Error Message
During a file, group, or site migration, you may encounter the following error:
For example:
Cause
This error occurs when a file exceeds the platform's maximum size threshold. The value 3221225472 bytes equals 3 GB (3 gigabytes).
Why 3 GB?
The 3 GB limit is a Microsoft API restriction for cross-tenant migrations. This applies to OneDrive-to-OneDrive, SharePoint-to-SharePoint, and Teams-to-Teams migrations between different Microsoft 365 tenants.
This limit is commonly encountered in:
- Site migrations - SharePoint site-to-site transfers
- OneDrive migrations - Tenant-to-tenant file transfers
- Teams migrations - Cross-tenant Teams file migrations
- Group migrations - Microsoft 365 group file transfers
Solution
Files exceeding the 3 GB threshold cannot be migrated automatically through the Cloudiway platform. You must migrate these files manually.
Not a Cloudiway Limitation
Manual Migration Steps
To migrate files larger than 3 GB:
- Identify oversized files
Check the Cloudiway migration logs to identify which files exceeded the threshold. The error message includes the exact file size.
- Download from source
Download the oversized files directly from the source SharePoint site or OneDrive using the native Microsoft interface or OneDrive sync client.
- Upload to target
Upload the files directly to the target location using the OneDrive web interface, SharePoint interface, or sync client. Microsoft supports files up to 250 GB when uploading directly.
- Verify transfer
Confirm the files appear correctly in the target location with proper permissions.
Using OneDrive Sync Client
For the fastest manual transfer of large files, use the OneDrive sync client. Sync both the source and target libraries to your local machine, then copy files between synced folders. This method handles large files efficiently.
Prevention
To minimize issues with oversized files during migration:
Before Migration
- Run an analysis - Use the Cloudiway analysis feature to identify files exceeding 3 GB before starting migration
- Document large files - Create a list of oversized files that will require manual migration
- Consider compression - Large video or archive files might be compressible to fit under the limit
- Archive old content - Consider archiving rarely-accessed large files instead of migrating them
Alternative Destinations
If you have many files over 3 GB, consider alternative approaches:
- Google Drive destination - Supports files up to 250 GB
- Azure Blob Storage - No practical size limit for archives
- Split migrations - Migrate smaller files automatically, larger files manually