Microsoft 365 Migration

How to Fix SharePoint List Migration Error from 2010 to Online

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 8, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to migrate a large list of approximately 19,000 items from SharePoint 2010 to SharePoint Online using standard migration tools.

How to Fix SharePoint List Migration Error from 2010 to Online

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to migrate on-premises SharePoint 2010 data to a SharePoint Online environment.
Observed behavior: The migration process fails when using both the SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) and ShareGate specifically for a large list.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Collection Administrator permissions on both the source SharePoint 2010 environment and the target SharePoint Online site before attempting manual data transfers.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Microsoft Access to Export and Import List Data

Bypass direct migration tool errors by using Microsoft Access as an intermediate bridge to transfer large list data safely.

When standard migration tools time out or fail on large lists, you can utilize Microsoft Access to pull the data directly from the older server and push it to the cloud environment. This method relies on standard database connections rather than migration APIs.

Connect Access to SharePoint 2010

Open Microsoft Access, go to the 'External Data' tab, select 'New Data Source', choose 'From Online Services', and click 'SharePoint List'. Enter your SharePoint 2010 site URL and link the list.

Export data locally

Once the list is linked in Access, right-click the linked table, select 'Export', and choose to export it as a local Access Database table. This secures your 19,000 items locally.

Prepare SharePoint Online

Log into your SharePoint Online site and create a new, empty custom list with a column structure matching your original 2010 list.

Export to SharePoint Online

In Microsoft Access, select your locally saved table, go to the 'External Data' tab, click 'More' in the Export group, and select 'SharePoint List'. Enter your SharePoint Online site URL and follow the prompts to push the data.

Use Microsoft Access to Export and Import List Data

Large Dataset Consideration: For lists with nearly 20,000 items, the export/import process in Access might take a considerable amount of time. Maintain a stable internet connection throughout the process.

Solution 2

Compare List Structures and Check for Corrupted Items

Identify if the migration issue is isolated to this specific list's structure rather than a general tool failure.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the SharePoint Migration Tool fail on large lists?

The tool often struggles with lists that heavily exceed the 5,000-item view threshold, contain complex relational columns (like multiple lookups), or have corrupted legacy attachments in older environments like SharePoint 2010, leading to timeout errors.

Can I use Excel instead of Access to migrate a SharePoint list?

Yes, you can export a SharePoint 2010 list to Excel and then import that spreadsheet into SharePoint Online to create a new list. However, Microsoft Access is generally recommended for larger datasets as it better retains relational data, rich text, and complex column formats.

What is the maximum number of items a SharePoint Online list can hold?

SharePoint Online lists can technically hold up to 30 million items. However, list views are still subject to the 5,000-item threshold limit, meaning you must set up proper indexing and filtered views to manage and display large volumes of data efficiently.

Migration & Recovery