Exchange 2016 to 2019 Migration Step-by-step Guide

Read time: 4 minutes

After the successful installation and configuration of Exchange Server 2019 on your premises, it is time to migrate data from the older version to Exchange 2019. Though it is advisable to use a professional tool for Exchange migration, we will go through the manual method to migrate to Exchange 2019. Manual migration can be performed using the Exchange admin center.

Migrate Exchange Server 2016 to 2019

For migration from Exchange Server 2016 to 2010, you require both versions of Exchange in a single network. When both servers are live, it becomes easier to migrate the mailbox database.

1. You can start the migration using Exchange Admin Center. Sign in to it using the admin username and password.
2. In the recipients category, go to migration and click on the Add option. Choose Move to a different database.
3. Click on the Plus (+) icon to add user mailboxes that you want to migrate.
4. Select the mailboxes from Exchange 2016 and click the Add button.
5. After selecting mailboxes, click OK.
6. The mailboxes are enlisted in the wizard for migration. Click Next.
7. Provide a new name to the migration batch and click the Browse option to select the target database.
8. Select the database from Exchange 2019 and click Add, then OK.
9. Once the target database has been selected. Click Next.
10. Use the browse button to select the recipient who will get the report when the batch is completed. Then, click New.
11. The migration starts quickly, and you can see the status is syncing. When the migration to Exchange 2019 is complete, the FINALIZED column will show the migrated mailbox numbers.

Final Words

This is the simplest process to migrate mailbox data to the newer Exchange 2019 version without any data loss. However, the overall process of adopting Exchange Server 2019 is not linear and requires a high level of technical expertise and time to complete the migration. A more straightforward approach is to use a professional Exchange Server migration software that demands minimum technical preparation and skills to complete the migration. Kernel Migrator for Exchange works as the perfect bridge between two versions of Exchange Servers and migrates selected mailboxes in various batches. You should use Exchange Migration software as it offers multiple kinds of filters for source data and lets you schedule the migration at a comfortable time.