How to Migrate Zimbra to Office 365 Users?

Rollins Duke
Published: October 5th, 2023 • 8 Min Read

In the past few years, there has been a drastic shift to migrate Zimbra to Office 365 due to the better up-gradation features of Microsoft 365. Although Zimbra is a robust email system, still many organizations find it too simplistic to fulfill their requirements. Nowadays most businesses are preferring to use Microsoft 365 due to its advance features and cloud benefits.

Hence, in this article, we will take you through some major steps involved in Zimbra to Microsoft 365 migration. Keep reading to get a clear knowledge for resolving the given queries that are faced by administrators and working professionals.

How to Migrate Zimbra to Office 365?
Can Zimbra be integrated with Exchange online?
How do I export my Zimbra account data in TGZ?

Read Similar: 2 Best Approaches for Office 365 to Zimbra Migration

I have recently bought a new Microsoft 365 plan for my business. I decided to migrate all Zimbra accounts into Office 365 accounts. But I am unable to find a reliable solution for completing Zimbra to Office 365 migration steps. However, I got some highly technical approaches through server settings. But I don’t much aware of them. Thus, now I am looking for an easy way to migrate email from Zimbra to Office 365. Please provide your guideline for me! – Mr. James, USA

Brief Steps to Migrate Zimbra Mail to Office 365

First, run Zimbra and export data in TGZ file.
Launch BitRecover Software and add TGZ files.
Select required Zimbra items and press Next.
Choose Office 365 and validate credentials.
Last, click Backup to migrate Zimbra to O365.

Note: These are quick steps to migrate email from Zimbra to Office 365. If you want to learn more about the process, then read this article continue. As in upcoming sections, we have discussed the complete guidelines.

Reasons for Zimbra to Office 365 Migration

Zimbra is a lightweight email application that is quite popular among small businesses. But, when business grows, then the needs become more complex and one can compromise in terms of work proficiency. Hence, many users ask BitRecover about how to migrate Zimbra to Office 365. We have analyzed the following reasons:

Users find the GUI of Zimbra as outdated especially if they have used mail services which are more leading nowadays. Hence, emerges the need to do Zimbra to Office 365 migration.
The filter and search options are not too flexible compared to other email services.
Synchronization and account configuration issues of Zimbra mail make users migrate Zimbra mail to Office 365.
Zimbra is well-suitable for small-sized businesses while Microsoft 365 formerly Office 365 is appropriate for large enterprises, small businesses, and working professionals.
Wide support is available for Microsoft 365 setup, and configurations accordingly. But Zimbra Server settings are much more complicated as it uses Linux commands.
Office 365 users can use its documentation applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) online. But Zimbra’s documentation is not much effective, hence users face issues.
Office 365 has the best customization flexibility while Zimbra allows for less limited customization. Hence, administrators may face some critical problems.

These are some drawbacks of Zimbra desktop and cloud variants. Thus, users want to migrate mail from Zimbra to Office 365 accounts.

The Solution to Migrate Zimbra to Microsoft 365 Account

There are no direct and easiest manual methods available, so we are going to use the best BitRecover Zimbra Converter Wizard is an all-in-one solution to migrate Zimbra to Office 365 including complete integrated data. Thus, the tool is also known as Zimbra to Office 365 migration tool. This utility is available with a free trial version which works the same as the pro edition. However, the freeware edition allows transferring only limited data from Zimbra to Office 365. You can upgrade it anytime to avoid all the limitations.

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Stage 1: Export TGZ File from Zimbra

For Zimbra Desktop:

Open the Zimbra Desktop email client >> Preferences option.
Select the Import/ Export option from the left panel.
Check the data that you want to export >> Export icon.
Select the Save file option and click on Ok to continue.
Browse the destination path >> Save to store the TGZ file.

For Zimbra Cloud:

Sign In to your Zimbra Cloud Account.
Pick the Zimbra email folder, right-click on it >> Export icon.
You can see that the TGZ file is exported successfully.
Get the TGZ file under the download folder.

Note That: Don’t be confused, TGZ is a zipped file extension to store Zimbra exported data. It includes mail, an address book, a calendar, tasks, and a briefcase.

Stage 2: Import TGZ File into Office 365

Start Zimbra to Office 365 Migration Tool.
Upload the TGZ files/folders using the Select Files/Folders option.
It is analyzing the Zimbra TGZ files before the migration process.
Select the required items, and press Next.
Pick Office 365 as a preferred saving option.
Use advanced filter options for migrating filtered data between a date range.
Check the Change Language box if you are using Office 365 in a non-English language.
Check the I am Admin option which helps choose a specific O365 user account.
Select Copy to default folders and Create a log for messages not converted option accordingly.
Enter Office 365 credentials and choose Sign In.
The process to migrate Zimbra to Office 365 is running, please wait for completion.
Zimbra to Microsoft 365 migration task has been finished successfully.
Here, you can see the log report about migrated data.

Zimbra to Office 365 Migration Tool Specialties

Filter Options: Use filter options to move mail from Zimbra to Office 365 by date range, email address, and email subject.
Migrate All Data: The tool permits to migrate Zimbra to Office 365 together with emails, contacts, calendars, attachments, tasks, and all.
I am Admin: This option allows the to migrate Zimbra data to any specific O365 user account that the admin wants.
Retains Email Elements: While you migrate Zimbra to Microsoft 365, the software will maintain all the attributes like Sender, Receiver, Subject, Date, Time, Year, etc.
Copy to Default Folders: Users can check this option if they want to get Zimbra emails under Office 365 default folders.
Two Upload Options: Zimbra to Office 365 Converter provides two separate options for uploading Zimbra TGZ files in software GUI i.e., Select Files or Select Folders.
Independent Tool: No, a third-party tool is required for completing the process of migrating Zimbra to Office 365 accounts.
Select Necessary Folders: This application shows all Zimbra folders under the software panel. Users can choose only the required folders for migration.
Creates Log Report: After completing Zimbra to Office 365 migration task, the software automatically generates a log report file that has information about migrated data.

Frequently Asked Question

Que 1: Why migrate from Zimbra to Office 365?

Ans: If we compare both Zimbra and Office 365 services, then MS Office 365 will win, because it provides amazing and more advanced features and filters than Zimbra. We have mentioned the complete reasons to migrate Zimbra to Office 365 above.

Que 2: What are the benefits of moving to Office 365?

Ans: These are some benefits to use Office 365:

Provides high-end & advanced security.
Offers multiple services to manage your data.
Enhanced accessibility
Take Automatic Backup of your Files & Folders.

Many more such benefits are provided by Office 365.

Que 3: Can I migrate Zimbra’s desktop to Office 365 without exporting TGZ file?

Ans: No, this software requires TGZ files, but if you want to migrate directly from the Zimbra account use the BitRecover ZDB Converter Wizard.

Que 4: Does the software require an internet connection?

Ans: No, there is no need for an internet connection for Zimbra to Office 365 migration.

Over to You

Testing and executing the aforementioned steps create ease to move all emails, contacts, calendars, briefcases, etc. from Zimbra to Office 365. Even, Zimbra to Office 365 migration tool comes up with a demo edition for testing software before purchasing. After using the tool, I got it a worthy tool to migrate Zimbra to Office 365 accounts.

To understand how the software works, we suggest you first take a free trial of the DEMO VERSION. It is available free of cost and gives you the facility to convert 25 items from the Zimbra folder to a supported format. For doing unlimited Zimbra mail server migration to Office 365, quickly purchase the license keys.