Fix SharePoint Migration Adding Everyone Except External Users Permissions
Question details
Files migrated to Microsoft 365 are unexpectedly receiving 'Everyone except external users' sharing permissions.
- Product
- SharePoint Migration Manager
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Migrating files from local servers, such as Linux environments, to Microsoft 365 or OneDrive.
- Observed behavior
- Source server permissions are misinterpreted during the migration process, causing migrated files to be broadly shared across the organization rather than remaining private.
Ensure you have Microsoft 365 Global Administrator or SharePoint Administrator privileges before attempting to modify migration tasks or open support requests.
Disable File Share Permission Preservation
Prevent the migration tool from misinterpreting source server permissions by disabling the permission preservation setting.
When migrating files from environments like Linux, native file permissions do not always map perfectly to Microsoft 365 sharing groups. Disabling permission preservation forces the migrated files to simply inherit the destination folder's permissions.
Open the SharePoint admin center and navigate to the Migration Manager section.
Select your active or draft migration task to view its detailed configuration settings.
Locate the 'Preserve file share permissions' option and toggle it to the disabled state.
Run a small test migration and check the migration job logs to ensure files are no longer shared broadly with the organization.
Create a Microsoft 365 Support Request
If files continue to receive the wrong permissions despite changing settings, backend investigation by Microsoft is required.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does SharePoint Migration Manager add 'Everyone except external users' permissions?
This typically occurs when the Migration Manager attempts to translate broad source server permissions (such as certain Linux file shares) into Microsoft 365 permissions. The tool misinterprets these source settings as organization-wide access, resulting in unintended wide sharing.
How can I remove 'Everyone except external users' from already migrated files?
For individual files, you can manually remove the sharing group via the 'Manage Access' panel in SharePoint or OneDrive. For bulk removal, SharePoint Administrators can utilize PnP PowerShell scripts to iterate through document libraries and revoke the specific group's permissions.
What happens when I disable 'Preserve file share permissions'?
By turning off this setting, the migration tool stops copying the access control lists from your source server. Instead, the migrated files and folders will automatically inherit the security and sharing permissions of the destination SharePoint library or OneDrive folder.
Does this permission issue affect OneDrive migrations as well?
Yes. If files are migrated directly to a user's OneDrive with permission preservation enabled, any misinterpreted source permissions can cause those files to be shared with the entire organization instead of remaining strictly private to the OneDrive owner.
