Migrating user Files to OneDrive | SPMT or Alternative? | GDPR concerns

Question

Migrating user Files to OneDrive | SPMT or Alternative? | GDPR concerns

Boris P 40

Hi there, My small organization is in the process of migrating to SharePoint and OneDrive, and our Users are not synced between On Premise AD and AzureAD/365. Pretty straightforward with SharePoint Migration Tool right?

Use an admin account that has read access to FS shares and
365 Microsoft account that has access to the destination, and set up CSV with sources and destinations.

Problem,

For administrative reasons, admins are not supposed to have read access to User Documents. Currently, we have User Known Folder Redirection in individual user folders on the FileServer. So we have something akin to :
\fileserver\users\user1\Documents
\fileserver\users\user2\Documents Admin Full Control ends after \user1\ and anything beyond requires taking ownership ...

Now my original idea was to just take ownership recursively, migrate to OneDrive and be done with that, my "boss" view is that there should be a way with user logins. Running completely blank... OneDrive sync tool "backup" alternative (attached pic) Do not think it's applicable and has an issue in our Infrastructure. Thought about the native syncing offered by the OneDrive sync tool, but my issue with this is that Redirection of My Documents / Images / Desktop does not work on our current infrastructure, I am fairly certain.

Tested it out on a fresh user with Documents hosted on his PC => Syncing Possible
Moved user in OU applying Folder Redirection GPO. => Syncing Not possible anymore
Error message being Documents contains important files

My conclusion was that OneDrive Known Folders syncing does not like Folder Redirection on the File Server, for some reason.

Locked Question. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

AllenXu-MSFT 24,991 Reputation points Moderator

2023-04-06T07:31:36.85+00:00

I'm currently looking into this thread and will get back to you when there is any progress.
Kanika Sharma 0 Reputation points

2026-08-10T10:16:17.7366667+00:00

If your users’ folders are redirected to a file server, OneDrive Known Folder Move can run into conflicts with the existing Folder Redirection GPO. I’d avoid taking ownership of users’ folders just for the migration.

A better approach is to migrate the files directly to each user’s OneDrive while preserving permissions and folder structure, then move the users away from the old Folder Redirection setup. Also, test the process with a few users first before doing a full migration.

1 answer

AllenXu-MSFT 24,991 Reputation points Moderator

2023-04-06T07:31:36.85+00:00

I'm currently looking into this thread and will get back to you when there is any progress.
Kanika Sharma 0 Reputation points

2026-08-10T10:16:17.7366667+00:00

If your users’ folders are redirected to a file server, OneDrive Known Folder Move can run into conflicts with the existing Folder Redirection GPO. I’d avoid taking ownership of users’ folders just for the migration.

A better approach is to migrate the files directly to each user’s OneDrive while preserving permissions and folder structure, then move the users away from the old Folder Redirection setup. Also, test the process with a few users first before doing a full migration.

Answer 1

Limitless Technology 45,246

Hello there, Based on my research your conclusion was correct to say that OneDrive Known Folders syncing does not like Folder Redirection on the File Server. It is recommended use the redirection policy to move Windows known folders to OneDrive, and you do not need to create any folders manully before redirecting the known folders. Please look into the bele thread where similar topics were discussed. Folder redirection to OneDrive migration? https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/589803/folder-redirection-to-onedrive-migration Hope this resolves your Query !! --If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept it as an answer--

AllenXu-MSFT 24,991 Reputation points Moderator

2023-04-10T06:50:21.31+00:00

@Boris P, Is there any update on this thread? Please feel free to reply.