Move or copy files in SharePoint (2023)

SharePoint

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Move or copy files in SharePoint

SharePoint Server Subscription Edition SharePoint Server 2019 SharePoint Server 2016 SharePoint Server 2013 SharePoint Server 2013 Enterprise SharePoint in Microsoft 365 Office for business Office 365 Small Business Microsoft 365 admin SharePoint Server 2010 SharePoint in Microsoft 365 Small Business More...Less

In addition to moving or copying files in SharePoint, you can also sync SharePoint files with the OneDrive sync app.

Note:If you don't see other sites listed when you attempt to move or copy items, your organization doesn't allow moving or copying across sites. If you're a SharePoint admin or global admin for your organization, to learn how to enable cross-site copying in the SharePoint admin center, see Allow or prevent custom script.

Select your version of SharePoint from one of the tabs below:

ModernSubscription EditionOffice 2019Office 2010 - 2016

Step1:
Select files or folders in a SharePoint library to move or copy.

Move or copy files in SharePoint (1)

Step2:
On the command bar along the top, selectMove to orCopy to.

Note:If you don't seeMove toorCopy toon your command bar, select the ellipsis icon Move or copy files in SharePoint (2) (More)and then select Move to or Copy to.

Move or copy files in SharePoint (3)

Note: Switch to the modern experience if Move toor Copy toaren't available.

Step3:
Choose a destination in the current library, OneDrive, or another SharePoint site, then select Move hereor Copy here. If a site isn't listed, at the bottom of the site list on the left, selectMore places.(SharePoint Server 2019 currently only supports the current library.)

Step4:
If you wantto move or copy your files to a new folder, select the new folder icon Move or copy files in SharePoint (4)in the top right cornerto add a new folder. Enter a name for the folder and select Create. You can then select the new folder and select Move here or Copy here.

Notes:

  • When you useMove to, the history of the document is copied to the new destination. When you use Copy towith documents that have version history, only the latest version is copied. To copy earlier versions, you need to restore and copy each one. For more info about versioning, see Enable and configure versioning for a list or library.

  • For info on movinga file from OneDrive to a SharePointsite, seeMove files and folders between OneDrive and SharePoint.

  • TheMove to operation will fail if you attempt to move the document across libraries and the destination has enforced unique values.

  • When a file is moving, it continues to appear in the source directory until it's fully moved to the destination and then it will be deleted. The file remains in the source sites Recycle Bin after the Move is complete and issubject to the normal recycle schedule unless a user recovers it from the Recycle Bin.

  • When you move or copy a file to a location with different properties, only supported properties at the new location are maintained. For example, if you move a file from a document library that has a Priority column to a document library that doesn't have one, the information in the Priority column will be lost.

  • We don'trecommend moving OneNotenotebooks outside of theOneNoteapp.

  • Move to and Copy towork best within the SharePoint Online limits.

  • Move to option isn'tcurrently available on the Site Pages Library.

  • For common scenarios,visit thisTech Community blog.

See Also

Work with synced files in File Explorer

SharePoint Server Subscription Edition users may have a different experience starting with the SharePoint Server Subscription Edition Version 22H2 feature update. This feature update is included in the September 2022 Public Update for SharePoint Server Subscription Edition, as well as all future public updates for SharePoint Subscription Edition.

  • Copy

  • Move

Copy

Select the items that you want to copy, and then selectCopy to. Or, for the item, selectMore Move or copy files in SharePoint (5) >Copy to.

  1. Move or copy files in SharePoint (6)

    Note:If you're using the classic experience of SharePoint, Copy to isn't available.

  2. Under Choose a destination, select the location where you want a copy of the files or folders.

    Move or copy files in SharePoint (7)

    To create a new folder to copy the files to, selectNew folder.

  3. In the text box, enterthe name of the new folder.

    Move or copy files in SharePoint (8)

  4. Select the checkmark, and then selectCopy here.

    Notes:

    • You can copy up to 500 MB of files and folders at one time.

    • When you use Copy to with documents that have version history, only the latest version is copied. To copy earlier versions, you mustrestore and copy each one. For more info about versioning, see Enable and configure versioning for a list or library.

    • If the Version 22H2 feature update has been installed:

      • If the farm administrator has configured the farm to be in the "Early release" feature release ring, you'll also be able to select a destination location in different subsites, different site collections, and different web applications.

