Email Migration

How to Identify Skipped Items in a Microsoft 365 PST Import

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to find a way to identify specific omitted messages or folders after a PST import job finishes with a 'Completed with skipped items' status.

Product: Microsoft 365 / Exchange
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Migrating email data via a PST import to Microsoft 365 where some items fail to import without clear identification.
Observed behavior: The PST import process successfully completes but flags a 'Completed with skipped items' status without explicitly listing which messages or folders were omitted.

Before you start

Ensure you have Exchange Administrator permissions in Microsoft 365 and have the exact name of the import job ready for log investigation.

Solution 1Recommended

Review Import Job Details and Migration Logs

Check the available audit and migration logs to track down missing folders, or manually compare item counts to deduce what was skipped.

Some native PST import methods do not provide a complete, item-level granular list of skipped content out of the box. To determine what failed to transfer, you must rely on available migration logs, folder comparisons, or PowerShell scripts.

Access Import Job Details

Log in to the Microsoft 365 compliance center or admin center, navigate to Data lifecycle management, and click on your specific PST import job to view its details.

Download Migration Logs

Look for the option to view or download the migration or audit logs associated with the job. Scan these logs for warning or error messages that reference specific corrupted items or unsupported formats.

Compare Item Counts Manually

If item-level logs are insufficient, manually validate important folders by right-clicking the folder in the source PST, checking the total item count, and comparing it to the imported folder in the target Microsoft 365 mailbox.

Seek PowerShell Assistance

If you are running import commands via PowerShell and need help interpreting the log outputs, post the command output and job details to the Microsoft PowerShell Tech Community.

Community Support: For specialized PowerShell assistance, visit the Microsoft Tech Community at https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/powershell/ct-p/WindowsPowerShell.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'Completed with skipped items' mean in a PST import?

This status indicates that the overall import job finished, but certain items within the PST file—such as corrupted emails, oversized attachments, or unsupported message classes—were not transferred to the target mailbox.

Why doesn't Microsoft 365 list all the skipped items automatically?

Depending on the import method used (like network upload or drive shipping), the system prioritizes overall migration speed and may not generate an exhaustive, granular item-level list of failures by default.

How can I check the exact number of skipped items?

You can view the summary of the import job in the Microsoft 365 compliance center, which usually displays a high-level tally of successfully imported items versus skipped items.

Are skipped items permanently lost?

No, the skipped items are not deleted. They still exist safely in your original source PST file. You can attempt to fix them or migrate them manually if they contain critical data.

Migration & Recovery