Export to Datalake vs Synapse Link: Enhancing Data Access in D365 Finance and Operations

Updated September 2026. The timelines in the original post are now confirmed, and one of the recommendations has changed.

• Export to Azure Data Lake was retired on 1 November 2024 and permanently stops on 30 November 2026. Microsoft has stated it won't grant extensions. Files already exported to your lake remain in place.
• Synapse Link for Dataverse is still supported — but its Delta Lake (Parquet) output option is now deprecated: closed to new customers from 15 October 2026 and removed by December 2027. CSV output is unaffected.
• That means "migrate to Synapse Link" is no longer a complete answer on its own. You now also have to choose an output format, and Link to Microsoft Fabric has become the recommended destination for Delta output.

For the current decision guide, see Azure Synapse Link Delta Lake Is Being Retired.

Microsoft Dynamics is a widely used product for implementing ERP and CRM solutions. In this article, we will compare export to datalake with synapse link for dataverse which will helpful for migration to synapse link.

#What is Export to datalake?

Export to Datalake is an add-in for D365 Finance and Operations that allows you to export Finance and Operations data directly into your own data lake. Once the data is exported, you can extract, transform, and prepare it for reporting and analysis on Finance and Operations data.

For detailed instructions on how to add the Export to Datalake add-in via LCS, you can refer to the documentation here.

Please note that Export to Data Lake is being retired.

September 2026 update: the exact dates are now confirmed. Export to Azure Data Lake was retired on 1 November 2024 and permanently stops exporting on 30 November 2026, with no extensions. After that date it won't export new or changed data, though files already in your lake stay where they are.

deprecation

#What is Synapse Link for Dataverse?

Synapse Link is a feature within Dataverse designed to efficiently manage and export data from Dynamics applications(including D365 finance and operation) to external systems such as Azure Data Lake or Microsoft Fabric.

Synapse Link for dataverse is the new functionality which will replace export to datalake after its deprecation.

Let’s take a high-level look at the key differences and advancements between Synapse Link and Export to Data Lake.

#Comparison between Export to datalake and synapse link for Dataverse

#Where this stands in 2026

The comparison above still holds for what each feature does. What's changed is that Synapse Link is no longer a single destination — you now pick an output format, and one of the two options is itself being retired:

Path	Status as of September 2026
Export to Azure Data Lake	Permanently stops 30 November 2026
Synapse Link → CSV output	Supported
Synapse Link → Delta Lake (Parquet) output	Deprecated — closed to new customers 15 Oct 2026, removed Dec 2027
Link to Microsoft Fabric	Recommended path for Delta output

If you're planning a migration now, start with the destination decision rather than the feature comparison.

#Related reading

• Azure Synapse Link Delta Lake Is Being Retired — the full timeline, the migration traps, and how to choose between Synapse Link CSV and Link to Microsoft Fabric.
• What Link to Microsoft Fabric Actually Costs — measured storage ratios and the Dataverse capacity cost that should factor into the decision.

Happy Reading!