Microsoft 365 Migration

Fix SPMT Cannot Verify NAS File Share Path in SharePoint Migration

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to proceed with agent installation because the SharePoint Migration Tool fails to validate the NAS file share path, even though it is accessible via the Windows Run command.

How to Fix SPMT Cannot Verify NAS File Share Path During SharePoint Migration

Product: SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT)
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Installing the SPMT agent and configuring the source NAS file share path for data migration.
Observed behavior: The SPMT validation test fails on the NAS file share path, preventing the migration process from continuing.

Before you start

Ensure that the network connection to the NAS device is stable and that you have the exact Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path format ready.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify SPMT Agent Account Permissions and Path Formatting

Validation often fails because the specific service account running the SPMT agent lacks permissions, or the path formatting is not recognized by the tool.

Even if your logged-in administrator account has access to the NAS, the SPMT background service operates under its own credentials. You must ensure the service account itself has the necessary read permissions.

Identify the Service Account

Open the Windows Services application (services.msc) and locate the SharePoint Migration Tool service to check which account it is configured to 'Log On As'.

Check NAS Folder Permissions

Right-click your target NAS folder, navigate to Properties, and select the Security or Sharing tab to ensure the identified SPMT service account has Read and Execute access.

Use Correct Path Formatting

When entering the path into SPMT, ensure you are using the standard UNC format (e.g., \\server_name\share_name) rather than a mapped network drive letter.

Verify SPMT Agent Account Permissions and Path Formatting

Drive Mapping Limitation: SPMT generally cannot resolve mapped network drives (like Z:\). Always use the direct network path for reliable validation.

Solution 2

Escalate to Microsoft Support or FastTrack

If permissions and formatting are correct but validation still fails, Microsoft Support can analyze the backend SPMT logs to resolve configuration issues.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the NAS path open in the Windows Run command but fail in SPMT?

The Run command uses your current logged-in user credentials, while the SPMT agent service may be running under a different system or service account that lacks access to the NAS.

Where can I find the error logs for the SharePoint Migration Tool?

SPMT logs are typically stored in the %appdata%\Microsoft\MigrationToolStorage folder. These logs can be reviewed locally or provided to Microsoft Support for in-depth troubleshooting.

Does SPMT support all types of NAS devices?

SPMT supports most standard SMB (Server Message Block) file shares. However, highly customized NAS configurations, missing active directory integrations, or outdated SMB protocols can cause validation to fail.

Migration & Recovery