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Chris_Clark1968's avatar
Chris_Clark1968
Iron Contributor
Jun 02, 2026

Moving Files from a Shared Drive to a SharePoint site

Hi,

I've seen the moving of files from a Shared Drive to a SharePoint site can be tricky, depending on the size of the files that are to be moved.

What is the best and most effective way to move folder, files.
I'm not sure yet of the number of folders and size of the files that will need to be moved?

Can anyone provide an advise on this, please..

Regards

Chris

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1 Reply

  • virendrak's avatar
    virendrak
    Steel Contributor
    Jun 02, 2026

    Hi Chris,

    First, try to analyze your source data using a tool like TreeSize or Space Observer. This helps you understand how many files, folders, and total size you’re dealing with.

    Next, think about metadata (like Created date, Modified date, and who created the file).

    • If you do a manual move (drag and drop), SharePoint will replace these with new values (your name and today’s date).
    • So, if keeping this info is important (compliance, audit, etc.), you should not move manually.

    In that case, use a migration tool like:

    • Microsoft Migration Manager
    • 3rd party migration tools

    If your organization is okay not retaining metadata, then you can move files manually, but:

    • Move in small batches (not everything at once)
    • Watch the 400-character file path limit
    • Organize files into proper libraries if needed

    Also consider:

    • Network speed (large moves take longer)
    • Avoid impacting your organization’s bandwidth

    For example, I moved around 3,000 files (~6 GB) manually and it took about 20 minutes, but it depends on your network.

    Hope this gives you a clear direction

     

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