Unable to copy because the size exceeds the maximum size allowed by SharePoint

Symptoms

Sharegate displays the following error when copying documents or list items with attachments:

• Unable to copy this file because the size exceeds the maximum size allowed by SharePoint.
• Unable to copy this file because its size <FILE SIZE> will exceed the maximum size allowed by SharePoint.
• Unable to copy this list item because the attachment <ATTACHMENT NAME> has a size of <ATTACHMENT SIZE> which will exceeds the maximum size allowed by SharePoint.
• Unable to copy this list item because its attachments size <ATTACHMENTS SIZE> will exceed the maximum size allowed through insane mode on-premises.

Error code

Details

SharePoint restricts on the maximum upload size which can be configured. This limit can be set up to 2 gigabytes for each file.

For all on-premises versions of SharePoint, the maximum upload size limitation is configured on a per Web Application basis. By default this limitation is set to 50 megabytes.

When copying a file that would exceed one of those limits, Sharegate signals an error indicating that the file is too large and that the element cannot be created in the destination SharePoint.

The limits are more restrictive with Sharegate's Insane Mode feature for SharePoint on-premises. Insane Mode packages information in order to increase the migration speed. For example, in the case of list item, Sharegate packages and sends all the attachments and metadata at the same time as the list item itself. This means the size limitation now applies to the entire package and not to a single element as per usual.

Solution

For files/attachments under 2 gigabytes:

If your file/attachment is below the limitation of 2 gigabytes, you must verify that the maximum upload size setting for the destination Web Application is configured accordingly to your file/attachment size.

To access this setting, connect to your central administration and go to the general settings of the desired Web Application.

If the setting is below your file/attachment size, you can increase its value up to 2 gigabytes.

When using Insane Mode on-Premises for files/attachments close to 2 gigabytes:

If you use Insane Mode for SharePoint on-premises and your file or the total size of your attachments is near the 2 gigabytes limitation, switch to Normal Mode and try to run the migration again.

For files/attachments over 2 gigabytes:

SharePoint 2013 and prior versions do not allow files over 2 gigabytes.

SharePoint 2016 allows files up to 10 gigabytes.

Office 365 and SharePoint 2019 can allows up to 15 gigabytes.

• Important Note on the Office 365 15 gigabyte upload limit: This is only supported on Sharegate 5.20 to 5.23.1 when using Normal Mode or Sharegate 7.0 or higher when using Normal or Insane Mode. Previous versions only support up to 10 gigabytes on Normal Mode, or 2 gigabytes on Insane Mode.
• A possible workaround would be to manually upload the files to SharePoint with your browser, and then use Sharegate's Bulk Metadata Editor feature in order to manually set the fields values.