You can’t move a Dynamics NAV installation directly to Business Central online using Microsoft’s documented route. First upgrade NAV to Business Central on-premises, then use the cloud migration process to replicate and upgrade data in Business Central online. The upgrade path depends on your NAV version, and preserving custom functionality requires planning for C/AL-to-AL conversion.
Which upgrade route applies to your NAV version?
Microsoft’s NAV-specific guidance identifies different intermediate versions for different starting points. These are standard routes to Business Central online; they are not a substitute for checking the exact source build, localization, customizations, and target release against Microsoft’s current compatibility guidance.
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| Installed Dynamics NAV version | Documented route to Business Central online |
|---|---|
| NAV 2015 through NAV 2018 | Business Central on-premises v14 → Business Central on-premises v25 or later → Business Central online |
| NAV 2013 or NAV 2013 R2 | NAV 2018 → Business Central on-premises v14 → Business Central on-premises v25 or later → Business Central online |
| NAV 2009 SP1 or NAV 2009 R2 | NAV 2013 or NAV 2015 → NAV 2018 → Business Central on-premises v14 → Business Central on-premises v25 or later → Business Central online |
These routes are from Microsoft Learn’s Migrate Dynamics NAV to Business Central online guidance. The supported-upgrade matrix also warns that minor updates across releases are not all compatible. Verify the precise source and target builds before choosing intermediate versions; a route that names a major version does not establish compatibility for every build or localization.
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Business Central on-premises v14 is an upgrade bridge for some older installations, not a recommended production destination for a new deployment. Microsoft says v14 is required to upgrade from version 13 or earlier to the latest Business Central. Its mainstream support ended in October 2023, minor updates are no longer available, and new customers cannot use it in production.
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Full migration or a reduced-scope reimplementation?
The two approaches differ mainly in what they preserve. A full migration upgrades the application and data through the required versions. Microsoft also describes a separate Business Central v14 reimplementation option that moves essential data, rather than the entire NAV database and its history.
| Approach | Data scope | Customization treatment | Best fit to evaluate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full migration | Application and data are upgraded through the documented route. | Convert C/AL customizations to AL extensions. Data from tables with code customizations cannot simply be carried forward unchanged unless those customizations are converted to extensions. | Organizations that need to preserve broader history and existing solution functionality. |
| Business Central v14 reimplementation | Essential data such as master data, opening balances, and setup. | Not a transfer of all code customizations as part of a full historical migration. | Organizations deliberately starting fresh with a smaller set of data. |
Microsoft’s migration overview characterizes reimplementation as essential-data-only. Its current release status and supported details should be verified before selecting it; it is not equivalent to preserving the whole NAV database.
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What must be ready before migrating online?
The online data-migration stage takes place after the application has been upgraded to a supported Business Central on-premises version. Microsoft’s FAQ lists these technical requirements for the on-premises source:
- SQL Server 2016 or later.
- Database compatibility level 130 or higher.
- Azure Data Factory for the data pipeline.
- A self-hosted integration runtime when the source is a local SQL Server instance.
Plan the data scope, company batches, cleanup, extensions, integrations, and validation approach before setting up replication. The required version hops, data volume, customizations, and validation workload vary by installation; Microsoft’s cited guidance does not establish a general project duration or outage window.
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How the online migration process works
Microsoft’s migration roadmap separates the application upgrade from moving the upgraded environment to the cloud. The high-level sequence is:
- Prepare. Assess the current environment, scope, prerequisites, and data quality. Decide which companies to migrate and how to group them into batches.
- Upgrade the application. Follow the route for the installed NAV version to reach a supported Business Central on-premises version. For a full migration, convert C/AL customizations to AL extensions.
- Set up cloud migration. Connect the on-premises database and Business Central online tenant, configure the integration runtime where needed, select companies, and set a replication schedule.
- Replicate and validate. Run the initial replication and subsequent incremental replications. Check the results and resolve data or configuration issues before proceeding.
- Run the data upgrade and complete migration. Complete the data-upgrade stage and make the online environment primary.
- Finish post-migration work. Enable users, reconnect integrations, monitor the system, and address performance needs.
How to plan around lifecycle and compatibility
Dynamics NAV’s final version was released in 2017. Microsoft’s lifecycle information lists January 2028 as the end of extended support. Treat that date as planning context, and confirm it against Microsoft’s lifecycle listing when making a project decision.
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Before approving a route, verify the source build, localization, compatible intermediate releases, and intended target in Microsoft’s current upgrade matrix. Then assess whether the project needs a full historical migration or can use a reduced data scope, and inventory custom code and integrations. Because supported release paths and lifecycle details can change, a plan based only on the product name or a broad version number is not enough.
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- The exact NAV version, service pack, build, and localization.
- The compatible sequence of intermediate versions and the intended Business Central target release.
- Whether the business needs broad historical data or only essential records, balances, and setup.
- Which C/AL customizations and customized-table data must be retained, and how they will be handled in AL extensions.
- Whether the source meets the SQL Server and database compatibility requirements for online migration.
- How company batches, replication checks, user readiness, and integration reconnection will be managed.
The practical decision is not simply whether to “move NAV to the cloud.” It is to choose a compatible upgrade route, decide what data and functionality must survive, and treat the on-premises application upgrade and the online migration as separate project stages.
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