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Agencei

CMS & e-commerce

PrestaShop migration: version upgrade, host change or platform change

Migrating a PrestaShop store means moving a catalogue, orders, customers, modules and hard-earned rankings without interrupting sales. This service covers version upgrades, in particular from PrestaShop 1.6 to 1.7 and then 8, host changes, and migration from or to another platform such as WooCommerce, Magento or Shopify.

It is aimed at e-merchants stuck on an end-of-life version, limited by unsuitable hosting, or changing platform while wanting to keep their history and their positions in search engines.

A PrestaShop version upgrade is never a single click: modules and theme must be compatible, overrides checked, the database converted, URLs preserved. We work on a copy of the store, module by module, until we have a validated staging environment, then switch over with an order freeze kept to a minimum.

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When do we step in?

Store on PrestaShop 1.6

No more security fixes, old PHP, modules no longer updated. Migration to PrestaShop 8 becomes necessary; it starts with an inventory of modules and theme, as few of them move directly from 1.6 to 8.

Moving from PrestaShop 1.7 to 8

A technically closer migration, but one that exposes modules incompatible with PHP 8 and recent Symfony. We test every module and replace those that do not keep up.

Changing host

Hosting too slow or too limited for your catalogue. We transfer files and database, reconfigure parameters.php, caching and cron jobs, then test before the DNS switch.

Migrating to PrestaShop from another platform

From WooCommerce, Magento or a hosted platform: we import products, combinations, customers and order history, then rebuild URLs and redirects.

Migrating from PrestaShop to another platform

If your needs have changed, we cleanly export your catalogue, customers and orders to the new platform, with a redirect plan to preserve rankings.

How we work

  1. 1

    Store audit

    PrestaShop and PHP version, module inventory with compatibility against the target version, overrides, theme, database size, external integrations (payment, ERP, carriers, marketplaces).

  2. 2

    Migration plan

    List of modules to keep, update, replace or redevelop; theme decision; URL preservation strategy; switch-over schedule with an order freeze window.

  3. 3

    Migration on staging

    Store copy, version upgrade or data import, reinstallation of compatible modules, theme adaptation, database conversion, URL replacement and serialised data checks.

  4. 4

    Acceptance

    Test orders on every payment method, checks on carriers, taxes, specific prices, combinations and stock, redirect and sitemap verification, ERP integration tests.

  5. 5

    Switch-over and follow-up

    Order freeze, final sync of orders and customers, DNS switch or production release, error and ranking monitoring over the following days, old environment kept for rollback.

Technologies we use

  • PrestaShop 1.6 / 1.7 / 8
  • PHP 7.4 → 8.x
  • MySQL / MariaDB
  • Symfony
  • Smarty / Twig
  • PrestaShop upgrade module
  • PrestaShop Webservice
  • Composer
  • Git
  • rsync / SSH
  • Apache / .htaccess
  • Google Search Console

Why choose Agencei?

  • We know the breaking changes between versions

    Smarty to Twig in the back office, theme structure changes between 1.6 and 1.7, PHP 8 requirements for PrestaShop 8: we know what breaks and how to handle it.

  • Data is handled with care

    Orders, customers, stock and history are checked before and after migration. No switch-over without comparing volumes and amounts.

  • SEO is preserved

    URLs kept where possible, 301 redirects otherwise, sitemaps and Search Console updated before the switch.

  • Rollback planned

    The old store stays available until validation. If a blocking problem appears, we switch back quickly.

In brief

What is this service?
PrestaShop migration service: version upgrade from 1.6 to 1.7 or 8, host change, and migration from or to another e-commerce platform.
Who is it for?
E-merchants on an end-of-life PrestaShop version, limited by their hosting, or changing platform while wanting to keep history and rankings.
What problem does it solve?
Version 1.6 without security fixes, modules incompatible with PHP 8, unsuitable hosting, platform that no longer meets needs.
How long does it usually take?
A host change often takes one to a few days; a 1.6 to 8 upgrade or a platform migration usually takes several weeks, depending on the number of modules and catalogue size.
What factors influence the price?
Price depends on the source and target versions, the number of modules to replace or redevelop, the theme, data volume and integrations to reconnect.
How does the engagement run?
Module and theme audit, migration plan, migration on staging, full acceptance with test orders, switch-over with minimal order freeze, follow-up.
What are the risks?
Incompatible modules discovered after switch-over, orders lost during a poorly managed sync, unredirected URLs, 1.6 overrides carried over as is, corrupted serialised data.
What alternatives exist?
Staying on the current version with reinforced maintenance in the short term, a fresh PrestaShop 8 install with data import, or changing platform if PrestaShop no longer fits your needs.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the store closed during migration?

Most of the work happens on a copy, with the store open. Only the final sync of orders and the switch-over require an order freeze, usually from a few minutes to a few hours depending on data volume.

Will my modules work after the upgrade?

Not all of them. Modules built for 1.6 are generally not compatible with 1.7 or 8, and some 1.7 modules do not support PHP 8. The initial audit tells you precisely which ones must be updated, replaced or redeveloped.

Do I have to go through PrestaShop 1.7 to get from 1.6 to 8?

Technically, the upgrade is done in steps and the upgrade tools go through 1.7. In practice, we also evaluate a fresh PrestaShop 8 installation with data import, often cleaner when the 1.6 store has accumulated many overrides.

Will I lose my Google rankings?

Not if URLs are kept or redirected with 301s, and if sitemaps and Search Console are updated. A temporary fluctuation is possible, but positions usually stabilise within a few weeks.

Can I migrate from Shopify or WooCommerce to PrestaShop?

Yes. We export products, combinations, customers and orders from the source platform, import them into PrestaShop and rebuild the URL structure with the required redirects. The theme is rebuilt in PrestaShop.

Related services

PrestaShop Agency

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Server Migration

Full transfer of a dedicated server or VPS to a new machine, with OS upgrade and a controlled cutover.

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Data migration

Migration between databases, engines, versions or systems, with ETL, validation and zero-downtime cutover.

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Performance Optimization

Profiling-based diagnosis and targeted fixes: Core Web Vitals, SQL queries, caching, CDN.

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Tell us about your project

Describe your need in a few lines: we come back to you with a first analysis and the next steps.

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