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Migrating to Confluence Cloud? All your questions answered
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Migrating to Confluence Cloud? All your questions answered

A headshot of Holly (Hols) Aspinall against a teal background
Holly (Hols) Aspinall
Published: 11 February 2025
Last updated: 11 September 2025
7 min read
A moving box with Confluence Cloud's logo on it to represent migrating
A headshot of Holly (Hols) Aspinall against a teal background
Holly (Hols) Aspinall
Published: 11 February 2025
Last updated: 11 September 2025
7 min read
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End of life FAQ
Cloud Migration FAQ
Confluence Cloud Migration Assistant FAQ
What's next?

Has Confluence migration got you feeling lost?

If you're planning to migrate to Confluence Cloud, it can seem like a big (and intimidating) process. Ease your mind with our list of FAQs in one handy place.

It’s official: Atlassian is sunsetting Confluence Data Center. If you’re yet to migrate, now is the time to start planning. The process might sound daunting, but don't worry. We’re here to address common concerns and put your mind at ease.


End of life FAQ


What does "end of life" mean for Confluence Data Center?

End of life means that Atlassian will no longer be selling or supporting Data Center products. Once the end of life date is reached, you will no longer be able to edit your Data Center pages.


What is the end of life timeline for Confluence Data Center?

Atlassian's transition away from Data Center will follow a three-phase timeline:
  • 30 March 2026: New Data Center subscriptions and Marketplace app sales will end for new customers.

  • 30 March 2028: Existing customers will no longer be able to renew licences, buy new apps, or expand users.

  • 28 March 2029: All remaining licences will expire, and all Data Center instances will become read-only.

Can we remain on Confluence Data Center?

For the time being, you can, but you should start planning your migration soon. Your instances will become read-only when Data Center reaches end-of-life on 28 March 2029.

Why should we migrate to Confluence Cloud?

Migrating from Confluence Data Center to Cloud ensures you and your organisation will continue to enjoy a secure experience free from data breaches. You’ll also continue to receive round-the-clock technical support from Atlassian.

Learn more: Seven reasons to migrate to Confluence Cloud


Cloud Migration FAQ


What are the different migration methods?

There are two different options for migration depending on the size and complexity of your Confluence instance:
  • Up to 10,000 users: An 'optimise and shift' approach is suitable for most companies. Optimise and shift migration moves your instance to the cloud with minimal changes, aiming to replicate the existing environment quickly and cost-effectively.
  • 10,000+ users: Atlassian recommends using a cloud-specialised migration partner - read more on finding a migration partner.

How long does it take to migrate to Confluence Cloud?

The duration of your Confluence Cloud migration depends on the complexity and size of your Confluence instance, but on average:
  • Up to 5,000 users: 4 months
  • 5,000-10,000 users: 6 months
  • Over 10,000 users: 6 months+

💡 Tip: If you’re migrating more than 1,000 users, Atlassian recommends contacting its migration team two months before your planned migration date to ensure support is in place for you.

Are there any tools to help me migrate to Cloud?

Confluence Cloud Migration Assistant, which comes built-in to Confluence Server and Data Center, is a free tool to help you quickly move your Confluence instance to the cloud.

Can I get a free trial of Confluence Cloud?

Yes! You can try Confluence Cloud free for the duration of your remaining Server or Data Center subscription (up to 12 months). This trial matches your current (self-managed) tier and supports up to 20,000 users.

Will my existing apps be supported in Confluence Cloud?

This really depends on the apps you have - before you migrate, you should assess all of your existing apps and understand whether they have Cloud support, or whether you’ll need to find new apps in their place. The Confluence Cloud Migration Assistant can help you quickly assess your apps to help you develop an app migration strategy.

Mosaic: Content Formatting Macros & Templates, Forms for Confluence, and Community Forums for Confluence all have apps designed for Confluence Cloud. We even have a Cloud-only app, Guided Pathways for Confluence, to help you create better workflows in Confluence.

Learn more: How to migrate with Mosaic


Confluence Cloud Migration Assistant FAQ


What is Confluence Cloud Migration Assistant?

The Confluence Cloud Migration Assistant is a built-in tool designed for migrating to Confluence Cloud. The app helps you evaluate your current on-premise app usage and build a solid app migration strategy. When it's time to move your data, the Migration Assistant lets you smoothly and seamlessly migrate spaces, users, and groups to the Cloud.


What does (and doesn't) Confluence Cloud Migration Assistant migrate?


What will be migrated:
  • Spaces (including Confluence personal spaces, blogs, and spaces in trash)
    - Custom templates created by users
    - Pages (this includes page restrictions, page history, tags, labels, comments, and shared drafts)
    - Team calendars
    - Attachments (except when added to a page as a link address)
    - Tasks
    - Space shortcuts (except shortcuts that lead to pages in other spaces)
  • Global templates (global page templates and custom system templates only)
  • Users and groups
  • App data (this depends on whether an app vendor provides an automated migration path for the Confluence Cloud Migration Assistant)

What won’t be migrated:
  • Global settings and permissions (you’ll need to configure these manually)
  • Application links
  • User avatars
  • Favourites/Saved for Later
  • Passwords (unless you've set up Single Sign-On, also known as SSO)
  • Custom emojis
  • Personal drafts (only shared drafts are migrated)
  • User macros
  • Attachments that are added as a link address
  • Attachments that are stored through the Confluence Mail Archiving plugin (you'll need to manually download and re-upload these attachments)


What happens to existing permissions and access levels?


Global settings/permissions
When you migrate, you’ll receive the standard global settings and permissions. Some of these settings include whether users have a personal Confluence space, who can create spaces, and who can view user profiles. These may need to be reconfigured by a Confluence admin.

User settings/permissions
When you migrate users, the Migration Assistant will check if your Server/Data Center groups already exist in the cloud (this is based on the group name, so the new group needs to match the existing group name exactly).

If a matching group exists in the cloud, users will be migrated to this group. This process is usually straightforward, but if you’re changing your membership tier during migrations, this can affect permissions. You can learn more with Atlassian’s guide.

What’s next?

We hope these answers have helped you better understand the ins and outs of Confluence Cloud migration, but if you have any other questions, the Atlassian team will be happy to help.

Looking for more migration resources? Our Confluence Cloud Migration Hub has everything you need to smooth your transition to the Cloud.
Icons depicting macros emerging from an open box with a cloud

Migrate Mosaic: Content Formatting Macros & Templates with ease

We've created a handy migration guide to help you recreate the same look of their Server and Data Center pages in Confluence Cloud.

Has Confluence migration got you feeling lost?

Written by
A headshot of Holly (Hols) Aspinall against a teal background
Holly (Hols) Aspinall
Senior Content Marketing Manager
As an experienced content marketer and a long-time Confluence user, Hols is passionate about creating educational, accessible guides that help readers go beyond the limitations of their Confluence instance.