Run a delta import for SharePoint Online

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After you successfully import data, you can still move any new or updated files or folders to your organization's shared drives before or after you exit an import. Copy the new content by running a delta import.

What is a delta import?

During a delta import, any files or folders that have been added or updated in SharePoint Online since your last import are copied to Google Workspace. A delta import also identifies changes to previously imported files or folders, such as changes to permissions, and updates the files or folders in Workspace.

A delta import skips over objects that have already successfully imported and haven't been updated. These items are marked as skipped.

Delta import task Changes in Workspace

Changes or additions to source files and folders since the last import, including:

  • File names, data, and metadata
  • Modifications to file users or sharing permissions, including adding or removing users
 Updates importted to target files in Google Drive
Update permissions or user deletions from sharing lists Updates imported to target files in Google Drive
Update deleted source files and folders Previously imported files and folders are not deleted in Google Drive

What happens if I change the import scope?

If you change the spreadsheet for the sites and site collections to import, such as:

  • Add a new row to the file—The SharePoint Online data in the row is imported to Workspace. If a subsite or parent site of a previously imported site hierarchy is added, then data is imported to Workspace as per the new mapping.
  • Delete a row from the file—The SharePoint Online site or site collection is not included in the import. Any files or folders that were already imported to Workspace won't change.

What happens if I change the identity map?

Change in delta import What happens during import
Add user The account is imported to Workspace.
Delete user The import completes with an error noting that the ID mapping is missing.
Update user Previously imported files don't change, but new files and folders are created to match the new mapping.

Start a delta import

You must be signed in as a super administrator for this task.

A delta import cannot always guarantee exact permission importing and can be delayed. Don't move files or folders during or in between imports to ensure the permissions transfer correctly. Review permissions in your Workspace account, and check the import report for missing or failed permissions.

Important: If you exited a previous data import and ran a new import for the same data set, running a delta import might create duplicate files in Workspace.

  1. In the Google Admin console, go to Menu and then Data and then Data import & export and then Data import.

    You must be signed in as a super administrator for this task.

  2. For Microsoft SharePoint Online, click Import to open your existing import.
  3. Click Run delta import.
  4. Review permissions in your Workspace account, and check the import report for missing or failed permissions.
When the migration is complete, you get an email with migration statistics. Any reports are attached.


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