Best Solution to Migrate Lotus Notes to Office 365 Step-by-Step

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  • Updated on April 24th, 2025

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Summary: Many organizations today are shifting from Lotus Notes to Office 365 to take advantage of cloud accessibility. Office 365 offers a modern, user-friendly experience that aligns well with today’s business needs. Also, it provides improved collaboration and reduced IT workload. But when it comes to moving your data, the process can be complex without proper guidance. This blog outlines the best solution to migrate Lotus Notes to Office 365 step by step. It also introduces the DRS Softech NSF to Office 365 Migration Tool, which makes the transition fast and efficient.

Top Reasons to Migrate Lotus Notes Mail to Office 365

There are several practical reasons to perform the Lotus Notes to O365 migration. Here, we will introduce you to some of them:

  • With Office 365, users can access emails and data from anywhere, on any device, with an internet connection.
  • A more intuitive and user-friendly experience compared to the outdated Lotus Notes environment.
  • O365 frequently integrates with apps like Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive for team productivity.
  • Also, it provides large mailbox storage, shared mailboxes, advanced search, and built-in spam filtering.
  • Also, Office 365 can work alongside on-premises systems for smoother transitions.

Note: These reasons highlight why businesses across industries are choosing Office 365 as an alternative to Lotus Notes.

How to Migrate Lotus Notes to Office 365

Understanding the right approaches to move your data can make the migration from Lotus Notes to Office 365 simple and secure. Although the method you pick, it totally depends on your technical expertise. Just go through the upcoming section and know every possible method to perform Lotus Notes to Office 365 migration step by step:

Method 01: Using IMAP Connector to Import NSF files in Office 365

One of the basic ways to move emails from Lotus Notes to Office 365 is by using the IMAP connector. However, it works best for smaller data sets and simple mailboxes.

Note: Before starting, make sure to back up all important Lotus Notes data to avoid accidental loss. To perform this method, all you need is to enable and configure TCP/IP Port in Lotus Notes:

Step 01: Enable IMAP in Lotus Notes

  1. Open the Domino Administrator.
  2. Now, go to the Configuration tab.
  3. After that, click on the Server Document.
  4. Under the Ports >> Internet Ports >> Mail section.
  5. Enable the IMAP TCP/IP port by setting it to “Enabled.”
  6. Save the settings and restart the Domino Server.

Step 02: Create Users in Office 365

  1. Set up user accounts in Office 365 for each Lotus Notes user you plan to migrate Lotus Notes to Office 365.

Step 03: Configure Outlook with IMAP

  1. Open Microsoft Outlook.
  2. Add a new account using IMAP settings.
  3. Connect the account to the Lotus Notes server using IMAP.
  4. Also, configure the destination Office 365 account in Outlook.

Once both accounts are added to Outlook, drag and drop emails from the Lotus Notes (IMAP) account to the Office 365 mailbox folders. You have to repeat the process for each user/mailbox.

Method 02: Using MONTI to Import NSF files in Office 365

To migrate Lotus Notes to Office 365, you have admin access to both the Lotus Notes server and the Office 365 environment. Make sure both systems meet the necessary software and hardware requirements for MONTI.

  1. Download and install the MONTI migration tool on a compatible system.
  2. Log in with your administrative credentials for Lotus Notes and Office 365.
  3. In MONTI, add the Lotus Notes account and pull data for migration.
  4. Enter your Office 365 admin credentials into MONTI to connect the destination Office 365 mailbox.
  5. After that, choose the data you want to migrate.
  6. Click on the Start Migration button in MONTI to migrate Lotus Notes mail to Office 365.

Limitations of Manual Methods (IMAP Connector & MONTI)

Both methods can migrate Lotus Notes to Office 365, they come with several challenges that can affect the migration process:

  • Only emails can be moved using the IMAP method.
  • The process is slow and not suitable for bulk or large-scale migrations.
  • Folder structure and email formatting may break during transfer.
  • Manual steps increase the chance of errors and data loss.
  • Both methods need technical knowledge and admin-level access.
  • MONTI requires a complex setup and may not be supported in every environment.
  • There’s no guarantee of complete or clean migration with either method.

Method 03: Simplest Way to Migrate Lotus Notes to Office 365

The DRS Softech NSF to Office 365 Migration Tool offers a reliable and secure way to transfer your entire mailbox data without complications. It is built to migrate everything from emails and contacts to calendars and other mailbox items directly. It also supports multiple NSF files at once. What makes this tool stand out is its easy-to-use interface, smart filtering options, and ability to keep your data structure and formatting fully intact. Even if you’re not very technical, you can perform a complete migration without any risk of data loss. Follow the given steps to perform the migration directly:

A Few Clicks to Migrate Lotus Notes to Office 365

  1. Download and run the DRS NSF to Office 365 Migration Tool on your system.
  2. Click on “Add Files” to locate and upload the NSF files you want to export.
  3. Once the NSF files are added, you’ll see a detailed preview of mailbox items.
  4. Provide your Office 365 admin login details as the destination platform.
  5. Utilize the available filters to perform a selective migration if needed.
  6. At last, click on the “Convert” to migrate Lotus Notes mail to Office 365.

Know More: Convert NSF to EML

Conclusion

The switch from Lotus Notes to Office 365 opens the door to better performance, easier access, and modern features. Manual options can work, but often take more time and come with technical challenges. To avoid those issues, we recommended a professional solution to migrate Lotus Notes to Office 365. It makes the task fast and reliable. It is a simple utility, a few steps, and your data moves securely, just the way it should.

About The Author:

Shital is an experienced content writer who focuses on data recovery and email migration. With a strong background in technology and a love for making difficult topics easy to understand, she writes clear and helpful content for both tech experts and regular users. Her content helps you to manage the challenges of recovering lost data and moving emails between platforms like Office 365, Outlook, and other email clients. Her detailed guides help people protect their data and make their communication systems run smoothly.

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