How to Clone or Migrate a SharePoint Online Site Collection
Question details
The user needs to create a new SharePoint Online site collection from an existing site, preserving content, structure, and permissions where possible.
- Product
- SharePoint Online (Microsoft 365)
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user wants to duplicate a site for testing, redesign, restructuring, or tenant-to-tenant migration.
- Observed behavior
- Site templates are limited to 50 MB and do not preserve permissions, so larger or complex sites require a dedicated migration tool.
Audit the source site collection first: check total content size, site structure, custom metadata, sharing settings, and permission groups. If the site exceeds 50 MB or permissions must be preserved, plan to use a SharePoint migration tool rather than a site template.
Create a SharePoint site template for smaller sites
Use this method for simple sites under 50 MB when permission preservation is not required.
In the SharePoint Online source site, click the Settings gear and open Site Settings or Site information, then navigate to Site actions.
Select "Save site as a template", enter a template name and file name, and choose whether to include content. Accept the 50 MB limit and note that permissions are not included.
Go to the destination site collection, open Solutions or Templates under Site Settings, upload the .wsp template file, and activate it to create the new site structure.
Use a SharePoint migration tool such as ShareGate for full site copies
Use this method when the source site is large, includes permissions and metadata, or must be copied exactly.
Use WPS Office as a Free Editor for Files Exported from SharePoint Online
WPS Office does not migrate SharePoint Online site collections, but it is a free, lightweight Office alternative for opening, editing, and saving the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files you export or download from SharePoint. It keeps Microsoft Office file formatting and offers a familiar ribbon interface, so you can work with migrated documents without an expensive subscription.
- 1. Download WPS Office Free: Go to the official WPS Office website, click Download WPS Office Free, and install the Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS version.
- 2. Open a file exported from SharePoint Online: Launch WPS Office, click Open, and select the downloaded Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file from your SharePoint Online site.
- 3. Edit and save in Microsoft Office format: Make your changes in WPS Office, click Save As, and keep the existing .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx format for easy upload back to SharePoint Online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I clone a SharePoint Online site collection with a site template?
Yes, you can save a source site as a site template and use it to create a new site. However, site templates have a 50 MB limit and do not include permissions, so this works best for small, simple sites.
What is the 50 MB site template limit in SharePoint Online?
The 50 MB limit applies to the site template package you create. If the source site content and structure exceed this limit, the template may fail or be unavailable, and you should use a migration tool instead.
Does a migration tool like ShareGate preserve SharePoint permissions?
ShareGate and similar migration tools can map and preserve content, metadata, permission groups, and sharing settings, but you should review the migration mapping and verify permissions in the destination site after the job completes.
How do I create the destination site before migrating?
In the SharePoint admin center, create a new SharePoint Online site collection with the desired URL and template, assign administrators, and then connect it as the destination in your migration tool.
Is WPS Office a SharePoint migration tool?
No, WPS Office is not a SharePoint migration tool. It is a free Microsoft Office alternative that can open, edit, and save Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files exported from SharePoint Online.
