SharePoint Classic to Modern Migration Guide (2026)

SharePoint Classic to Modern migration is the process of upgrading classic SharePoint sites to the modern experience. This helps organizations to get the advantages of the SharePoint modern experience, such as:

Modern pages
Improved search
Responsive design
Mobile accessibility
Microsoft Teams integration
Advanced document sharing and management capabilities

In this guide, I will walk you through how to migrate classic SharePoint site to modern one step by step.

What Is SharePoint Classic to Modern Migration?

SharePoint classic to modern migration is the process of converting a classic SharePoint site into the modern SharePoint experience.

The main motive of this migration is updating the:

Site’s appearance
Pages
Libraries
User experience

…while keeping business data accessible to users.

Many organizations choose to:

Migrate SharePoint Classic to modern
Upgrade outdated team sites
Improve user experience
Enable mobile-friendly access
Use modern SharePoint features
Hassle-free document collaboration

Why Migrate SharePoint Classic to Modern?

Organizations decide to migrate classic SharePoint sites because classic environments may not provide the same experience as modern SharePoint:

Better User Experience

Modern SharePoint provides a cleaner and easier interface that helps users find information quickly.

Mobile-Friendly Design

Modern sites automatically adjust to different screen sizes. This means you can access your SharePoint data on any device, including tablets, smartphones, laptops, or any other device.

Improved Collaboration

Modern SharePoint integrates better with Microsoft 365 services such as Teams and OneDrive. This feature helps users to access SharePoint data from Teams or OneDrive easily.

Faster Page Loading

Modern pages generally load faster than many classic pages, which saves time.

Common Components That Can Be Modernized

During a SharePoint classic to modern migration, organizations modernize:

Team sites
Communication sites
Site pages
Document libraries
Lists
Navigation menus
Web parts
Branding elements
Permissions structure

How to Check Whether Your Site Is Classic?

Before starting the migration, always verify whether the site is using the classic experience.

Signs include:

Old SharePoint interface
Classic ribbon menu
Traditional web parts
Older page layouts
Legacy master pages
Custom branding built for classic sites

If you find that you are using the SharePoint classic experience and want to switch to the modern one, let’s look at the methods in the next section.

How to Perform SharePoint Classic to Modern Migration?

To migrate SharePoint Classic to Modern, there are two different techniques which I personally consider:

Method 1. Use Microsoft’s Modernization Features

Microsoft provides built-in modernization features that can help convert classic SharePoint sites to the modern experience. This method is suitable for organizations that have a small number of sites and limited customizations:

Sign in to your SharePoint Online admin account.
Review the classic SharePoint sites before upgrading them to the modern experience.
Check the site for things that may not work in modern SharePoint:
- Custom branding
- Scripts
- Workflows
- Web parts
Afterwards, open the document libraries and lists and enable the modern experience where supported.
Convert existing classic pages to modern pages using Microsoft’s modernization tools.
Update page layouts to match the modern SharePoint design.
Replace unsupported classic web parts with modern alternatives.

Now, make any required changes and start using the modern SharePoint experience across the site.

Method 2. SharePoint Classic to Modern Migration Automatically

If you have many SharePoint sites, converting them one by one can take a lot of time. You may also need to check and adjust manually:

Files
Permissions
Metadata
Folder structures

For large SharePoint environments, this process can become difficult and time-consuming.

To make the migration easier, I used the SysTools SharePoint Migrator. The software helps move SharePoint content to the target environment without requiring manual work.

Download Now Purchase Now

It can migrate:

Document libraries
Files
Folders
Metadata
Lists
Site
Subsite

…and other SharePoint data, while keeping the data structure intact.

Some helpful features include:

Migrate multiple SharePoint sites at once.
Move document libraries and files in bulk.
Keep folder structure intact.
Preserve file metadata and permissions.
Run migration for newly added content only.
Generate migration reports after completion.
Validate source and destination connections before migration.
Manage multiple migration projects from a single dashboard.

When I used the tool, I found that it can do SharePoint tenant to tenant migration, site-to-site migration, document library migration, and list migration smoothly and hassle-free.

Benefits of SharePoint Modernization

After completing a SharePoint classic to modern migration, organizations experience:

Improved collaboration
Faster content access
Simplified searches
Enhanced mobile experience
Modern Microsoft 365 integration
Easier site management
Improved user satisfaction

Author’s Verdict

A successful SharePoint classic to modern migration helps organizations:

- Improve collaboration
- Simplify content management
- Provide a better experience for users

As we discussed two approaches to migrate SharePoint classic to modern, and among them you can choose which suits your needs well.

SharePoint Classic to Modern Migration: How to Upgrade Classic Sites