Copying SharePoint Sites using PnP PowerShell

Copying a SharePoint site involves duplicating its structure, lists, libraries, permissions, and content to a new destination. PnP PowerShell helps automate this process efficiently.

What You’ll Learn

Exporting a SharePoint site’s structure
Creating a new SharePoint site as a copy
Copying lists, libraries, and their data
Transferring permissions and site settings

Step 1: Install & Connect to SharePoint Online

Ensure you have PnP PowerShell installed:

Install-Module -Name PnP.PowerShell -Scope CurrentUser -Force

Connect to the source SharePoint site:

$SourceSite = "https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/SourceSite"
Connect-PnPOnline -Url $SourceSite -Interactive

Successfully connected to the source site!

Step 2: Export the SharePoint Site Structure

We start by exporting the structure (lists, libraries, and settings).

Save the Site Template as an XML File

$TemplatePath = "C:\Migration\SiteTemplate.xml"

# Export the site structure
Get-PnPSiteTemplate -Out $TemplatePath -Handlers Lists,Fields,ContentTypes,Security,Features

Write-Host "✅ Site structure exported to $TemplatePath"

The site structure is now saved!

Step 3: Create a New SharePoint Site (Destination)

Now, create a new site where the content will be copied.

Create a SharePoint Site:

$NewSiteUrl = "https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/DestinationSite"
$NewSiteTitle = "Destination Site"

# Create a new Communication site
New-PnPSite -Type CommunicationSite -Title $NewSiteTitle -Url $NewSiteUrl -Owner "admin@yourtenant.onmicrosoft.com"

Write-Host "✅ New site created: $NewSiteUrl"

The new SharePoint site is ready!

Step 4: Apply the Exported Template to the New Site

Now, apply the exported XML template to the new site.

Apply the Site Template:

Connect-PnPOnline -Url $NewSiteUrl -Interactive

Apply-PnPSiteTemplate -Path $TemplatePath

Write-Host "✅ Site template applied successfully!"

The new site now matches the old one’s structure!

Step 5: Copy Lists and Libraries with Data

After applying the template, we need to copy the list and document library contents.

Copy All Lists

$Lists = Get-PnPList | Where-Object { $_.Hidden -eq $false }

foreach ($List in $Lists) {
    $ListTitle = $List.Title
    $Items = Get-PnPListItem -List $ListTitle

    foreach ($Item in $Items) {
        Add-PnPListItem -List $ListTitle -Values $Item.FieldValues
    }

    Write-Host "✅ Copied list: $ListTitle"
}

All lists and their data are copied!

Copy Document Libraries

$Libraries = Get-PnPList | Where-Object { $_.BaseType -eq "DocumentLibrary" -and $_.Hidden -eq $false }

foreach ($Library in $Libraries) {
    $Files = Get-PnPFile -List $Library.Title -AsListItem

    foreach ($File in $Files) {
        $FileUrl = $File["FileRef"]
        $FileName = $File["FileLeafRef"]
        
        # Download file from source
        Get-PnPFile -Url $FileUrl -Path "C:\Migration\Files" -Filename $FileName -AsFile -Force

        # Upload to destination
        Add-PnPFile -Path "C:\Migration\Files\$FileName" -Folder $Library.Title
    }

    Write-Host "✅ Copied library: $($Library.Title)"
}

All document libraries and files are copied!

Step 6: Copy Permissions

To ensure users retain the same access levels, copy the site permissions.

Export Permissions from the Source Site

$PermissionsPath = "C:\Migration\SitePermissions.csv"

$Groups = Get-PnPGroup

$Permissions = @()
foreach ($Group in $Groups) {
    $Roles = Get-PnPGroupPermissions -Identity $Group.Id
    $Permissions += [PSCustomObject]@{
        GroupName = $Group.Title
        Permissions = ($Roles | ForEach-Object { $_.Name }) -join ", "
    }
}

$Permissions | Export-Csv -Path $PermissionsPath -NoTypeInformation
Write-Host "✅ Site permissions exported!"

Import Permissions to the Destination Site

$Permissions = Import-Csv -Path $PermissionsPath

foreach ($Permission in $Permissions) {
    $GroupName = $Permission.GroupName
    $Roles = $Permission.Permissions -split ", "

    # Create the group if not exists
    $ExistingGroup = Get-PnPGroup | Where-Object { $_.Title -eq $GroupName }
    if (-not $ExistingGroup) {
        New-PnPGroup -Title $GroupName -Owner "admin@yourtenant.onmicrosoft.com"
        Write-Host "✅ Created group: $GroupName"
    }

    # Assign permissions
    foreach ($Role in $Roles) {
        Set-PnPGroupPermissions -Identity $GroupName -AddRole $Role
    }

    Write-Host "✅ Assigned permissions to: $GroupName"
}

Permissions are successfully transferred!

Step 7: Automate the Process (Optional)

To schedule automatic site copying, use Windows Task Scheduler:

1️⃣ Open Task Scheduler
2️⃣ Create a New Task
3️⃣ Set Trigger to run at a fixed time
4️⃣ Use the following PowerShell command:

powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\Migration\CopySite.ps1"

Your site copy process is now automated!