      • If the farm administrator has configured the farm to be in the "Standard release" feature release ring, it will only support the previous behavior of copying and moving files within the same document libraries.SharePoint Server Subscription Edition farms are in the "Standard release" feature release ring by default.

      • SharePoint farm administrators can select the feature release ring for their SharePoint Server Subscription Edition farms by going toCentral Administration > System Settings > Feature release preference.

    • If the Version 23H1 feature update or any newer feature update has been installed, you'll also be able to select a destination location in different subsites, different site collections, and different web applications. This functionality will be enabled regardless of whether the farm administrator has configured the farm to be in the "Early release" or "Standard release" feature release ring.

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Move

  1. Select the items you want to move.

  2. In the main menu at the top of the page, selectMove to. If you don't see Move to, on the main menu, select...(ellipses), and then selectMove to.

    Move or copy files in SharePoint (9)

    Note:If you're using the classic experience of SharePoint, Move to isn't available.

  3. In the Choose a destination pane, select the new location in the document library where you want the files to go, and selectMove here.

    Move or copy files in SharePoint (10)

    In the Choose destination pane, to add a new folder to the document library, you can also click New folder, and move the item to the new folder. In the text box, enterthe name of the new folder, selectthe checkmark, and then selectMove here.

    Move or copy files in SharePoint (11)

Notes:

  • Metadata for the file being copied or moved will be preserved as long as the same term store is used in both the source and destination locations.

  • When selectingMove to, the history of the document is copied to the new destination. For more info aboutversioning, see Enable and configure versioning for a list or library.

  • If the Version 22H2 feature update has been installed:

    • If the farm administrator has configured the farm to be in the "Early release"feature release ring,you'll also be able to select a destination location in different document libraries in the same site.

    • If the farm administrator has configured the farm to be in the "Standard release" feature release ring, it will only support the previous behavior of copying and moving files within the same document libraries.SharePoint Server Subscription Edition farms are in the "Standard release" feature release ring by default.

    • SharePoint farm administrators can select the feature release ring for their SharePoint Server Subscription Edition farms by going toCentral Administration > System Settings > Feature release preference.

  • If the Version 23H1 feature update or any newer feature update has been installed, you'll also be able to select a destination location in different document libraries in the same site.This functionality will be enabled regardless of whether the farm administrator has configured the farm to be in the "Early release" or "Standard release" feature release ring.

  • Copy

  • Move

Copy

  1. Select the items that you want to copy, and then selectCopy to. Or, for the item, selectMore Move or copy files in SharePoint (12) >Copy to.

    Move or copy files in SharePoint (13)

    Note:If you're using the classic experience of SharePoint, Copy to isn't available.

  2. Under Choose a destination, select the location where you want a copy of the files or folders.

    Move or copy files in SharePoint (14)

    To create a new folder to copy the files to, selectNew folder.

  3. In the text box, enterthe name of the new folder.

    Move or copy files in SharePoint (15)

  4. Select the checkmark, and then selectCopy here.

Notes:

  • You can copy up to 500 MB of files and folders at one time.

  • When you use Copy to with documents that have version history, only the latest version is copied. To copy earlier versions, you mustrestore and copy each one. For more info about versioning, see Enable and configure versioning for a list or library.

Top of Page

Move

  1. Select the items you want to move.

  2. In the main menu at the top of the page, selectMove to. If you don't see Move to, on the main menu, select...(ellipses), and then selectMove to.

    Move or copy files in SharePoint (16)

    Note:If you're using the classic experience of SharePoint, Move to isn't available.

  3. In the Choose a destination pane, select the new location in the document library where you want the files to go, and selectMove here.

    Move or copy files in SharePoint (17)

    In the Choose destination pane, to add a new folder to the document library, you can also click New folder, and move the item to the new folder. In the text box, enterthe name of the new folder, selectthe checkmark, and then selectMove here.

    Move or copy files in SharePoint (18)

Note:When selectingMove to, the history of the document is copied to the new destination. For more info aboutversioning, see Enable and configure versioning for a list or library.

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Important: Office 2010 is no longer supported. Upgrade to Microsoft 365 to work anywhere from any device and continue to receive support.

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SharePoint Server 2016 and older provide the Send to option for copying a file to another library or location.

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