Google Groups: What Is Migrated and Considerations
Understanding Google Groups migration to Office 365.
Google Groups Migration Targets
Overview
Google Groups can be migrated to Office 365 with their conversations, attachments, and memberships. However, due to platform differences, some elements cannot be transferred and require manual recreation in the target environment.
What Gets Migrated
✓ Migrated Content
- ✓ Conversation content
Including answers and full thread history
- ✓ Attachments
Files attached to group messages
- ✓ Metadata
Author and creation date information
- ✓ Group memberships
Members and their associated roles
Migration Destinations
Google Groups can be migrated to one of three Office 365 targets:
Office 365 Groups (Default)
The default destination. Creates a Microsoft 365 Group with shared inbox, calendar, and file storage.
Microsoft Teams
Creates a Team for collaboration with channels, chat, and file sharing capabilities.
Shared Mailboxes
Creates a shared mailbox along with a distribution list for email-focused scenarios.
Limitations and Considerations
✗ Not Migrated
- ✗ Embedded Google Drive - Drives and folders embedded in posts
- ✗ Manager field roles - No Office 365 equivalent
- ✗ Tags and categories - Cannot be replicated
- ✗ Welcome pages - Not supported in Office 365
- ✗ Pinned topics - Cannot be transferred
- ✗ Ratings - No equivalent in Office 365
- ✗ Resolution status - Not migrated
- ✗ CC'd users - Lost in migration
Threading Limitation
All discussions migrate as simple inbox conversations without distinction between announcements and discussions.
Delta Pass Note
Subsequent replies to already-migrated groups won't transfer in delta passes, as the platform uses the source group URL as the unique identifier.
Requirements
- → Manual permissions
Migration account needs permissions granted to each source group
- → Google Sites activation
Must be activated for authentication purposes
- → Exchange admin account
Office 365 requires an Exchange admin account with valid licensing