How to Migrate Teams from One Tenant to Another

Microsoft Teams is widely used for collaboration, messaging, meetings, and file sharing across organizations. However, during mergers, acquisitions, or organizational restructuring, I often encounter situations where companies need to migrate Teams from one tenant to another.

Since Microsoft does not provide a built-in feature to directly move Microsoft Teams between tenants, the migration process requires careful planning, preparation, and the right migration approach.

In this guide, I will explain how to migrate Teams from one tenant to another, including prerequisites, manual methods, and best practices I follow when performing tenant-to-tenant Teams migrations.

Why Organizations Need to Migrate Teams Between Tenants

Based on my experience working with Microsoft 365 migrations, there are several common reasons organizations move Microsoft Teams from one tenant to another:

1. Company mergers and acquisitions
2. Tenant consolidation after restructuring
3. Separation of business units
4. Migration from legacy Microsoft 365 environments
5. Improved governance and security policies

During these migrations, organizations typically need to move:

1. Teams and channels
2. Conversations and chat history
3. SharePoint files associated with Teams
4. Memberships and permissions
5. Planner tasks and tabs

Because Teams is tightly integrated with SharePoint, Exchange, and Microsoft 365 Groups, a Teams migration often involves multiple workloads.

Key Components of Microsoft Teams That Need Migration

Before starting the migration, I always evaluate which Teams components must be moved to the new tenant.

1. Teams and Channels

Each Microsoft Team contains multiple channels that organize conversations and files.

2. Channel Conversations

Teams conversations are stored in Exchange Online mailboxes, which means they require separate handling during migration.

3. Files and Documents

Files shared in Teams are stored in SharePoint Online document libraries.

4. Team Membership

Users, owners, and guests must be recreated in the destination tenant.

5. Apps and Tabs

Custom apps, connectors, and tabs linked within Teams may require reconfiguration.

Prerequisites Before Migrating Microsoft Teams

Before I begin a tenant-to-tenant Teams migration, I ensure several prerequisites are completed.

1. Create User Accounts in the Destination Tenant

All users must exist in the new Microsoft 365 tenant before migration.

2. Verify Domain Ownership

The domain associated with user accounts should be verified and configured in the destination tenant.

3. Assign Required Permissions

Global Administrator permissions are usually required to perform migration tasks.

4. Prepare SharePoint and OneDrive

Since Teams stores files in SharePoint, those environments must also be ready for migration.

5. Inform End Users

I always notify users about potential downtime and migration timelines.

Proper preparation significantly reduces migration errors.

Method 1: Manual Microsoft Teams Tenant-to-Tenant Migration

One approach I sometimes use for smaller environments is a manual migration process. Although this method is free, it can be time-consuming and requires several steps.

Step 1: Document Existing Teams Structure

Before migrating anything, I first document the current Teams environment, including:

1. Team names
2. Channels within each Team
3. Members and owners
4. Associated SharePoint sites

This documentation helps me recreate the same structure in the new tenant.

Step 2: Recreate Teams in the Destination Tenant

Next, I manually create Teams in the new tenant.

Steps:

1. Open Microsoft Teams Admin Center.
2. Navigate to Teams.
3. Click Manage Teams.
4. Select Create a Team.
5. Enter the team name and description.

I repeat this process for each team that needs migration.

Step 3: Recreate Channels

After creating the Teams structure, I recreate the channels.

Steps:

1. Open the created team.
2. Click Add Channel.
3. Enter the channel name and privacy settings.

Step 4: Add Users and Assign Roles

Next, I add members and assign roles.

Steps:

1. Open the Team.
2. Select Manage Team.
3. Add users.
4. Assign Owner or Member roles.

Step 5: Migrate Files from SharePoint

Since Teams files are stored in SharePoint, I migrate the files separately.

Steps I follow:

1. Open the SharePoint site connected to the team.
2. Download the document libraries.
3. Upload them to the SharePoint site in the destination tenant.

This step ensures that all files shared in Teams channels are transferred.

Step 6: Reconfigure Apps, Tabs, and Connectors

Finally, I reconfigure:

1. Planner tabs
2. OneNote notebooks
3. Third-party apps
4. Connectors and bots

Because these components do not migrate automatically, they must be recreated manually.

Method 2: Using a Professional Microsoft Teams Migration Tool

In large organizations, I rarely rely on manual migration because it can take weeks to complete. Instead, I typically use a professional SysTools Microsoft 365 Teams migration tool.

These tools automate the migration of:

1. Teams
2. Channels
3. Conversations
4. Files
5. Permissions
6. Membership

General Migration Steps

The typical process I follow includes:

1. Install the Teams migration tool.
2. Connect the source Microsoft 365 tenant.
3. Connect the destination Microsoft 365 tenant.
4. Select the Teams to migrate.
5. Choose migration options.
6. Start the migration.

Professional tools significantly reduce migration time and ensure data integrity.

Common Challenges During Teams Tenant Migration

Over the years, I have encountered several challenges when migrating Teams between tenants.

1. Conversation History Limitations

Some migration methods cannot fully transfer chat history.

2. Permission Mapping

User accounts must exist in the destination tenant before migration.

3. Large Data Volumes

Organizations with hundreds of Teams require automated migration solutions.

4. App Compatibility

Certain third-party integrations may not work in the new tenant.

Planning ahead helps mitigate these issues.

Best Practices I Follow for Teams Tenant-to-Tenant Migration

To ensure a smooth migration, I always follow these best practices:

✔ Perform a pilot migration before migrating the entire environment

✔ Back up Microsoft 365 data before starting the migration

✔ Communicate clearly with users about the migration timeline

✔ Validate migrated data after completion

✔ Test Teams functionality in the destination tenant

These steps help prevent data loss and ensure a seamless transition.

Frequently Asked QuestionsCan Microsoft Teams be migrated between tenants?

Yes, Microsoft Teams can be migrated between tenants, but Microsoft does not provide a native one-click migration feature. The process requires manual steps or specialized migration tools.

Does Teams migration include files?

Yes. Teams files are stored in SharePoint Online, so file migration must be performed as part of the Teams migration process.

Can Teams chat history be migrated?

Some migration tools can migrate channel conversations, but private chats may have limitations depending on the migration method used.

How long does a Teams tenant migration take?

Migration time depends on:

1. Number of Teams
2. Size of data
3. Number of users
4. Migration method used

Small migrations may take a few hours, while large organizations may require several days.

Conclusion

Migrating Microsoft Teams from one tenant to another can be a complex process because Teams is tightly integrated with several Microsoft 365 services such as SharePoint, Exchange, and Microsoft 365 Groups.

From my experience handling tenant-to-tenant migrations, I have learned that careful planning, environment preparation, and selecting the right migration method are essential for success.

While manual migration works for smaller environments, organizations with large Teams deployments usually benefit from automated migration tools that streamline the process and minimize downtime.

By following the steps and best practices outlined in this guide, you can successfully migrate Teams from one tenant to another without disrupting collaboration or losing important data.