Migrating a SharePoint site to another site doesn’t have to be complicated. I’ll show you practical steps to migrate SharePoint site to another site, including lists, libraries, and permissions, safely and efficiently.
So, let’s proceed further:
Real-life SharePoint Site to Site Migration Scenarios
Here are some real-life scenarios I’ve encountered where migrating a SharePoint site to another site was the best solution:
- Nowadays, many organisations require a merger or acquisition procedure, in which they need to merge two SharePoint sites or migrate to a different SharePoint site.
- A migration scenario can also occur when an organisation decides to restructure or rebrand its departments. If they are using SharePoint for collaboration and communication, they need to be required to merge and separate SharePoint sites within the same environment.
- The non-functional sites are taking up storage, and it has been decided by the organisations that they no longer need to function. In this case, an organisation will need to keep the sites for compliance purposes. The only solution is to migrate all non-functional sites into one site to manage the resources efficiently.
- Sometimes, the source site is overloaded. SharePoint Site to Site migration helps to tackle the SharePoint Online storage quota exceeded efficiently.
- Large, cluttered sites can slow down collaboration. Migrating allows you to redesign the site for faster performance.
Prerequisites to Migrate SharePoint Site to Another Site Hassle-free
Before starting to migrate a SharePoint site, ensure the following:
- Have Site Collection Admin permissions on both the source and destination sites. Otherwise, learn how to check the Site Collection Administrator in SharePoint Online now.
- Prepare a list of all lists, libraries, pages, workflows, and customisations.
- Verify that the destination site has enough storage.
- Always backup SharePoint Online to local storage to prevent accidental data loss.
- Ensure access to SharePoint Online, PowerShell, and optional third-party migration tools.
Quickly Migrate SharePoint Site to Another Site – 4 Methods
Depending on the size and complexity of your site, different approaches may work better. Below, I’ll walk you through four reliable methods I’ve personally tested, so you can choose the method that best fits your needs, i.e.
Method #1. SharePoint Site to Site Migration Via “Save Site as Template” (Classic Sites Only)
This method helps you download a template of your source site, which you can later upload to your destination site. Let’s see how:
Remember: “Save site as template” is no longer supported for modern SharePoint Online sites. It only works for older classic sites with simple structures and small content volumes. I avoid using this to migrate SharePoint site to another site for modern migrations.
- Step 1: Open the SharePoint site, and click the Site Settings option in the settings.
- Step 2: Now, find Site Actions, and press the “Save site as a template.”
- Step 3: Enter the name of your template in the given field, and hit “Save” to download the template to the Solutions gallery.
- Step 4: Now you have to download the template file, which is downloaded as the (.wsp) extension.
- Step 5: Lastly, go to the destination SharePoint site, then Site Settings. Upload the template under Solutions or Web Designer Galleries.
- Step 6: Finally, you can use the uploaded template to create a new site on the destination SharePoint. When you complete with SharePoint site to site migration, check the data in the target location.
Method #2. Migrate SharePoint Site to Another Site Using PnP PowerShell Commands
PnP PowerShell commands require technical skill and knowledge of shell scripting. Here, we are following the Export/Import Strategy to automate the steps using this. Additionally, I divided the command execution into stages, and you should follow them for a successful and hassle-free migration:
Note: This is the basic script for smaller migration tasks if you want to migrate large data you need to customize the script for additional functionality.
#Stage 1: Install PnP PowerShell or update SharePoint Online management shell to migrate SharePoint site to another site.
