Sep 14, 20213 min read

How to use SharePoint Migration Tool - Migrate to Microsoft 365

The SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) is a tool that migrates your files from SharePoint on-premises document libraries or regular file shares and easily copies them to SharePoint in Microsoft 365. It is available to all Microsoft 365 users.

To install the current release download, go to: SharePoint Migration Tool

Migrating data files from SharePoint Server document libraries

Start SPMT, and then enter your Microsoft 365 username and password.
Select Start your first migration.
Select SharePoint Server.
Enter the SharePoint Server site URL where your content is located, and then select Next.

Important Proxy connections are not supported. Using Proxy connections yields errors such as "SharePoint

login fail" or "cannot load document library".

Enter your username and password to the SharePoint Server site; username must use the format of someone@example.com. Select Sign in.

Note If you have already signed in to that site once while using this tool, you won't be prompted again

for the same site.

Select the document library where your files are located. The dropdown contains all your possible choices.
Enter the URL of the SharePoint site where you want your files migrated.
Select the document library to where your files will be copied.
Select Add. This task is added to the list. If you want to select another set of data files to migrate, select Add a source.

Migrating data files from a local file share

Start SPMT, and then enter your Microsoft 365 username and password.
Select Start your first migration.
Select File Share.
Enter the source path of the file share where your content is located, and then select Next.
Enter the URL of the SharePoint site where you want your files migrated, and then select Next.

Note If you have already signed in to that site once while using this tool, you won't be prompted again

for the same site.

Select the document library to where your files will be copied, and then select Next.
This task is added to the list. If you want to select another set of data files to migrate, select Add another source.
When you have finished selecting your sources, select Next.
Review your settings, and then select Migrate.

To use a JSON or CSV file for bulk migration

If you have many sources to migrate, you can use either a JSON or CSV file to do a bulk migration. To learn more on how to create a JSON or CSV file for data content migration, see How to format your JSON or CSV file for data content migration.

Start SPMT, and then enter your Microsoft 365 username and password.
Select Start your first migration.
Select JSON or CSV file for bulk migration.
Enter the full path of your .CSV or .JSON file where your content is located, and then select Add.
Enter the URL of the SharePoint site where you want your files migrated, and then select Next.

Note If you have already signed in to that site once while using this tool, you won't be prompted again

for the same site.

Select JSON or CSV file for bulk migration. Enter the location of your file, or select Choose File to locate it. Select Add. If you are migrating files from an on-premises SharePoint Server, you are prompted for your username and password for that site unless you provided those credentials in previous steps. If any errors appear in your file, it is detected on a line-by-line basis. The error indicates which line or lines contain(s) the errors. You cannot proceed until you correct the errors in your file.

Important We do not support proxy connections. Using Proxy connections yields errors, such as

"SharePoint login fail" or "cannot load document library".

If you want to select another set of data files to migrate, select Add a source; otherwise, select Next.
Review your settings, and the select Migrate.