The old file server still holds the HR handbook, the finance templates, and years of shared folders nobody wants to sort by hand. Dragging all of that into SharePoint through a browser isn’t a migration plan.
In this tutorial, we’ll install the SharePoint migration tool, move a real folder from a file share into a document library on /sites/SPGuides, and check the result, step by step with screenshots from our own run.
We’ll also cover the settings that matter, where the reports land, the limits to plan for, and when Migration Manager is the better choice.
Quick answer: The SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) is Microsoft’s free Windows app for copying file shares and SharePoint Server 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019 content into SharePoint, OneDrive, or Teams. Install it, sign in with your Microsoft 365 account, select File share > Add new migration > Single file share source, choose the folder, pick the site and library, review the settings, and select Start.
What You Need Before You Start
SPMT runs on a Windows computer that can reach both the source folder and Microsoft 365. Before the first run, we make sure the target library already exists. If it doesn’t, create a document library in SharePoint Online first; ours is called Migration Demo.
- Destination permissions: SharePoint Administrator or Global Administrator for organization-level migrations, or site admin of the target site collection. Microsoft recommends the role with the fewest permissions that does the job.
- Source access: read access to the file share (or SharePoint Server credentials with Read access for site content).
- A Windows machine: Windows 10 client or Windows Server 2016 or later, with .NET Framework 4.6.2 or later.
- Disk space: 150 GB free for the SPMT working folder, which defaults to %appdata%\Microsoft\MigrationTool.
- Open endpoints: the sign-in, Azure storage, and *.sharepoint.com endpoints Microsoft lists for SPMT. Proxy connections aren’t supported by default.
| Component | Recommended | Minimum (expect slow runs) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 64-bit quad core or better | 64-bit 1.4-GHz 2-core |
| RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Local storage | SSD with 150 GB free | Hard disk with 150 GB free |
| Network | 1 Gbps network card | High-speed internet connection |
Not sure whether you’re a site admin on the destination? Our guide on how to check site permissions in SharePoint Online shows where to look.
Step 1: Install SPMT and Sign In
Download the General Availability build from Microsoft’s Install SPMT page on Learn and run the installer. On first launch, SPMT shows the Microsoft Pick an account window, then a SharePoint Migration splash screen while it loads. Sign in with the account that has access to the destination, because these credentials are for Microsoft 365, not the source.
We ran version 4.3.130.12. Its home page says the tool helps you migrate your SharePoint and File share content to Microsoft 365, and it has three areas: SharePoint (scans and migrations), File share, and SharePoint migration data package.
Step 2: Start a File Share Migration
In the File share section, select Add new migration. The same section reminds you that file share content can also go through Migration Manager, which we compare later. If you’re still deciding where the files should live, read when to use OneDrive vs SharePoint before you continue.