Migrating Microsoft Teams to Microsoft Teams

This article provides instructions on configuring a migration batch for migrating Microsoft Teams between Microsoft 365 tenants. The setup process outlined here focuses on migrating mail, calendar, drive and  conversations.

Before proceeding, ensure you have completed the steps in the Microsoft 365 to Microsoft 365 Migration Guide to set up your migration project and added your group migration batch.

Adding Items to Migrate

When adding items to migrate Microsoft 365 groups to corresponding accounts at the destination, follow the format below:

• Export Type: Microsoft Team
• Export Name: Source Team MailNickName
• Import Type: Microsoft Team
• Import Name: Destination Team MailNickName
• Given Name: Destination Team display name
• Family Name:Destination Team description
• Documents Path: Not required
• Documents Destination Path: Not required

For each Microsoft 365 Team entry, select the specific items you wish to migrate. Make sure the 'Migrate' option is enabled for all users included in the migration.

Teams Migration Modes

When migrating Microsoft Teams between Microsoft 365 tenants, there are two primary methods to consider: Direct Mode and Standard Migration.

1. Direct Mode: This method leverages the Import mode at the destination tenant.
2. Standard Migration: This method involves migrating content directly to the destination team without using Import mode.

The setup and behavior for each method are distinct, as outlined below.

Direct Mode Migration

Direct Mode Migration allows for a more comprehensive transfer of content from the source to the destination tenant. When using Direct Mode, conversations from the "Posts" tab within each Team channel are fully restored (or "rehydrated") at the destination. The table below highlights which elements are included within the migration scope and which are not.

When performing a Direct Mode migration using CloudM Migrate, the tool utilizes Import mode to create the Team at the destination. This process places the Team in a restricted state, meaning it remains inactive until the Team finalization process is completed.

The mailboxes for the related Microsoft 365 group will be migrated when mail is included in this migration, however it will be hidden by default. This means that it won't be accessible via Outlook at the destination.

When performing this type of migration, a multi-pass process is recommended. This involves running an initial migration to migrate all of the data in import mode, then a delta migration to perform the finalization. The settings will need to be modified as detailed in the below sections. 

General Settings - Direct Mode

In the General Settings section, ensure that all domain mappings are correctly configured to replace the source domain with the destination domain during migration.

Additionally, you can set date range filters for different data types to migrate information within a specific timeframe. Be sure to specify the date ranges you want to include.

Source Settings - Direct Mode

The following settings should be configured for both migration passes:

• SharePoint Online -> Default Document Library Name: If you are migrating files, adjust this setting to match the language used in your source tenant.

First Pass

During the first migration pass, configure the following options:

• Microsoft Teams/Groups -> Teams Direct Migration: Set to Enabled.
• Microsoft Teams/Groups -> Finalize Teams Direct Migration: Set to Disabled.

Finalization Pass

During the finalization pass, update the settings as follows:

• • Microsoft Teams/Groups -> Teams Direct Migration: Set to Enabled.
  • Microsoft Teams/Groups -> Finalize Teams Direct Migration: Set to Enabled.

Destination Settings - Direct Mode

The following settings should be considered for both migration passes:

• SharePoint Online -> Default Document Library Name: If migrating files, adjust this setting to match the language used in your source tenant.
• SharePoint Online -> Migrate Previous Document Versions: Enable this option to migrate previous versions of group documents. Note that enabling this feature allows you to select the number of versions to migrate, which can significantly increase migration time.
• SharePoint Online -> Maximum Number of Previous Document Versions: Specify the number of document versions to migrate.
• SharePoint Online -> Include Document Metadata: Enable this option to migrate both standard and custom document metadata, including text, boolean, number, and datetime fields.

Advanced Settings - Direct Mode

For a direct mode Microsoft Team to Microsoft Team migration, most advanced settings can remain at their default values. However, consider the following:

• Address Replacement: It is strongly recommended to upload an address replacement CSV file that maps source users, aliases, and groups to their corresponding destinations. For more details, refer to the Address Replacements article.
• Reporting -> Record document mappings: This will record Drive mappings so that documents attached to messages will still be linked.

Migration Process - Direct Mode

The recommended migration approach is to first run the initial pass and any necessary delta passes using the initial pass settings. This ensures that all content is migrated, and the Team is set to import mode at the destination. After verifying the migration, perform a finalization pass to migrate any remaining data and activate the Team at the destination.

