OneDrive to OneDrive Migration in 2025: Real Challenges & Smart Solutions

Moving files from one OneDrive account or tenant to another might sound simple—just drag, drop, and done, right? Not quite.

In 2025, OneDrive is more powerful than ever. But that also means migrating data across OneDrive environments is more complex, especially when you’re trying to preserve permissions, metadata, links, and keep users happy throughout the process.

Whether it’s a company merger, a rebrand, or a Microsoft 365 reorganization, this blog walks you through the top challenges you’re likely to face during OneDrive to OneDrive migration and how to overcome them using practical strategies and tools like the Shoviv OneDrive to OneDrive Migration Tool.

Why OneDrive Migrations Are Becoming Trickier in 2025?

The way businesses use OneDrive today is very different from a few years ago. Teams rely on it to store gigantic files, collaborate in real-time, and share sensitive content across multiple locations. So, when it’s time to migrate, everything—from file size limits to link access—has to be handled just right.

Here’s the reality:

OneDrive migrations often run into technical snags, broken permissions, and sync errors if not planned well. Let’s break down what those challenges look like and how to tackle them head-on.

Top Challenges During OneDrive to OneDrive Migration (and How to Solve Them)

1. Large Files Get Stuck or Time Out

Big media files, zip archives, and databases can exceed 100GB or more. Native tools or manual transfers often fail mid-way due to file size limits or unstable network connections.

Smart Fix:

Use a tool like Shoviv OneDrive to OneDrive Migration, which handles large files through chunked uploads and has built-in retry options for interrupted transfers. That means fewer failures and no babysitting required.

2. Unsupported Files and Special Characters Cause Errors

OneDrive doesn’t play nicely with everything. Certain temporary files, system files, or filenames with special characters like “:”, “<”, “>” or “|” can be skipped or silently dropped during the process.

Smart Fix:

Shoviv pre-scans your content and flags incompatible files before the migration even begins. That gives you time to fix or rename them, keeping things smooth and predictable.

3. Lost Permissions and Broken Metadata

Permissions, “last modified” timestamps, version history, and author information are easy to lose in migration especially when switching tenants.

Smart Fix:

With Shoviv, you retain user permissions, sharing settings, and file metadata. So your team won’t lose access—or context—when the move is done.

4. Post-Migration Sync Errors and Duplicates

Even when everything seems to go right, users sometimes log in after migration and find files not syncing, duplicate folders appearing, or sync error popups they don’t understand.

Smart Fix:

Shoviv includes a validation step and deduplication feature that helps ensure what you migrate is exactly what your users see—no messy surprises.

5. Shared Links Break After Tenant-to-Tenant Migration

If users shared files via links in the old tenant, those links often break after the move, leaving internal teams and external collaborators locked out.

Smart Fix:

Shoviv allows for post-migration re-linking and remaps user permissions where applicable—helping you avoid an email inbox full of “Access Denied” complaints.

6. Slow Migration and Network Overload

If you’re migrating data for dozens or hundreds of users, the process can take days, especially if you're using native scripts or PowerShell. That’s a lot of time and bandwidth.

Smart Fix:

Shoviv’s job-based architecture allows you to run multiple migration threads simultaneously, schedule jobs outside work hours, and migrate data incrementally (so you’re not moving the same files again and again).

What Makes Shoviv Stand Out?

While there are native options out there, they come with limitations—and often require manual intervention or PowerShell skills. The Shoviv OneDrive to OneDrive Migration Tool offers a complete, user-friendly approach with:

• Full support for tenant-to-tenant and user-to-user migrations
• Easy-to-use dashboard no scripting required
• Advanced filters by folder, size, type, or date
• Incremental migration to skip already moved data
• Exportable reports for audit and compliance tracking
• Secure OAuth authentication your data stays safe

Whether you're moving 1 TB or 100 TB, the tool scales with you.

Tips Before You Start Your OneDrive Migration

• Audit your data: Know what you’re working with clean up junk files and duplicates.
• Map users carefully: Always prepare a source-to-destination user list to avoid confusion.
• Test first: Try a small pilot migration and validate everything before the big move.
• Communicate early: Let your users know what to expect and when to expect it.
• Use reporting: Always log and verify each step especially for compliance.

Final Thoughts

OneDrive to OneDrive migration may not be rocket science, but in 2025, it’s no longer a “copy and paste” job either. There are real risks involved lost permissions, broken files, and frustrated users. That’s why using a reliable tool like Shoviv can save you time, reduce errors, and keep your organization productive.

So, whether you’re prepping for a small team migration or managing a full Microsoft 365 tenant reorg, take control of your data move with the right strategy and the right software.

Try Shoviv OneDrive to OneDrive Migration Tool today and move with confidence.