SP2010 → SPO Migration Troubleshooting Matrix

 

SP2010 → SPO Migration Troubleshooting Matrix

#	Issue / Category	Symptoms	Root Cause	Resolution / Fix	Validation Step
1	Unsupported Features	Missing pages, web parts, or errors after migration	Deprecated features (e.g., InfoPath, 2010 workflows, sandbox solutions)	Replace with Power Apps / Power Automate / SPFx; rebuild customizations in Modern UI	Verify feature parity and test forms/workflows in SPO
2	Classic Workflow Failure	2010 workflows not triggering	2010 workflows retired in SPO (Aug 2020+)	Recreate workflows in Power Automate or upgrade to 2013 workflows	Trigger and validate each workflow path
3	Large Content Database	Migration fails or times out	SPO 200 GB site collection limit	Split content into smaller sites; archive old data; migrate incrementally	Check migrated site sizes in SharePoint Admin Center
4	File/Path Length Issues	File skipped with “Path too long”	URL > 400 characters in SPO	Shorten folder structure; rename long files	Re-run migration logs → zero “Path too long” errors
5	Unsupported Characters in File Names	File skipped during migration	Invalid characters (# % & { } ~)	Clean up names via PowerShell or pre-migration report	Validate all skipped items remediated
6	Metadata Missing	Created/Modified dates or Authors incorrect	Metadata not mapped or not preserved	Enable “Preserve authorship” in SPMT/ShareGate; run migration with full control	Verify metadata fields in SPO list/library
7	Orphaned Users / Permissions	Access denied or wrong permissions post-migration	Legacy AD users not mapped to Azure AD	Clean up orphaned users; use Azure AD groups	Check “Site Permissions” and confirm role accuracy
8	Custom Master Pages / Branding Broken	Pages look distorted or missing layout	Classic master pages not supported in Modern UI	Convert sites to Modern; apply SPO themes	Open site → Confirm Modern page rendering
9	Custom Solutions (WSP)	Features missing or failing	WSP/Farm solutions not deployable to SPO	Rebuild with SPFx or Power Apps	Validate SPFx deployment on target site
10	BCS or External Content Type Issues	External lists fail to load	On-prem BCS connection not portable to cloud	Use Power Automate or Azure Logic Apps	Validate new data connection in SPO
11	SPMT Authentication Errors	SPMT fails login or “token expired”	MFA/conditional access blocking	Register app in Azure AD; run SPMT with app credentials	SPMT connects successfully and transfers content
12	Throttling / Slow Migration	Migration stops intermittently	Microsoft 365 throttling	Reduce parallel jobs; migrate off-peak; use incremental migration	Monitor migration rate → steady without pauses
13	Search Not Showing New Content	New content not searchable	SPO search index delay	Wait 24–48 hours; reindex site/library	Search new item successfully
14	Broken Links	Internal links point to old SP2010 URLs	Absolute URLs hard-coded	Replace with relative URLs or use link-fix scripts	Validate internal hyperlinks on key pages
15	Navigation / Quick Launch Missing	Navigation links lost after migration	Custom navigation not mapped	Rebuild navigation manually or via PowerShell	Compare with pre-migration navigation
16	User Profile Sync Issues	User data not updated in SPO	Missing or outdated Azure AD sync	Run Azure AD Connect sync; update UPNs	Validate updated profiles in M365 Admin
17	Version History Missing	Documents show only 1 version	Tool settings not preserving versions	Enable “Preserve Version History” in migration tool	Check file → Version History shows all versions
18	Lookup Columns Broken	Lookup fields not resolving	Source/target list IDs changed	Recreate lookup column relationships	Validate field lookup references
19	Custom Scripts Disabled	Scripted pages not functioning	SPO blocks custom scripts by default	Enable custom scripting via PowerShell (if required)	Verify functionality of script-based pages
20	Performance Post-Migration	Pages load slow in SPO	Large lists, legacy web parts	Enable list indexing; convert classic pages	Confirm response time improved (<3s typical)
21	Alerts Not Working	Users not getting notifications	Alerts not recreated post-migration	Recreate alerts manually or via Power Automate	Trigger change → user receives alert
22	Large List (>5,000 items)	List view threshold error	SPO list view threshold limit	Use indexed columns, filters, or modern views	View renders successfully without error
23	Unsupported Web Templates	Site migration fails	Template (e.g., Blog, MySite) not supported	Recreate with modern communication/team site	Migration completes successfully
24	Retired Workflows in Migration Report	Warnings in ShareGate/SPMT logs	Detected 2010 workflows	Rebuild or delete before migration	No workflow-related warnings remain
25	Email-Enabled Libraries Missing	Incoming email feature lost	SPO doesn’t support email-enabled libraries	Use Power Automate with shared mailbox	Verify email → document arrives in library

 

Recommended Pre-Migration Checks

Check	Tool	Purpose
Pre-migration assessment	SMAT (SharePoint Migration Assessment Tool)	Identify unsupported features, long URLs, large lists
Content inventory	PowerShell / ShareGate	List of sites, libraries, permissions
Permissions cleanup	PowerShell	Remove orphaned AD accounts
Workflow inventory	Nintex / PowerShell	Document all 2010 workflows
File & path validation	PowerShell	Detect long paths or illegal characters

 

🧰 Recommended Post-Migration Validation

1. ✅ Compare item counts between SP2010 and SPO
2. ✅ Verify permissions for key users/groups
3. ✅ Check version history and metadata preservation
4. ✅ Validate navigation and links
5. ✅ Ensure workflows and alerts are functional
6. ✅ Run PowerShell reports for site health and quota
7. ✅ Reindex sites if search results are incomplete