How to Move SharePoint Site to Another Site – A Complete Guide

Moving SharePoint site to another site is a cumbersome task. But the right solution and accurate instructions make this transition seamless. In this guide, we will learn all the possible methods and step-by-step instructions to move SharePoint site to another site. Let’s get started!

Why Migrate SharePoint Site to Another Site? 

Migrating SharePoint data is needed for various reasons, some of them are:

1. When a company goes through a merger process, it needs a centralized location to access both companies’ data.  
2. Site restructuring (e.g., from subsites to hub sites).
3. Branding and governance updates.
4. Archiving old sites and transferring content.
5. Performance and accessibility improvements.

Also read: How to Change SharePoint Site from Private to Public

Pre-Migration Checklist

Before initiating any site migration, follow this checklist:

1. Identify all libraries, lists, pages, workflows, and permissions.
2. Know if you’re moving to a team site, a communication site, or a hub site.
3. Always back up content before migration.
4. Review Power Automate flows, SPFx apps, or custom scripts.
5. Communicate downtime or access restrictions if needed.

Methods to Move SharePoint Site Content to Another Site

SharePoint Online does not support moving a site collection directly to another site or tenant. Microsoft does not provide a native “Move site to site” button. However, you can migrate the content and configuration from one site to another using the below-mentioned solutions, i.e.

1. Manual Content Migration

This is most simplest and freest method, and recommended for non-technical users. However, this solution is time-consuming and not suggested for large content migration. Here’s why:

1. Open the source SharePoint site.
2. Navigate to Documents or other libraries.
3. Select files/folders and click Copy to or Move to.
4. Choose the target site from the destination options.

Read also: Set Retention Policy in SharePoint Online

2. Using PowerShell (PnP PowerShell)

This is better than the above method, but it needs some technical expertise and time. But for a technical user, this can be a go-to. You just need to follow these commands:

1. Install the PnP.PowerShell module.
2. Use Get-PnPListItem to extract content.
3. Use Add-PnPListItem to upload content to the new site.
4. Recreate metadata, versions, and permissions via script.

Connect-PnPOnline -Url "https://source.sharepoint.com/sites/siteA" -Interactive

Export-PnPListToSiteTemplate -Out “template.pnp”

Connect-PnPOnline -Url “https://destination.sharepoint.com/sites/siteB” -Interactive

Invoke-PnPSiteTemplate -Path “template.pnp”

3. Automated Migration Tools

SharePoint Migration Tool is the best solution to download for migrating SharePoint content between sites, site collections, and even across Office 365 tenants. It supports the migration of documents, lists, libraries, permissions, metadata, and version history with high accuracy. 

The tool offers an intuitive interface, making it accessible to both technical and non-technical users. One of its standout features is the ability to perform incremental migration, which ensures that only newly added or modified data is transferred, minimizing downtime. It also provides detailed migration reports for auditing.

You can download this solution from its official website. After installing, follow the quick steps below:

• Step 1. Open and install the specified solution. 
• Step 2. Select the Sites option under workload selection
• Step 3. If needed, use the date filter option
• Step 4. Map and validate source & target platforms.
• Step 5. Hit the Start button.

What Cannot be Migrated Easily?

When moving SharePoint content, be aware that the following may not transfer easily without automated tools:

• Site designs and themes
• Modern pages and web parts
• Workflows (Power Automate, Nintex, SharePoint Designer)
• Permissions and group memberships
• Site settings and branding
• Navigation and hub site associations

Alternative: Recreate Site & Move Content

If you’re consolidating or restructuring, consider recreating the target site manually and then moving only the required content. This is often cleaner and avoids technical debt.

Related article: Create a Calendar in SharePoint Online

Best Practices for SharePoint Site Migration

• Use hub sites to reorganize modern SharePoint sites instead of creating subsites.
• Clean up unused content before migration.
• Perform a test migration before going live.
• Use incremental migration for large sites to reduce downtime.
• Document the migration process for compliance and governance.

Bring it All Together

While SharePoint does not support direct site-to-site migration natively, there are effective workarounds to move site content using manual methods, scripting, or automated tools. Choosing the right approach depends on your site’s complexity, the volume of data, and your technical expertise.

By planning and following best practices, you can ensure a smooth and successful SharePoint site migration.