Google Groups Migration User Guide
This guide shows you how to migrate Google Groups to Microsoft 365 Groups using Cloudiway. Preserve group members, settings, conversations, and files.
Overview
This Google Groups Migration User Guide shows you how to migrate your Google Groups to Microsoft 365 Groups. Cloudiway automatically migrates groups preserving membership, settings, and conversations. This migration requires several prerequisites for successful completion, including Google Vault licenses in the Google Workspace since the Google Group content is migrated from Vault.
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View Solution PagePrerequisites
To perform the Google Groups migration, you need to configure your Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 environments with the appropriate permissions.
Google Workspace Requirements
Cloudiway requires access to your Google Workspace environment to read Google Groups:
Super Admin Account
Google Workspace Super Admin credentials for authentication
Service Account
Google Service Account with Groups API enabled and domain-wide delegation
Groups Admin SDK API
Enable Groups Admin SDK API in Google Cloud Console
Conversation History
As a Google feature, there is an option to enable or disable the Conversation History for a Group. To migrate group conversations, make sure the Conversation History is ON.
Access Group Settings
Go to Group Settings > Posting policies.
Enable Conversation History
Make sure the Conversation History option is set to ON.
Microsoft 365 Requirements (Target)
Cloudiway uses an Entra ID Application with Application Permissions to access Microsoft 365:
Global Admin or Groups Admin
Microsoft 365 Global Administrator or Groups Administrator access
API Permissions
Microsoft Graph: Group.ReadWrite.All, User.Read.All
Admin Consent
Granted by a Global Administrator
What is Migrated
The following items are migrated during a Google Groups to Microsoft 365 migration:
Limitations
The following items are NOT migrated and require manual recreation:
- Dynamic Membership Rules
Google Groups dynamic membership based on org units cannot be automatically transferred. Configure Azure AD dynamic group rules after migration.
- Custom Apps & Integrations
Third-party integrations with Google Groups need to be reconfigured for Microsoft 365.
- Google-Specific Settings
Some Google-specific group settings have no direct Microsoft 365 equivalent.
Migration Process
The Google Groups to Microsoft 365 migration is a five-step process:
Step 1: Create Connectors
For Cloudiway to migrate your Google Groups, it needs to communicate with both your source Google Workspace and target Microsoft 365 tenants.
Google Source Connector (Vault Connector)
Navigate to Connectors
Click on Connectors > New in the Cloudiway platform.
Select Connector Type
Select Connector Type: Google Vault and configure it for Groups migration.
Configure the Vault connector
Configure the Vault connector following the instructions in the Vault Connector Configuration article.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Domain Names | Your Google Workspace domain(s) |
| Migration Account | Google Workspace Super Admin email address |
Microsoft 365 Target Connector
Create a Microsoft 365 connector to connect to your target environment.
Navigate to Connectors
Click on Connectors > New in the Cloudiway platform.
Select Connector Type
Select Connector Type: Microsoft 365 and set a Connector Name with Sites, Collaborations selected as product.
Enter Administrator Credentials
Enter your Microsoft 365 Global Administrator email address.
Grant Admin Consent
Click Grant Admin Consent to authorize Cloudiway to access your Microsoft 365 tenant.
Step 2: Discovery
The Archives list contains all Google Groups to be migrated. There are three ways to populate it:
Option 1: Discovery (Get List)
Navigate to Mails > Archives. Click the Migration button and select Get List to automatically discover all Google Groups from the source Google Workspace organization.
Select the Source Pool (your Vault source connector) and click GET to start the discovery process.
Option 2: Import Groups List
Click on Import in the Archives page to upload a CSV file containing the groups to migrate.
Prepare a CSV file with the following columns:
- GroupEmail — The Google Group email address
- TargetName — The target Microsoft 365 Group name (optional)
Option 3: Create Manual Entry
Click on New in the Archives page to manually add individual groups one by one.
Source Connector
Select the Vault source connector.
Source Group Email
Enter the Google Group email address (e.g., [email protected]).
Target Connector
Select the Microsoft 365 target connector.
Target Group Name
Specify the name for the target Microsoft 365 Group.
Step 3: Verify Mapping
Review and verify the mapping between source Google Workspace users and their target Microsoft 365 identities.
Navigate to Mapping Table
Navigate to Project Configuration > Mapping Table.
Verify User Mapping
Verify that each source Google Workspace user is correctly mapped to their corresponding Microsoft 365 identity.
Update Mappings
Update any incorrect or missing mappings before proceeding to Pre-Processing.
Step 4: Audit & Pre-Processing
The Audit and Pre-Processing tasks prepare your migration by analyzing the source environment and creating the required target recipients in Microsoft 365.
The Audit step (optional) provides detailed statistics about the source data, helping you understand the volume and structure of what will be migrated.
The Pre-Processing step (required) creates the target recipients and migrates group membership before starting the content migration.
Select Groups
Select the groups you want to process from the Archives list.
Start Pre-Processing
Click Migration > Pre-Processing to start the provisioning process.
Provision Target Recipients
The platform creates the target recipients in Microsoft 365 and migrates group membership (owners and members) from the source Google Group to the target environment.
Target Recipient Types
Cloudiway supports three target recipient types for Google Groups migration:
Shared Mailbox
The platform creates a shared mailbox using the target name as the mailbox name and alias. It also creates a mail-enabled security group prefixed with 'DL_' and grants Full Access permissions.
Use this option when the Google Group functions primarily as a collaborative inbox.
Microsoft 365 Group (Unified Group)
The platform creates a Microsoft 365 Group with a shared inbox, calendar, and document library. Members are added directly to the group.
Use this option for full collaboration features, including calendar sharing, document storage, and Microsoft Teams integration.
Microsoft Teams
The platform creates a Microsoft Team with channels, conversations, and file sharing capabilities.
Use this option when collaboration is centered around chat, teamwork, and structured communication.
Step 5: Run Migration
Once your groups have been pre-processed and the target recipients are created; you can start the content migration.
Select Groups
Select the groups you want to migrate from the Archives list.
Start Migration
Click Migration > Start to begin the content migration.
Monitor Progress
Track migration progress with real-time statistics and logs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of Google Groups can be migrated?
Cloudiway can migrate all types of Google Groups including mailing lists, discussion forums, collaborative inboxes, and Q&A groups. Each type is mapped to the appropriate Microsoft 365 equivalent.
Are group members automatically migrated?
Yes, all group members including owners, managers, and regular members are automatically migrated with their roles preserved. Members are matched to their Microsoft 365 identities through user mapping.
What happens to group email addresses?
Google Groups email addresses are mapped to Microsoft 365 Groups email addresses. You can configure email aliases to maintain continuity during the transition period.
Can I migrate nested groups?
Yes, Cloudiway supports nested group migration. Parent-child relationships between groups are preserved, maintaining your organizational structure in Microsoft 365.
Are group conversations migrated?
Yes, email conversations and discussion threads from Google Groups can be migrated to Microsoft 365 Groups conversations, preserving your team communication history.
What about external members in groups?
External members (guests) can be migrated to Microsoft 365 Groups as guest users, subject to your tenant guest access policies. Guest settings should be configured before migration.
Can I migrate to Microsoft Teams instead of M365 Groups?
Yes, Google Groups can be migrated to Microsoft 365 Groups that are Team-enabled. This creates a Teams channel with the group members automatically added.
What permissions are required for migration?
You need Google Workspace Super Admin access to read all groups, and Microsoft 365 Global Admin or Groups Admin permissions to create groups in the target tenant.
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