SharePoint Document Issues

What Happens When Moving a SharePoint Document Library Into Another Library?

Huma Ashraf Ch Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know if a SharePoint document library can be moved inside another, if it becomes a folder, and how its existing permissions are handled during the process.

What Happens When Moving a SharePoint Document Library Into Another Library?

Product: Microsoft SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reorganizing document libraries, migrating files, and managing site permissions in SharePoint.
Observed behavior: SharePoint does not support nesting one document library inside another; users must move the contents (files and folders) instead, which leaves the original library and its permissions intact.

Before you start

Before attempting to move large amounts of data, ensure you have the appropriate site permissions to move files and folders between the source and destination SharePoint libraries.

Solution 1Recommended

Move Files and Folders Between SharePoint Document Libraries

Since you cannot nest one library inside another, you must manually move the contents from the source library to the destination library.

SharePoint Online does not support placing a document library inside another document library. Instead, you can select the files and folders from your first library (Library A) and move or copy them to your second library (Library B).

Navigate to the source library

Open your SharePoint site and go to the source document library that contains the files you want to move.

Select files and folders

Select the files or folders you want to transfer by clicking the circular checkmarks next to their names.

Use the Move command

Click the 'Move to' option in the command bar at the top of the document library.

Select destination and confirm

Choose the destination document library in the current site or another site, then click 'Move here' to complete the transfer.

Library Permissions: Moving the content does not delete the original library or change its existing permissions. The moved files will automatically inherit the permissions of the destination library unless custom permissions were previously set.

Solution 2

Review All Site Libraries and Lists

Use this method to verify the existence and structure of your document libraries after moving content between them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does moving a SharePoint library turn it into a folder?

No, SharePoint does not allow a library to be moved inside another library. You must move the files and folders inside it instead. The original library remains an independent entity and does not convert into a folder.

What happens to the permissions of files when moved to a new SharePoint library?

When you move files to a new library, they generally inherit the permissions of the destination library. The permissions on the now-empty source library remain completely unchanged.

Can I move files between document libraries on different SharePoint sites?

Yes, the 'Move to' feature in SharePoint allows you to select a destination library located either within the same site or across an entirely different SharePoint site that you have access to.

Document & File Issues