Note
Links to additional Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can be found at the end of this guide.
This article answers common questions about permission fidelity and re-sync during migration. It also helps you troubleshoot issues, so you can identify why permissions do not match the source and how to resolve them.
Permission Fidelity and Re-sync FAQs
This section answers common questions about how permissions are preserved and kept up to date during SharePoint site migrations.
Do I need to turn this on?
No. It is always on for SharePoint, OneDrive and SharePoint Sites projects when Permissions is ticked in the item menu for what to migrate.
How do I re-sync permissions?
Run another pass with Permissions ticked. Each pass brings permissions in line with the source, including files that did not change.
Will it remove permissions that exist only at the destination?
Yes, on migrated items. On SharePoint and SharePoint Sites files and folders everything not at the source is removed, including sharing links created at the destination. Make permission changes at the source until the last pass.
Are external guests migrated?
Not in SharePoint and SharePoint Sites projects, by design. Re-add outside access at the destination after migration. OneDrive projects still copy guest access.
Are groups and permission levels synced in every project type?
No. Only in SharePoint and SharePoint Sites projects. OneDrive projects sync file and folder permissions only.
Does this affect my existing projects?
Yes. The next pass with Permissions ticked compares everything and fixes any drift since the first pass.
Will deleted groups or permission levels be deleted at the destination?
No. They stay at the destination.
How are default groups matched when site names differ?
On SharePoint and SharePoint Sites by role. Source Owners map to the destination Owners group, and so on, by group name.
Why do I not see permission errors in the migration report?
On SharePoint and SharePoint Sites projects, permission outcomes are no longer reported there. Check the item permissions at the destination. On OneDrive, write failures still show as item errors.
Permission Fidelity and Re-sync Troubleshooting
This section describes common issues that can cause permissions to differ from the source after migration. For each issue, it explains the likely cause and the steps to resolve it.
| Symptom | Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Permissions I added at the destination disappeared | The next pass removed access that is not at the source | Expected. Add it at the source, or at the destination after the last pass |
| A user I added to a destination group was removed | Group membership now follows the source | Same as above |
| Sharing links I created at the destination stopped working | On SharePoint and SharePoint Sites, file and folder permissions are rebuilt from the source each pass | Expected. Create sharing links after the last pass |
| I removed someone at the source but they still have access | Permissions was unticked, no pass has run since, the user could not be matched at the destination, or another member of that group could not be matched | Run a pass with Permissions ticked. Check the user mapping |
| A folder still has its own permissions but inherits at the source | No pass with Permissions ticked since the change | Run a pass with Permissions ticked |
| Guest users have no access at the destination | Guests are not migrated in SharePoint and SharePoint Sites projects, by design | Re-invite them after the final pass |
| Guest users were migrated in a OneDrive project | OneDrive projects still copy guest access | Expected. Remove them at the destination if needed |
| Owners, Members and Visitors groups look different | Groups are matched by role, and a missing role group is created as <site title> <role> | Expected. Check the site group settings |
| A custom permission level was not removed at the destination | Levels are never deleted | Remove it manually if needed |
Still need help?
Contact support and include:
- the project name and the line item that shows the problem.
- the exact message you see, copied as written.
- the date and time of the run or pass.
- a screenshot of the line item or screen.
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