You can use various SharePoint URLs to connect to your SharePoint and Microsoft 365 environment in the Explorer and with the migration actions.
Note: You cannot use a Web Application address for your connection. To access your web applications, use your Central Administration address instead.
Prerequisite(s)
You need the correct administrative rights for your connection.
Index
- SharePoint admin center address (Microsoft 365)
- Central Administration address (SharePoint on premises)
- Site collection address
SharePoint admin center address (Microsoft 365)
URL Format
- https://your_tenant_name-admin.sharepoint.com
Used in a Copy
To access all your site collections in a list with Copy Structure, connect with your admin center's address and select 
Sites in the hierarchy.
This allows you to select multiple site collections to copy from your source, and to copy multiple site collections at the destination. ShareGate Desktop can now create your new site collections at the destination. This prevents needing to create new site collections in SharePoint, and merge your source site collections one by one.
With the other copy actions, connecting with the admin center address will require you to navigate to a list or library down the hierarchy.
Note: Though you can expand 
OneDrive for Business in the hierarchy with Copy Structure, you cannot list all your OneDrives. For your OneDrive for Business migration, check our OneDrive PowerShell section.
Used in the Explorer
When you connect to your admin center address in the Explorer, ShareGate Desktop will give you access to all the site collections, Microsoft 365 groups, and OneDrives in your tenant.
Central Administration address (SharePoint on premises)
URL Format
- http://your_farm_name:1234
The address of the Central Administration uses a port number established in the SharePoint installation process. If you don't know the Central Administration URL you can check with your IT admin, or you can get it directly on the SharePoint server with these steps:
- Open your Windows Start menu.
- Go to Administrative Tools.
- Open SharePoint Administration.
- Complete the connection to your Central Administration.
- Your Central Administration address and port number will be on your address bar.
Used in a Copy
To access all your site collections in a list with Copy Structure, connect with your Central Administration's address and select your Web Application in the hierarchy.
This allows you to select multiple site collections to copy from your source, and to copy multiple site collections at the destination. ShareGate Desktop can now create your new site collections at the destination. This prevents needing to create new site collections in SharePoint, and merge your source site collections one by one.
With the other copy actions, connecting with the Central Administration address will require you to navigate to a list or library down the hierarchy.
Note: We do not recommend using the SharePoint Central Administration Web Application for your migrations. You should use the default Portal Web Application or any custom Web application created for your site collections.
Used in the Explorer
When you connect to your Central Administration address in the Explorer, ShareGate Desktop will give you access to all your Web Applications. You can navigate or search your Web Applications to manage your SharePoint sites.
Site collection address
URL Format
- Microsoft 365: https://tenant_name.sharepoint.com/sites/site_name/
- SharePoint on premises: http://farm_name/sites/site_name/
Used in a Copy
To access a site collection with Copy structure, connect with your site collection's address and select your site collection in the hierarchy.
For the source, connecting with a site collection address will allow you to migrate the site collection itself, its site objects, or its subsites.
At the destination, connecting with a site collection address will allow you to merge a source site into it, copy site objects from another site, or to copy subsites to the site collection hierarchy.
With the other copy actions, connecting with the site collection address will require you to navigate to a list or library down the hierarchy.
Used in the Explorer
Using a Site Collection address in Explorer will give you access to manage that site collection only.
Note: You can use a subsite address for your connection. In Copy, the subsite address will allow you to copy to or from the subsite directly, while in the Explorer it will connect you to its parent site collection.