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How to Migrate from Rackspace to Office 365/ Microsoft 365? A Step-By-Step Guide

Rohit Dixit | Modified: August 22nd, 2024 | Migration | 9 Minutes Reading

Overview: Are you scrutinizing for a reliable method to migrate Rackspace email to Office 365? This blog elucidates the best solution to migrate from Rackspace to Office 365 conveniently. 

When we talk about the best and most managed cloud provider for small organizations, then, Rackspace comes across the mind of every user. Rackspace email is a favorable email service for organizations that require mail accounts for their domains, especially for small or medium organizations.

Even after all this, it has become progressively normal to migrate Rackspace to Microsoft 365 platform.

The reason behind this is that a large number of users are already familiar with Microsoft Office 365 platform. When compared to the standalone Rackspace Email application, these applications are compatible and provide a unified experience. Moreover, these service components can be easily managed via an online portal.

In the below section, we will find more of such reasons and the methods to perform the migration. So, without any further ado, let us go to the next section of the blog.

Why Migrate Rackspace Email to Microsoft 365 Platform?

Practically there are different reasons why users prefer to choose Office 365 instead of Rackspace platform, like-

  • Productive workforce via 3 main elements.
    • Cross-platform Support.
    • Easy accessibility.
    • Built-in collaboration and sharing features.
  • Office 365 provides subscriptions on a pay-as-you-go or use model.
  • Microsoft 365 provides effortless manageability and operability.
  • M365 is a unified ecosystem that provides a one-stop solution for organizations.
  • Microsoft 365 is highly scalable and simplifies the removal or adding of users as per the business expansion. 
  • All the associated apps of Microsoft 365 are updated regularly.

Let us first discuss a user query related to Rackspace to Office 365 migration.

User Query: I have been looking for a solution to migrate my multiple Rackspace emails to Microsoft 365 account. After exhaustive research, I have realized that the manual method is not my cup of tea as it will only let me migrate my files into PST format. Since I want them in Office 365, it is becoming a tiresome task for me. Please suggest to me a direct solution to perform this migration efficiently.

How to Migrate from Rackspace to Office 365 Safely and Efficiently?

By using the Most Demanded IMAP to Office 365 Migrator for both Mac & Windows OS.  One can easily migrate Rackspace email to Microsoft 365 account in bulk mode on their respective operating machine.

Besides this, features like Delta and concurrent migration lure users the most. On the other hand, a user can effortlessly perform selective migration using the date range filter.

Also, one can conveniently download the free edition of the program to know the functionality in a better manner.

We will be discussing the features of the tool in the upcoming section of the blog.

Enticing Features of this Advanced Software

This tool has numerous features, some of the key ones are as follows:

  1. Interactive Graphical User Interface: The UI of this above-suggested software is easy and self-explanatory. Hence, the user does not need to have any kind of hard-core technical knowledge to work on this utility.
  2. Maintenance of folder hierarchy: Moreover, the Rackspace to Office 365 migration tool ensures that the entire folder structure is maintained even after the migration process is over.
  3. Incremental Migration: Using this impeccable feature, users can skip the data that has already been migrated. By doing this, the user will save time and effort by migrating only new emails and attachments.
  4. Concurrent Migration: Furthermore, a user can migrate emails from multiple user accounts simultaneously using this feature.
  5. Help Section: This software provides a help section which is provided on all the screens. This will help users if they get stuck in the process. Furthermore, there is a technical support team available to assist you at any time.

How to Migrate from Rackspace to Office 365 on Windows OS?

Users just have to download the tool and follow the given step-by-step guide sequentially –

  • Install, activate, and run the tool on the respective Windows machine.

rackspace to office 365 migration

  • From there, choose the Source as IMAP and Destination as Office 365 from the initial screen.

source and destination selection

  • The next step is to set your Workload category preference as Email, and if necessary apply Date Filter to selectively migrate the emails.

email selection

  • Then, select the Other option enter the details of the Source Rackspace account, and validate them.

source selection

  • Likewise, enter the user information of Microsoft Office 365 as a Destination and validate them

destination details

  • Add the users by either opting for the Import Users option or the Download Template option for Rackspace to Office 365 migration.

user selection

  • Eventually, validate the users that you have added, set priority if required, and hit the Start Migration button.

migrate Rackspace email to Office 365

Note: After the completion of the importation procedure of all emails, the software generates an export report which consists of all the success and failure counts. If necessary, the user can save it on the desktop at any location path.

