How to Migrate a Large SharePoint Server 2016 Site to SharePoint Online
Question details
The user needs to migrate a massive SharePoint Server 2016 site collection to SharePoint Online, bypassing standard tool limitations.
- Product
- SharePoint Server 2016
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Migrating an on-premises enterprise SharePoint environment with a 2TB content database and dense document libraries to the cloud.
- Observed behavior
- The standard SharePoint Migration Tool struggles or fails due to the sheer volume of data (2 TB) and libraries exceeding 150,000 files.
Before beginning a large-scale migration, audit your existing SharePoint environment to identify obsolete files, unneeded versions, and custom web parts that may not be supported in SharePoint Online.
Divide the Migration into Smaller Batches
Split the 2TB content database into smaller, manageable chunks to prevent migration tool timeouts and API throttling errors.
Massive migrations often fail when treated as a single job. By breaking the site collection into smaller components, you reduce the load on both the source server and the SharePoint Online destination.
Map out your SharePoint Server 2016 site collection to identify individual subsites, lists, and document libraries that can be migrated independently.
Open the SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) and configure jobs specifically targeting the individual subsites or libraries rather than the root site collection.
Run these smaller batch jobs outside of normal business hours to maximize available network bandwidth and minimize user disruption.
Check the SPMT error logs after each batch completes to quickly identify and resolve any file path length issues or unsupported characters.
Utilize Enterprise Migration Solutions
For highly complex or massive environments, standard Microsoft tools may not suffice, requiring dedicated enterprise migration software.
Edit Your Migrated Documents Locally with WPS Office
While migrating massive SharePoint libraries to the cloud, you may need a reliable local suite to access, review, and edit downloaded Microsoft Office files. WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite on your local computer.
- 2. Sync migrated files: Use the OneDrive sync client to access your newly migrated SharePoint Online document libraries from your File Explorer.
- 3. Edit and collaborate: Open your synced .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx files directly within WPS Office to make edits and save them back to the cloud.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum file size supported by the SharePoint Migration Tool?
The SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) supports migrating individual files up to 250 GB in size. However, migrating massive multi-terabyte databases all at once can cause performance bottlenecks and API throttling.
Why does my library with over 150,000 files fail to migrate?
Libraries with enormous item counts often hit internal processing limits or throttle the migration tool's API requests. It is highly recommended to reorganize extremely large libraries into multiple smaller document libraries before running the migration.
Can I migrate SharePoint Server 2016 directly to SharePoint Online?
Yes, the SharePoint Migration Tool supports direct migration from SharePoint 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019 to SharePoint Online, provided your on-premises environment meets the necessary prerequisites.
How can I speed up a 2TB SharePoint migration?
To improve migration speeds, run multiple migration agents on different virtual machines concurrently, schedule migrations outside of peak business hours, and utilize high-bandwidth network connections.
