Limitations During File Migration
Understanding restrictions and considerations when migrating files to OneDrive and SharePoint.
Overview
When migrating files to Microsoft 365 (OneDrive and SharePoint), there are several platform limitations to be aware of. Understanding these limitations before migration helps you plan accordingly and avoid unexpected issues.
Character Limitations
Specific characters are not allowed for use in folder and file names within OneDrive and SharePoint.
Forbidden Characters
Additional Restrictions
- • Files cannot start or end with a space
- • Files cannot end with a period
- • Certain names are reserved (CON, PRN, AUX, NUL, COM1-9, LPT1-9)
- • Names starting with ~$ are not allowed
Automatic Handling
Path Length Issues
OneDrive and SharePoint have length restrictions on file paths. The system automatically shortens URLs to comply with platform constraints.
Length Limits
| Component | Limit |
|---|---|
| File name | 200 characters (including extension) |
| Full URL path | 400 characters total |
| Folder name | 256 characters |
Files exceeding path limits are automatically placed in a zTruncated
folder to ensure successful migration.
Performance Considerations
Cloudiway leverages Microsoft Import Service for Office 365 migrations to optimize transfer speeds while working around throttling restrictions.
What Affects Speed
- • Number of files (not just size)
- • Folder structure depth
- • Microsoft throttling policies
- • Source platform limitations
Optimization Tips
- • Flatten deep folder hierarchies
- • Migrate in batches
- • Schedule during off-peak hours
- • Clean up unnecessary files first
Items Not Migrated
Certain items cannot be migrated from source platforms:
From Google Drive
- ✗ Google Forms (no equivalent format)
- ✗ Google Maps content
- ✗ Google Scripts
- ✗ Audio files in certain formats
- ✗ Empty folders
- ✗ Shortcuts and aliases