Install-Module -Name PnP.PowerShell -AllowClobber
#Stage 2: Export Content from the Source Site
# Establish a connection to the source SharePoint site Connect-PnPOnline -Url "use the Source site URL" -UseWebLogin # Commands to export Document Library you can adjust paths accordingly $libraryName = "Documents" $localPath = "C:\SP_Migrations\Source_site" # Create local directory if it doesn't exist if (-not (Test-Path -Path $localPath)) { New-Item -Path $localPath -ItemType Directory } # Commands to download all files from the library Get-PnPListItem -List $libraryName | ForEach-Object { $fileUrl = $_.FieldValues.FileRef $fileName = [System.IO.Path]::GetFileName($fileUrl) $localFilePath = Join-Path -Path $localPath -ChildPath $fileName # Download file Get-PnPFile -Url $fileUrl -Path $localPath -FileName $fileName -AsFile }
#Stage 3: Perform SharePoint site to site migration Via Importing Resultant Data to the Destination Site
# Eastablish Connection to the destination SharePoint site Connect-PnPOnline -Url "use Destination site URL" -UseWebLogin # Create a document library in the destination site (if it doesn't exist) $libraryName = "Documents" if (-not (Get-PnPList -Identity $libraryName -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)) { New-PnPList -Title $libraryName -Template DocumentLibrary } # Upload all files from the local path to the destination library $localPath = "C:\SP_Migrations\Source_site" Get-ChildItem -Path $localPath | ForEach-Object { $filePath = $_.FullName $fileName = $_.Name $destinationUrl = "/sites/destination-site/$libraryName/$fileName" # Upload file Add-PnPFile -Path $filePath -Folder $destinationUrl }
Method #3. Migrate SharePoint Site to Another Site With the “Move To” Option for Same Site
SharePoint’s “Move To” option allows for migrating a small set of data, not the entire site to the same site. Here’s how:
- Step 1: Click SharePoint and access the Microsoft 365 admin center.
- Step 2: Now, from the list of Active sites, select the URL of the website to migrate.
- Step 3: Afterwards, click on Site contents after opening Settings.
- Step 4: Now, select Site contents by clicking the three dots next to the site in the Subsites list.
- Step 5: Select the items from the Source site to relocate, then use the right-click menu to select Move to.
- Step 6: Finally, choose the Destination site from the list of sites.
Method #4. Advanced Method for SharePoint Site to Site Migration
When I need to move a SharePoint site without risking data loss or broken permissions, I rely on the advanced SharePoint Online Migration Tool. It is most recommended and trusted by Microsoft 365 experts and professionals for site-to-site and SharePoint tenant to tenant migration.
Why I recommend this Solution?
- It keeps version history, document properties, and user access intact throughout the transition.
- Easily migrate multiple sites, libraries, and lists in one go.
- If new data is added during migration, the tool can transfer only the changes without repeating the entire process.
- Ensures smooth mapping of users between source and destination environments.
- Monitor progress in real time and catch issues early.
- Date filter for selective migration. Perfect when you only need specific content or recent updates.
This tool’s features are not limited to these features. It offers numerous features that simplify SharePoint site migration.
Steps to Migrate SharePoint Site to Another Site
- Step 1: Open the application, and select both Microsoft 365 options mentioned in the screenshot below.
- Step 2: Now, mark the check box Site, including Document Library and Generic list. Click on Next.
- Step 3: Enter the Microsoft 365 Admin Credentials for the source and target. After validating them, hit Next.
- Step 4: Map Source sites to Destination sites and click on Validate.
- Step 5: Press the “Start Migration” button to move documents from one SharePoint site to another.
Author’s Verdict
Migrating a SharePoint site to another site can be smooth and efficient when planned correctly. I recommend backing up content, choosing the right migration method, and validating results thoroughly to migrate SharePoint site to another site hassle-free. For large or complex sites, using a professional migration tool ensures accuracy and saves time.
People Also Ask
Q: Can workflows be migrated?
Simple SharePoint workflows can be migrated, but complex workflows may require reconfiguration on the destination site.
Q: Is downtime required during a SharePoint site to site migration?
If you plan carefully, downtime can be minimised. For large migrations, schedule off-hours to avoid disruption.
Q: Can I migrate SharePoint site to another site without losing metadata?
Yes, using PowerShell or third-party tools, you can preserve metadata, permissions, and version history during migration.