Which Method Fits Your Google Apps to Office 365 Move?
Google Apps is now Google Workspace. A Google Apps to Office 365 migration copies mail and other data from Google accounts into Microsoft 365 mailboxes.
Your choice depends on the data you move and the access you have.
| Method | Data moved | Cost | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange admin center batch | Mail, rules, calendars, contacts | No extra software | Admins with a Google Workspace domain |
| IMAP migration | Mail only | No extra software | Mail only moves |
| Migration software | Mail, contacts, calendar, Drive documents | Paid | Many users and Drive files |
What do You Prepare Before the Move?
Microsoft lists the prerequisites on its Google Workspace migration page. Read them before you start.
- Sign in to Google Workspace with an account that has the project creator role.
- Create one subdomain for mail routing to Microsoft 365 and one for mail routing to Google Workspace.
- Verify your Microsoft 365 domain and add the TXT records.
- Create every migrating user as a mail enabled user. Do this outside the migration process.
Microsoft strongly recommends disabling all MRM and archival policies before the migration. The default message size limit is 35 MB.
Heads Up. Microsoft states that Google Workspace migration is not available for Office 365 US Government GCC High or DoD.
How does the Exchange Admin Center Batch Work?
Method #1: Microsoft Native Batch (Free, Admin)
Who it suits. Admins who move Google Workspace users to Microsoft 365. Extra application. None.
- Sign in to the Exchange admin center.
- Go to Migration and select Add migration batch.
- Choose Migrate to Exchange Online, then Google Workspace (Gmail) migration.
- Create the migration endpoint with your Google details.
- Upload the CSV file that lists the mailboxes.
- Start the batch.
- When the status shows Synced, select Complete migration batch and confirm.
Microsoft states that the batch moves mail, rules, calendars and contacts. Drive is not in that list.
Some items do not move. Microsoft lists vacation and automatic reply settings, room bookings, shared calendars, event colors and Gmail tags. Contacts move with up to three email addresses.
Rules migrate in the off state. Enable them after the move.
Users convert from mail users to mailboxes when the batch starts. Assign the license after that. You have 30 days to assign it.
Microsoft sends mailboxes over 100 GB to a separate article. The Microsoft page does not describe the MX record step. Plan it with your DNS host.
When does an IMAP Migration Fit?
Method #2: IMAP Migration (Free, Mail Only)
Who it suits. Admins who move mail only. Extra application. None.
Create the IMAP batch in your Exchange admin center or with PowerShell. Microsoft states on its Gmail IMAP migration page that IMAP migration moves email only. Calendar and contact data do not move.
Before Microsoft 365 connects to Gmail or Google Workspace, every account owner creates an app password. The migration file needs the email address, the user name and the app password for every mailbox. Enter one mailbox per row.
The Microsoft IMAP migration page states a limit of 500,000 items per mailbox and 35 MB per message.
Users then import calendars and contacts on their own. Microsoft lists this as the last step of its Gmail procedure.
Which Software Moves Mail, Calendars and Drive Files?
Method #3: SysTools G Suite to Office 365 Migration Software (Paid)
Who it suits. Admins who move many users or need Drive documents. Extra application. Windows migration software.
The SysTools Google Workspace to Office 365 migration software moves email with attachments and folders, contacts, calendar events and Drive documents. A Gmail label becomes a folder.
The vendor page lists a Google Cloud service account with a P12 key, an Azure application ID and a CSV user mapping file. The destination users must exist before the move.
The page names a date filter, workload selection and delta migration. The software pauses and resumes the move and exports CSV reports.
The free demo migrates mail, contacts, calendar and documents for 2 user accounts.
Where Else do You Go From Here?
- Compare the two platforms in the Office 365 and Google Apps comparison.
- Export Gmail data first with the G Suite email export guide.
- Move mail to a personal Outlook account with the Google Apps to Outlook.com guide.
- Create a backup after the move with the Office 365 mailbox backup guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Microsoft Batch Move?
Microsoft lists mail, calendars, contacts and rules.
Does the Batch in Your Exchange Admin Center Move Drive Files?
Microsoft does not list Drive files. Use migration software for Drive documents.
Does IMAP Migration Move Contacts and Calendars?
No. Microsoft states that IMAP migration moves email only.
Do You Need App Passwords for IMAP Migration?
Yes. Every account owner creates an app password before Microsoft 365 connects to Gmail.
Is Google Workspace Migration Available for GCC High?
No. Microsoft states that it is not available for GCC High or DoD.
Do Rules Work Right After the Migration?
No. Rules migrate in the off state. Enable them after the move.
How Many Users does the SysTools Demo Migrate?
The vendor page states that the demo migrates 2 user accounts.
Author's Verdict
Use the batch in your Exchange admin center when you manage a Google Workspace domain.
Choose IMAP for mail only. Choose migration software when Drive documents or large user lists are in scope.
Key Takeaways
- A Google Workspace move starts with verified domains and mail enabled users.
- Calendars, contacts and rules move in the Microsoft batch.
- IMAP migration needs an app password for every mailbox.
Related Guides
Moving mail only? See how to migrate emails to Google Workspace.