migration tool
PowerShell—Microsoft’s built-in tool – is one route people take for this. Admins lean on it to run and automate chunks of the migration, though it’s not exactly beginner-friendly. This route calls for solid technical knowledge, since the source and destination both need separate preparation.
Microsoft’s official documentation provides useful information on planning and managing Microsoft 365 tenant-to-tenant migrations.
There are some steps –
Step 1: Prepare the destination tenant by creating requirement sharepoint sites.
Step 2: Get the necessary PowerShell module set up, and confirm your admin permissions are in order.
Step 3: From here, link up with the source tenant you plan to migrate
Step 4: After that, find the SharePoint sites and review the date on which to start the migration.
Step 5: Then, move the selected SharePoint sites to the destination tenant and perform the migration in batch format.
Step 6: In the last step, check the destination SharePoint content and also check if the user can easily access the data or not.
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PowerShell requires knowledge of both scripting and SharePoint. |
In addition, scripts or commands need to be tested carefully. |
Moreover, permissions require additional effort. |
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Large migrations need batch processing for the migrated data. |
As a result, identifying and resolving failed items can take time. |
Preserving SharePoint properties may require additional configuration. |
The MacSonik Office 365 tenant-to-tenant migration tool is one of the best software tools that are used to migrate emails, OneDrive files, SharePoint data & contacts from one tenant to another. It is designed to solve large-scale migration at a large scale along with security. MacSonik Office 365 tenant-to-tenant migration is a strong option; it migrates without data loss or service disruption. It helps overcome manual methods because it takes less time.
Steps required to perform migration are
Step 1: First, download or install the MacSonik Microsoft 365 Tenant to Tenant Migration tool.
Step 2: Grab the PowerShell module you will need, and double check your admin permissions are sorted.
Step 3: Time to connect with the source tenant you are migrating from
Step 4: Select the present tenant from the dropdown, or click on “Add connection” to connect a new tenant as the source.
Step 5: Fill in the valid credentials and authenticate the source tenant.
Step 6: Run through the same process again, but this time for the destination tenant’s authentication.
Step 7: With that done, line up the source and destination so every user’s data reaches the correct spot.
Step 8: Set filters – date, file size, whatever’s relevant – as per your needs.
Step 9: Check all settings before proceeding.
Step 10: In the last click on Start Migration. And start transferring the data.
Need a more detailed guide—refer to the MacSonik Tenant to Tenant Migration guide, which provides you with step-by-step instructions.
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Comparison |
Manual method |
Professional method |
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Security |
Handle errors and security manually. |
Built-in security with zero data loss. |
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File Limit |
Only a few files at once. |
Handle multiple files at once. |
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Delta Migration |
Manual tracking of migrated data |
Skip previously migrated |
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Data Integrity |
Manual scripting for each object |
Maintain email and folder format. |
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Filters |
No filters |
Have date range, file size filters. |
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Real-time monitoring |
Manual status checks |
Live active tasks, auto reports |
The manual PowerShell approach can work well when an administrator has the required scripting knowledge. However, moving a large amount of SharePoint data can involve several batches, repeated checks, and extra configuration, making the overall process longer and harder to manage.MacSonik’s Tenant-to-Tenant Migration Tool gives organizations a simpler way to move SharePoint data across tenants, all without disturbing the existing folder structure or supported file properties. That’s precisely why it works well for large-scale or complex migration projects.
Ans: It is the process of moving SharePoint Online sites, document libraries & metadata from one tenant over to another.
Ans: Permissions don’t always transfer on their own when data moves to a new tenant. You will likely need to map user accounts to the new setup and double-check access settings afterward.
Ans: Yes, it’s safe overall, but it comes down to the method you use. Stick to official, approved methods – if done the wrong way, there’s a real risk of data loss and broken permissions.
Ans: For large migrations, you should use the MacSonik tenant-to-tenant migration tool, which can reduce manual work by export multiple files and folders. It also helps with user mapping, filtering, and tracking.
Ans: Yes, you have the option to pick only the sites you need to move, rather than migrating all the data at once.This selective approach helps reduce unnecessary migration.
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