Migrate public folder mailbox to exchange online

Chong 866

Hi Support,

We have an exchange 2016 hybrid environment and mailbox can migrate to Exchange online. The public folder mailbox was published to exchange online, so both on-premise exchange user and exchange online user can manage and access the public folder.

We are planning to migrate the public folder mailbox to exchange online:

As the public folder published to EXO already, what is the next step to migrate public folder mailbox?
If the public folder mailbox migrated to exchange online, do the on-premise user cannot access the public folder?

Thanks

1 answer

Andy David - MVP 149.7K Reputation points MVP

2024-11-20T12:10:32.5666667+00:00

You cant migrate the public folder mailbox to ExO, just the folders themselves.

In other words, you migrate folders from the on-prem public folder mailboxes to public folder mailboxes in Exchange Online. The PF mailboxes themselves are not moved.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/collaboration/public-folders/migrate-to-exchange-online?view=exchserver-2019
Please sign in to rate this answer.
Bruce Jing-MSFT 6,025 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-11-21T05:47:05.3933333+00:00

Andy is absolutely right, public folder mailboxes don't migrate.

If answer is helpful to you, please mark it as the answer so that other users can refer to it. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Chong 866 Reputation points

2024-11-21T06:36:08.35+00:00

Thanks @Andy David and @Bruce Jing-MSFT ,

The public folder mailbox will not migrate, and it will migrate the folder and the hierarchy. If so, please correct me if I have any misunderstand as below:

We cannot migrate public folder if we still have user in on-premises exchange". We only can migrate it until all users migrate to EXO1.

Once the migration complete. EXO user access public folder mailbox on EXO,

As I just take over the exchange environment, I am not sure the correct status on the public folder migration. I think the public folder published to EXO user by using this document already. (Configure legacy on-premises public folders for a hybrid deployment of Exchange Server | Microsoft Learn.) I am not sure any step is performed on this doc (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/collaboration/public-folders/migrate-to-exchange-online?view=exchserver-2019). Then I can re-run the step from step 1 to perform the public folder migration?

Thanks

Andy David - MVP 149.7K Reputation points MVP

2024-11-21T13:53:15.1+00:00

Public folders can be in Exchange online even if the mailboxes are still on-prem

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/hybrid-deployment/set-up-modern-hybrid-public-folders

If you arent sure of the status, I would start from the beginning of that doc:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/hybrid-deployment/set-up-modern-hybrid-public-folders#what-do-you-need-to-know-before-you-begin
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.

Share via

Migrate public folder mailbox to exchange online

1 answer

Your answer