When I’ve worked on SharePoint migrations—especially tenant-to-tenant projects—I’ve realized that it’s not just about moving files. It’s about preserving structure, permissions, metadata, and ensuring business continuity.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how I perform SharePoint tenant to tenant migration, including planning, execution, and validation.

What is SharePoint Tenant to Tenant Migration?

SharePoint tenant-to-tenant migration means transferring SharePoint data from one Microsoft 365 tenant to another.

This includes:

• SharePoint sites and subsites

• Document libraries and lists

• Permissions and user access

• Metadata and version history

When I Perform Tenant to Tenant Migration

From my experience, these are the most common scenarios:

• Mergers and acquisitions

• Tenant consolidation

• Domain or branding changes

• Organizational restructuring

Pre-Migration Planning (What I Always Do First)

Before I start, I never skip planning. This is where most migrations succeed or fail.

My Pre-Migration Checklist

• I ensure global admin access in both tenants

• I audit SharePoint sites, libraries, and storage

• I identify customizations (workflows, apps, Power Automate)

• I map users between source and destination tenants

• I review permissions and sharing settings

• I take backups of critical SharePoint data

In my experience, proper planning avoids most migration issues.

Methods to Perform SharePoint Tenant to Tenant Migration

There are three main approaches I use depending on the scenario.

1. Manual Migration (Basic Method)

When I Use This

• Small-scale migration

• Minimal data

• No need for metadata or permissions

Steps I Follow

1. I download files from the source SharePoint site

2. I create a new site in the destination tenant

3. I upload files manually

4. I recreate lists and permissions

Limitations

• No metadata preservation

• No version history

• Time-consuming

2. PowerShell-Based Migration

When I Use This

• Medium-sized migrations

• When automation is required

Prerequisites

• SharePoint Online Management Shell

• Admin access to both tenants

Step-by-Step Process I Follow

Step 1: Connect to Source Tenant

Step 2: Get Site Details

Step 3: Connect to Destination Tenant

Step 4: Create New Site

Step 5: Migrate Content

• Use scripts or APIs to upload data

My Experience

• Better control

• Complex scripting required

• Limited metadata preservation

3. Using a Professional Migration Tool (Recommended)

When I handle complex or large-scale SharePoint migrations, I prefer using the SysTools SharePoint Migration Tool because it simplifies the entire tenant-to-tenant migration process while ensuring data accuracy and integrity. Instead of relying on manual steps or complex scripts, this tool provides a structured and automated approach.

Why I Prefer SysTools SharePoint Migration Tool

From my experience, this tool is designed to handle complete SharePoint migrations without compromising important data elements. It allows me to migrate not just files, but the entire SharePoint environment.

• I can migrate complete SharePoint sites, including document libraries, lists, and subsites

• I can preserve metadata such as created date, modified date, and author details

• I can maintain version history of documents

• I can map users and permissions to ensure proper access in the destination tenant

• I can perform bulk migration of multiple sites in one go

• I can use incremental migration to transfer only new or updated data

This makes the process much more efficient compared to traditional methods.

Step-by-Step: How I Perform SharePoint Migration

Step 1: Prepare Environment

• Verify admin access

• Ensure storage availability

• Configure destination tenant

Step 2: Analyze Source Data

• Identify sites and libraries

• Check data size and structure

Step 3: Map Users and Permissions

• Map source users to destination users

• Avoid broken access control

Step 4: Configure Migration Settings

• Include permissions and version history

• Apply filters if needed

Step 5: Start Migration

• Execute migration

• Monitor progress

Step 6: Validate Migration

After migration, I always check:

• Site structure

• Files and folders

• Permissions

• Metadata

Challenges I’ve Faced (And Solutions)

Permission Mapping Issues

I always pre-map users to avoid access errors.

Metadata Loss

Manual methods often fail here; tools help resolve this.

Large Data Volumes

I use incremental migration to reduce downtime.

Throttling

I schedule migration during non-peak hours.

Best Practices I Always Follow

• I run a pilot migration first

• I always maintain backups

• I inform users before migration

• I use incremental sync before final cutover

• I validate everything after migration

Post-Migration Checklist

After migration, I make sure to:

• Verify site structure

• Check document libraries

• Validate permissions

• Test workflows and integrations

• Confirm user access

FAQ: SharePoint Tenant to Tenant Migration

Q1. Can I migrate SharePoint without tools?

Yes, but only for small data. For enterprise migration, I do not recommend it.

Q2. Will metadata be preserved?

Only with advanced tools or scripts.

Q3. How long does migration take?

• Small: Few hours

• Large: Several days

Q4. Is downtime required?

Not always. Incremental migration minimizes downtime.

Final Thoughts (From My Experience)

From what I’ve learned, SharePoint tenant to tenant migration is not just about moving data. It is about maintaining integrity, usability, and security.

Manual and PowerShell methods have limitations, but with the right planning and tools, migration can be smooth and efficient.

If done correctly, users may not even notice the transition, which is always the goal.