While it is technically possible to complete the entire migration in a single pass by using the finalization settings from the start, this approach is not recommended.

Standard Mode Migration

In a Standard Mode Teams migration, the Import Mode is not utilized. As a result, conversations from the "Posts" tab in each Team channel are not restored ("rehydrated") at the destination. Instead, these conversations can be migrated in one of the following ways:

• As mail items to the corresponding group mailbox.
• As an HTML document to the Teams SharePoint site at the destination.
• Both as mail items and an HTML document.

If migrating as a document, the HTML file will be linked within a conversation in the "Posts" tab for the respective channel at the destination.

General Settings - Standard Mode

In the General Settings section, ensure that all domain mappings are correctly configured to replace the source domain with the destination domain during migration.

Additionally, you can set date range filters for different data types to migrate information within a specific timeframe. Be sure to specify the date ranges you want to include.

Source Settings - Standard Mode

The following settings should be considered:

• SharePoint Online -> Default document library name: If you are migrating files, adjust this setting to match the language used in your source tenant.
• Microsoft Teams/Groups -> Export chat message type: If you are migrating conversations from within the Posts tab of Microsoft Teams, this determines whether they are migrated as mail, as an HTML document or as both.

Destination Settings - Standard Mode

The following settings should be considered:

• Microsoft Teams/Groups -> Default document library name: If you are migrating files, adjust this setting to match the language used in your destination tenant.
• Microsoft Teams/Groups -> Chat message library name: This will be the name of the document library in the destination that will be used to store the HTML document if migrating conversations as a document.

Advanced Settings - Standard Mode

For a standard Microsoft Team to Microsoft Team migration, most advanced settings can remain at their default values. However, consider the following:

• Address Replacement: It is strongly recommended to upload an address replacement CSV file that maps source users, aliases, and groups to their corresponding destinations. For more details, refer to the Address Replacements article.
• Reporting -> Record document mappings: This will record Drive mappings so that documents attached to messages will still be linked.

Migration Process - Standard Mode

When performing a standard mode migration, there is no limitation on the number of delta migrations you can run. We generally recommend migrating the bulk of the data initially then performing a delta close to the cutover time.

If you are planning to Migrate Teams planner and channel tabs, you will need to follow the process outlined below.

Migrating Teams Planner

To successfully migrate Teams Planner, you must perform at least two migration passes. The steps vary depending on whether you are using Direct Mode or Standard Mode:

• Direct Mode: Ensure that all conversations and documents have been migrated and the Team migration is finalized.
• Standard Mode: Ensure an initial migration pass has been completed and that conversations and documents have been migrated.

Once these prerequisites are met, adjust the batch configuration as follows:

Source Settings Configuration:

• Microsoft Teams/Groups -> Migrate Teams Planner: Set to Enabled.
• Microsoft Teams/Groups -> Teams Direct Migration: Set to Disabled.
• Microsoft Teams/Groups -> Finalize Teams Direct Migration: Set to Disabled.

Advanced Settings Configuration:

• Reporting -> Record document mappings: Set to Enabled.

On the Items to Migrate page, ensure that Conversations and Drive are disabled for the Teams being migrated.

After configuring these settings, proceed with the migration to transfer the Teams Planner data.

Migrating Teams Channel Tabs

To successfully migrate Teams Channel Tabs, you must perform at least two migration passes. The steps vary depending on whether you are using Direct Mode or Standard Mode:

• Direct Mode: Ensure that all documents have been migrated and the Team migration is finalized.
• Standard Mode: Ensure an initial migration pass has been completed and that all documents have been migrated.

Once these prerequisites are met, adjust the batch configuration as follows:

Source Settings Configuration:

• Microsoft Teams/Groups -> Migrate Teams Planner: Set to Enabled.
• Microsoft Teams/Groups -> Teams Direct Migration: Set to Disabled.
• Microsoft Teams/Groups -> Finalize Teams Direct Migration: Set to Disabled.

Advanced Settings Configuration:

• Reporting -> Record document mappings: Set to Enabled.

On the Items to Migrate page, ensure that Drive is enabled for the Teams being migrated.

After configuring these settings, proceed with the migration to migrate the Teams Channel tabs.