Group Migration: The SMTP Address Format Is Invalid

Run preprocessing or configure a valid target email address.

Last updated: 2025-01-15 Troubleshooting

Error Message

Group Migration Error

Error during folders binding: The SMTP address format is invalid.

This error occurs when migrating Google Groups to Office 365 shared mailboxes or unified groups.

Missing Target Configuration

👥
Google Group
Source
Target Name
Not configured
Connection
Failed

Root Cause

Missing or Invalid Target Name

The migration engine attempts to connect to the target Group Mailbox using a Target Name that hasn't been properly configured. This occurs when:

  • The preprocessing task didn't update the Target Name with a valid email address
  • The Target Name wasn't set to an existing Shared Mailbox or Unified Group email address

Why Target Name Matters

The Target Name field must contain a valid email address that corresponds to an existing Shared Mailbox or Microsoft 365 Group (Unified Group) in your Office 365 tenant.

Solutions

Option 1: Run Preprocessing (Recommended)

Run the preprocessing task to allow the migration engine to automatically create the target object and update the Target Name.

1

Navigate to Group List

Go to your migration project's group list in Cloudiway.

2

Run Preprocessing

Select the affected groups and run the preprocessing task. This creates the Shared Mailbox or Unified Group automatically.

3

Restart Migration

After preprocessing completes, the Target Name will be populated. Restart the migration process.

Option 2: Manual Configuration

If you have an existing Shared Mailbox or Unified Group, manually configure the Target Name.

1

Verify Target Exists

Confirm the Shared Mailbox or Unified Group exists in your Office 365 tenant and note its email address.

2

Update Target Name

In the group list, edit the Target Name field and enter the correct email address.

3

Restart Migration

Save the changes and restart the migration for the affected group.

Preprocessing Benefits

The preprocessing task not only creates the target mailbox but also handles permission assignments and other configuration automatically. This is the recommended approach for most migrations.

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