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Written By
Simran Bhatia -
Approved By
Sonika Rawat -
Updated on
November 3rd, 2026 -
Read Time
7 minutes
Move Files From OneDrive to SharePoint: IT Admin Guide
Fact-checked and reviewed in accordance with our
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User Query: “There is some bulk and important data for projects in my OneDrive at work, and my team now needs them in SharePoint. How can I transfer files from OneDrive to SharePoint without losing folders, and what will happen to the sharing permissions?”
Introduction: OneDrive and SharePoint are storage solutions by Microsoft 365; however, their use varies significantly. OneDrive is mainly used to store and work with personal files. Besides that, SharePoint is better suited for team files, shared documents, and organizational content. As a company grows, files stored in individual OneDrive accounts may need to be moved to a SharePoint site. So that a team to access and manage them from one central location. This blog explains the manual method and a professional SysInfo Microsoft Tenant to Tenant Migration Tool to move files from OneDrive to SharePoint.
OneDrive vs. SharePoint: What Is the Difference?
Before moving files, it is important to understand why you may want to move them. OneDrive for Business is primarily designed for an individual’s work files. Users can store, edit, and share their own documents while working with Microsoft 365 applications. SharePoint Online is designed for team and organizational content. A SharePoint document library can provide a central place where multiple users can access and collaborate on files.
How to Move Files From OneDrive to SharePoint?
There are several ways to move files from OneDrive, which depend on the amount of data and your migration needs. For a few files, you can use Microsoft’s built-in options or File Explorer. For bulk migration, a professional tool can help simplify the process and manage multiple files.
Method 01: Migrate Files from OneDrive to SharePoint (Best for Small Batches)
This is the built-in and free method, and Microsoft itself lists it as the standard way to move files between OneDrive and SharePoint. Steps:
- Firstly, open OneDrive in your browser.
- Tick the files or folders. Click Move to (or Copy to if you want to keep the original in OneDrive).
- Pick your SharePoint site under your organization name. If you cannot see the site, click Browse sites.
- Select the library or folder and click Move here.
Good to know: If a file has version history, only the latest version moves. Older versions stay behind. If the site does not show in the destination list, open the site once in your browser, or follow it. This usually makes it appear.
Method 2: Transfer OneDrive files to SharePoint Using File Explorer
This one is useful when the Move to list will not show your site, or when you want to arrange folders while moving. Steps:
- Sync your OneDrive with the OneDrive app on your computer.
- Open the SharePoint document library in your browser and click Sync.
- Open File Explorer. You will now see two folders: one for your OneDrive and one for the SharePoint site.
- Copy or drag the files from the OneDrive folder into the SharePoint folder.
- Wait for the sync icon to show a green tick on all files.
Note: Microsoft notes an important limitation with File Explorer: version history is not copied when files are moved or copied this way. Only the latest or published versions are transferred.
Method 3: Professional Tool to Move Files From OneDrive to SharePoint
For a bulk OneDrive Cross-Tenant Migration, use the professional Tenant-to-Tenant Migration Tool. It is suitable for both tech and non-tech users. Several features, such as incremental migration, mapping, and others. Built-in OneDrive deduplication option to manage duplicates. Preserves the folder hierarchy and data integrity. Compatible with all Windows OS versions.
Process for OneDrive to SharePoint Migration:
- Download the software, choose Copy OneDrive, and enter your credentials to authenticate.
- Select the OneDrive data that you want to migrate, and enter the destination credentials to authenticate.
- Apply filters and start the migration. You can also see the migration report and active tasks.
For detailed steps, check the software guide for this tool. It gives you clear steps with screenshots. Also, with the same tool, you can perform Mailbox, SharePoint, and Teams migrations. If you have any queries related to this tool, feel free to ask our technical support.
Case Study: Migrate OneDrive to SharePoint
An organization had important project files stored in multiple OneDrive accounts and wanted to move them to SharePoint for easier team access. The IT team used SysInfoTools to select the required OneDrive data, map the destination, apply migration settings, and start the transfer. The tool helped move the files while maintaining the folder structure and provided migration reports to check the transfer status.
Conclusion
In this technical blog post, we explored several methods to move files from OneDrive to SharePoint. The manual method is used for small files. However, it has several limitations. For bulk migration, use the professional tool. It supports batch OneDrive migration with multiple advanced features. You can also use the demo version of this tool to test its features and functions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How do I move files from OneDrive to SharePoint without losing the folder structure?
Ans. You can use the Move to option in OneDrive and select the required SharePoint site and folder. The folder structure is retained when the files are moved properly.
Q2. Can I migrate OneDrive to SharePoint without downloading files first?
Ans. Yes. You can move files directly from OneDrive to SharePoint using the built-in Move to option without downloading them to your computer first.
Q3. How do I transfer OneDrive files to SharePoint for multiple users?
Ans. For multiple users, you can use a professional migration tool to select the required OneDrive accounts, map the destination, and migrate the data in batches.
Q4. Is it possible to migrate OneDrive to SharePoint without disrupting users?
Ans. Yes. You can plan the migration and move the required data in batches. For large migrations, testing the process first can help reduce disruption.
Q5. How can an IT administrator migrate large amounts of OneDrive data to SharePoint?
Ans. An IT administrator can use a professional migration tool to handle bulk data, user mapping, filters, duplicate management, and migration reports from one place.
Q6. What is the easiest way to migrate files from OneDrive to SharePoint?
Ans. Where only a few files are concerned, the best way to move them would be the ‘Move to’ feature already available. Where there is large data involved, a professional migration tool would make things easy.
Q7. Does moving OneDrive files to SharePoint preserve file permissions?
Ans. Not necessarily. SharePoint permissions are controlled by the destination site, library, folder, and files. Therefore, review the destination permissions after moving the data.
Q8. What are the limitations of manually moving OneDrive files to SharePoint?
Ans. Manual migration may be quite time-consuming, especially where there are a lot of users or files. Manual migration could also make it difficult to manage duplicates and filters, among other aspects.
Q9. Can I migrate OneDrive files to SharePoint based on a specific date range?
Ans. This depends on the migration method. The built-in OneDrive Move to option does not provide the same date-based migration controls as dedicated migration software. A professional tool may provide date filters if supported by its current version.
Q10. How do I avoid duplicate files when transferring OneDrive files to SharePoint?
Ans. Before migration, check whether the files already exist in SharePoint. For bulk migrations, use a migration tool with a deduplication option to help manage duplicate data.
About The Author:
Simran Bhatia is a technical content writer engaged in writing clear, concise, and SEO-optimized content. With a background in computer science and a passion for writing, I thrive to deliver complex technical content in simple layman terms.
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