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Fix Microsoft 365 Cross-Tenant Mailbox Migration Licensing Errors
Question details
The user is encountering a licensing error that causes a cross-tenant Microsoft 365 mailbox migration to fail, and needs to know the license requirements.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Performing a mailbox migration between two different Microsoft 365 tenants.
- Observed behavior
- The migration process halts and displays a licensing error, preventing the successful transfer of mailbox data to the new tenant.
Before proceeding, ensure you have Global Administrator or Exchange Administrator privileges in both the source and target Microsoft 365 tenants to verify and apply necessary licenses.
Verify and Acquire the Cross Tenant User Data Migration Add-on
Ensure both tenants meet the licensing prerequisites for cross-tenant data migration by verifying your subscription details.
Cross-tenant mailbox migration is not a default feature available in every tenant. It strictly requires the appropriate Cross Tenant User Data Migration add-on license to facilitate the data transfer.
Log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center. In the left navigation pane, expand 'Billing' and select 'Your products' or 'Licenses'.
Search the list of active licenses for the 'Cross Tenant User Data Migration' add-on. Check if there are enough available licenses for the users you intend to migrate.
If the add-on is missing, it means it is not included in your current purchasing agreement. Contact your Microsoft account representative or Enterprise Agreement partner to acquire it.
Once purchased, navigate to 'Users' > 'Active users' and assign the migration add-on license to the specific accounts involved in the cross-tenant move.
Check Microsoft 365 Service Health and Contact Support
Rule out server-side issues and get direct assistance from Microsoft if the correct licenses are already applied but the error persists.
Boost Your Team's Productivity with WPS Office
While managing complex Microsoft 365 tenant migrations, ensure your users have reliable tools to open, edit, and create documents. WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, perfect for seamless transitions and reducing software licensing costs.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install the Suite: Run the downloaded file and follow the straightforward on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your device.
- 3. Open Existing Documents: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your existing Microsoft Office files without any formatting loss or complicated setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Cross Tenant User Data Migration add-on included for free?
No, it is typically a paid add-on. Its availability and pricing depend on your specific Microsoft 365 purchasing agreement, such as an Enterprise Agreement (EA) or Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) contract.
Can I migrate mailboxes without this specific add-on license?
Native cross-tenant mailbox migration directly via Microsoft 365 requires this add-on. Alternative methods, such as using third-party migration software or performing manual PST exports/imports, may not require this Microsoft add-on but involve other licensing costs or significant manual labor.
Where can I review the official Microsoft prerequisites for this migration?
You can find the complete licensing requirements and technical prerequisites in the Microsoft Learn documentation under the Microsoft 365 enterprise deployment guides for cross-tenant migrations.
Why does the migration fail even after purchasing the required add-on?
Migration can still fail if the newly purchased licenses haven't fully synced across Microsoft's servers, are not properly assigned to the target user accounts, or if there is an active service degradation in Exchange Online. Always verify the Service Health dashboard if licensing is confirmed.