Migrate from Rackspace Hosted Exchange to Office 365 Safely on Mac

Download the Mac-based migrator on any version of the Mac operating machine, and follow the steps to execute the migration process-

  • From the welcome screen, implement the given prerequisites, and hit Continue.

migrate rackspace email to microsoft 365

  • Secondly, from the Source Account type, select the Rackspace Mail option, enter the account email User name and Password, and click validate.

select rackspace option

  • In the next step, select the Office 365 option as the destination IMAP account, enter the required M365 account User Name and Password, and hit Validate.

validation of m365 credentials

  • To transfer emails from multiple Rackspace mail accounts to Microsoft 365, tap on the Add option.

rackspace to office 365 migration

  • To end this procedure, click on the Start Migration option to migrate Rackspace email to Office 365 account on Mac computers.

migrate rackspace mail to office 365

How to Move Rackspace Mailboxes to Microsoft 365 Manually?

Usually, migration experts do not opt for this method because it does not ensure that the migration will be completed. There are no advanced filters to migrate from Rackspace to Office 365 efficiently. Even after knowing these shortcomings, if you still want to initiate the process, then follow the below steps.

Step 1. Creating a Rackspace Admin Account

The initial step before going to transfer Rackspace mailboxes to M365 is the Rackspace admin account. Make sure you have the permissions of the admin to access all of the mailboxes.

Step 2. Unhide All Objects

This process is not just migrating the mailboxes from Rackspace to Office 365. It involves more items such as Distribution Lists, Contacts, Resources, and other objects as well. All of these objects must be unhidden before initiating the migration process. 

Step 3. Know Your Current Rackspace Server

While transferring emails from your Rackspace account to Microsoft 365, there is a need of your current server as well. So, locate the server on which your Rackspace emails are hosted through the Control Panel. During migration, you need to add the details of the Rackspace server.

Step 4. Choose Your Office 365 Plan

There are multiple plans available for Microsoft 365. You can opt for anyone that suits you best. Depending upon your business requirements and size you can pick E3 or E5 plan. If you are planning to go higher and already a giant enterprise then go for the E5 plan. It will give enormous benefits over the others. 

Step 5. Connecting Your Rackspace Domain in Microsoft 365

For receiving the emails on the same server, add the current domain in Office 365. This can be accomplished through the admin portal in the domain section.

Step 6.  Start Migrating Emails from Rackspace to M365 Migration

Now, create a migration endpoint between the Rackspace and Office 365 servers. You can achieve this using the PowerShell commands or the admin portal for a smooth and seamless migration. You can create batches and start migrating them.

Step 7. Validation of Migration

After moving from Rackspace to Office 365. Ensures all of the users are migrated successfully. Assign licenses to all of the users. Also, do not forget to update the DNS records.

The Bottom Line

When the user wants to switch to a better and more secure platform, it is always recommended to choose Microsoft 365. Because it offers a variety of features. So, in the above blog, we have provided the best available solution to migrate from Rackspace to Office 365 for both Mac and Windows OS. The manual method has some restrictions, due to which it is not advised to use.

Hence, users can easily download the demo version of the tool to learn the functionality without investing any money. It is the best solution that provides multiple features to filter the process of migrating Rackspace email to Microsoft 365.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q- How do I transfer all Rackspace emails to Office 365?

Quick Steps to migrate from Rackspace to Office 365.

  • Step 1: Download Software on a Windows PC.
  • Step 2:Select IMAP & Office 365 Platform.
  • Step 3:Validate Rackspace user account
  • Step 4:Authenticate the O365 user account.
  • Step 5:Start Rackspace to O365 migration.

Q- How do I send bulk emails from my Rackspace account?

Unfortunately, Rackspace does not facilitate users with bulk email services.  However, to check that your emails are not blocked, it is better to use a reputable email service to send your emails through to some other email client. For bulk email migration, you can take the help of the IMAPMigrator Rackspace to Office 365 migration tool.

Q- Is Rackspace POP or IMAP?

Rackspace Email Hosting services provide IMAP access to your account for data management, with IMAP, you can connect to your email from any device (mobile and desktop email clients) at any time.

Q- Can I use Microsoft 365 Admin Center to migrate from Rackspace to Office 365?

Yes, you can perform migration with the Admin Center but it is not a seamless way. It has so many limitations that affects the migration process and generates inefficient results.