Challenges to Move from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace

Planning to move from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace? Google Workspace migration is easier said than done as you can face challenges during your transition. By addressing challenges, enterprises can ensure a successful transfer.

In this blog post, we have discussed the major migration challenges and how to overcome them.

What Organizations Move from Microsoft 365 To Google Workspace?

Businesses move from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace for reasons such as:

• Merger and acquisitions
• Consolidation & standardization of platforms
• Simplifying multiple fee structures
• Increasing user productivity

1. Migrating Essential Metadata

Manual approaches often fail to transfer metadata in the Google Workspace environment due to structural differences. Also, generic tools can’t assure you 100% accuracy when you have critical metadata to transfer from Microsoft 365.

Preserving metadata such as permissions, shared links, timestamps, and versions is crucial when migrating to Google Workspace. It is best to check whether your chosen migration tool can transfer high-volume data, including the necessary file features.

CloudFuze Migrate helps you replicate folder hierarchies, files, and metadata from Microsoft 365 to Google Drive with accuracy.

2. Preserving Permissions with External Collaborators

Enterprises can face several challenges when moving files from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace while preserving guest permissions. Due to variations in folder models and differences in structure, migrating guest permissions can be difficult.

Users can retain guest access permissions accurately using CloudFuze Migrate. By transferring guest permissions, businesses can ensure:

• Seamless external collaboration with guest users
• Correct ownership allocation in the Google Workspace environment
• Right sharing and external collaboration access

Guest User Permissions Migrated from OneDrive to Google Drive using CloudFuze Migrate

Image 1: Guest users Granger G, Asma Karim, Kamal Basha, Sowmya Gande with editing permissions in OneDrive

Image 2: Complete replication of exact guest user permissions with editing access in the new Google Drive environment using CloudFuze Migrate.

3. Data Transfer Rate Limit

When it comes to data transfers, Shared Drive allows users to upload files up to 500,000 items, including:

• Files
• Folders
• Shortcuts, and
• Items in trash

Also, a user can upload and copy 750 GB to Drive within 24 hours. Having a clear picture of technical upload restrictions helps you plan your migration timeline and avoid unexpected challenges as you migrate to Google Workspace.

4. Folder-Depth Limitations

A shared drive folder can’t contain more than 100 levels of nested folders. You cannot store a child folder that’s more than 99 levels deep. Adding more than 100 levels of folders returns a teamDriveHierarchyTooDeep HTTP status code response.

As your trusted cloud migration partner, we help you overcome this limit with our tool’s built-in long folder path resolution function. If the Shared Drive cloud has a long folder path limitation, CloudFuze Migrate automatically adjusts the Shared Drive’s path as per the limitation.

5. Risk of Downtime

Downtime can occur when you move high-volume data in petabytes and terabytes from OneDrive/SharePoint to Google Workspace. It can lead to:

• Business workflow disruption
• Added extra expenditure
• Migration timeline changes

If you are planning on how to move from Microsoft 365 to Google workspace with zero downtime, choose a reliable migration tool such as CloudFuze Migrate for achieving a seamless transition.

6. API Throttling

API throttling is a major challenge during any Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace migration. To overcome the API throttling challenge, ensure the tool regulates the flow of API requests, so they do not exceed the limit.

An HTTP status code of 403 has error information about incorrect input. An HTTP status code of 503 indicates exceeded API quotas. We help you mitigate API throttling issues by:

• Performing high-volume migrations in a phased manner
• Segregating the overall user account and data into several batches.

7. User Mapping and Compatibility Issues

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace have different access control and sharing models. In Microsoft 365, users may have different roles. But when migrating to Google Workspace, it will be difficult to replicate.

Our teams provide complete support during user mapping. CloudFuze Migrate enables you to perform user mapping through three approaches:

• Auto-Mapping
• CSV-Based Mapping
• Folder Display Mapping.

8. Converting Files In .DOCX to Docs Format

Businesses may face a major challenge when migrating users and data from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace. Below are screenshots showing how CloudFuze Migrate seamlessly transfers .docx files in OneDrive to Docs format in Google Drive.

Image 1: Shows how CloudFuze Migrate seamlessly transfers .docx files in OneDrive to Docs format in Google Drive

Best Practices to Follow After Migrating to Google Workspace from Microsoft 365

Best practices after you migrate to Google Workspace from Microsoft 365 include:

• Have a post-migration checklist to verify every step of your migration after moving to Google Workspace.
• After the completion of every migration batch, validate it using the migration reports.
• Perform a delta migration to sync the incremental changes.
• Conduct practice sessions, demonstrations, and workshops to train your teams in the new Google Workspace environment.

Here’s a Video of our Tool Performing SharePoint to Google Drive Migration:

Here’s a Video of our Tool Performing OneDrive to Google Drive Migration:

What Do Customers Say About Us?

We have a rating of 4.7/5 in Gartner Peer Insights Review. Here’s an October 2025 Gartner review :

The customer appreciated us for seamless communication and on-time project completion. They praised us for ensuring a smooth transition.

Overcome Challenges of Migrating to Google Workspace With CloudFuze

As a trusted migration partner, we have helped large enterprises overcome the challenges to move from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace. With CloudFuze Migrate, overcome your migration challenges and ensure a successful transition.

Contact us for your successful Google Workspace migration!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which third-party tools can simplify migrating email and files between popular cloud productivity platforms?

CloudFuze Migrate helps you to seamlessly transfer your emails and files between popular cloud productivity platforms. Businesses can seamlessly migrate email from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace along with necessary file features using CloudFuze Migrate.

2. How to ensure seamless user experience during a company-wide migration between cloud office suites?

Businesses can ensure seamless user experience during a company-wide migration between cloud office suites through:

• Selecting a reliable cloud migration tool such as CloudFuze Migrate.
• Informing users about the transition and preparing them
• Migrating incremental changes to ensure a complete transfer during transition.

3. How can organizations effectively train employees to use Google Workspace after migrating from Microsoft 365?

Conduct practice sessions, demos and hands-on training to effectively train employees to use Google Workspace after migrating from Microsoft 365 platform. User adoption can be seamless with a supportive team environment.

4. What are common pitfalls in M365 to Google Workspace migration?

Common challenges you can face during Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace migration include:

• File/folder limitations
• API throttling issues
• Downtime issues
• Storage limitations
• Metadata loss

5. How to migrate OneDrive files to Google Drive?

CloudFuze Migrate is one of the best tools to migrate OneDrive files to Google Drive. Businesses can seamlessly transfer petabytes and terabytes of OneDrive files along with necessary metadata with CloudFuze Migrate.