Gmail migration tool - stuck at NeedsApproval

Question

Hello dear MS techs

I'm pulling my hair off with having a problem with Gmail migration tool built-in Microsoft 365 admin center.

I am using batch migration, not remote.

I've done two pilot groups and there are many issues I'm facing with it and starting to tink that I would need to move away with gmail -> exchange online migration to 3rd party tool, if I don't get these errors sorted out:

• Basically when there's even 1 failed item, it gives me status "NeedsApproval" - when I click NeedsApproval it either gets stuck and changes status very random time, like hours later OR it gives error that ApprovalTime can not be in the future and it happens when I click the button in the UI "Approve migration batch". :/
  
• Second problem is the juggle between "NeedsApproval" and "Completing" - again the same issue, not sure if it is completing the migration batch now or not. Sometimes UI is showing still "NeedsApproval", but in Powershell it says "Completing"
• I've also got several times now error "We are experiencing an issue with our server, please try submitting your request at a later time" when trying to view details of one mailbox migration.

So I'm all ears to hear if you have faced the same kind of difficulties and what have been the solution? As I would like to use free tool if it's available, BUT also so that it would actually work.

Answer 1

Hi @Mart Lehtmets - HELMES，

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A platform!

This may happen during the migration process and some of the data may be corrupted or unreadable, unmigratable, and other things, you can try to skip these:

Set-MigrationUser -Identity "your email" -ApproveSkippedItems​

You may also refer to these user solutions:https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/discussions/exchange_general/needsapproval/2841870

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