Freelance · Monaco and the French Riviera
PrestaShop migration: moving to version 9, module by module
Is your store still on 1.6, 1.7 or 8? I move it to PrestaShop 9 on a copy while it keeps selling, and only switch over once everything has been checked.
Let’s talk about your store See the steps
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Does this sound familiar?
- “My host is dropping my PHP version, and my store won’t keep up.”
- “I was told everything had to be rebuilt from scratch.”
- “I’m afraid of losing my customers and my order history.”
- “My payment module isn’t available for 9 yet.”
- “I don’t even know which version my store runs on.”
- “The last update broke the basket, so we put everything back as it was.”
A migration is not a leap in the dark: we know where we start from, we work on a copy, and we only switch over once everything works.
What moves to version 9
Your data
Products, customers, orders, invoices: the update keeps the database, with its full history.
Your modules
Each one is updated, replaced or rewritten. The ones you no longer use go, and the store gets lighter.
Your theme
It is adapted to the new version, with your colours and your tweaks. And if you fancy a redesign, now is the time.
Your custom work
In-house modules and changes to PrestaShop’s core: the update can break or overwrite them. I spot them during the review, then redo them properly.
Your connections
Payment, carriers, business software, marketplaces: every connection is tested end to end.
Your search rankings
Page addresses stay the same, or are redirected one by one to the new ones. I check this before the switchover.
Why aim for PrestaShop 9
Security
PrestaShop no longer supports 1.7, 8.0 or 8.1. Version 8.2 still receives security fixes, but only until PrestaShop 10 is released.
Your server
Each PrestaShop version only runs on certain PHP versions. Version 9 runs on PHP versions supported until 2028 or 2029, while 1.7 and 8.2 are stuck on versions that no longer get fixes.
What comes next
Version 9 is PrestaShop’s main version, the one that gets new features, and 9.2 is the latest.
The full details, version by version, are in my guide. Migrating PrestaShop 1.7 to 8 or 9
A successful migration goes unnoticed: your customers keep ordering, and one morning, it all runs on version 9.
The seven steps of a migration
- The review. Exact version, modules, theme, changes to PrestaShop’s core, outside connections, hosting: I list everything that makes up your store. That inventory is what lets me give you a reliable price and timeline.
- A working copy. I prepare everything on a password-protected copy, hidden from your customers and from Google, with emails and real payments switched off. Your store keeps selling.
- The update. I move the copy to the new version, in stages when needed, and check the store at every stage.
- Modules and theme. I deal with the modules one by one, adapt the theme, and properly redo every piece of custom work for the new version.
- End-to-end testing. I go through everything your customers and your team do: search, basket, payment in test mode, delivery, emails, invoices, order management, exchanges with your business software.
- The switchover. I carry over the orders and customers recorded in the meantime, then put the new version live at the quietest time for your sales. A full backup means we can roll back at the slightest problem.
- Aftercare. In the days that follow, I monitor orders, errors, speed and Search Console, to fix any issue straight away.
The pitfalls I avoid
Payments that stop going through
Since PrestaShop 8, the basket is checked one last time before the order is created. An old payment module can then block sales without anyone noticing: I test every payment method.
A registration page nobody can find
PrestaShop 8 split customer login and registration, and the registration page’s address changed. I update every link and button that pointed to it.
No backup, no way back
Without a full backup of the files and the database, there is no going back if the update fails. PrestaShop’s documentation is clear: the backup comes before anything else.
Hosting that can’t keep up
Version 9 needs at least PHP 8.1, MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.2, and 512 MB of memory. If your host can’t keep up, we change hosts during the migration: one project instead of two.
From 1.7 to 8, without losing a single day of sales
The challenge
A food supplement store on PrestaShop 1.7, built up over years of custom development, with part of its orders taken by phone.
What I did
The move to version 8 with a complete redesign, custom modules for phone orders, referrals and loyalty, and a two-way link with the company’s ERP.
The result
Not a single day of sales lost, more than fifteen custom modules in daily use, and a store I keep improving to this day.
Is your store in the same situation? Let’s talk
Why trust me with your migration
From 1.6 to 9
More than ten years improving online stores: I know the tools of each version, and their pitfalls.
Nothing happens live
Everything is prepared on a copy, and each stage is checked before the next. Your live store is only touched at the switchover.
A price after the review
No blind flat fee: I quote for what I have seen, line by line, with a timeline.
Everything stays yours
The code, the logins, the hosting and the domain name stay in your name. You keep all the keys.
Going further
Migrating PrestaShop 1.7 to 8 or 9: timeline, steps and pitfalls to avoid
PrestaShop 1.7 is no longer maintained and 8.2 only receives security fixes. Which version to aim for, the steps and the pitfalls: a developer’s guide.
PrestaShop 9.2: what’s new, and should you update?
One-page checkout, custom fields, an AI assistant: what PrestaShop 9.2 changes for your store, whether you should update, and how to do it safely.
WooCommerce or PrestaShop: which one should you choose for your online store?
WooCommerce or PrestaShop: a point-by-point comparison, when to choose each one, and the questions to ask your future developer.
The questions I get asked most
Can I go straight from 1.7 to 9?
Not in one go with PrestaShop’s official tool: it only offers versions compatible with the server’s PHP version, and no PHP version suits both 1.7 and 9. So we go through 8.2, then change the PHP version, before moving to 9. It all happens on the working copy.
My store is on 1.6: is it still possible?
Yes, in stages: first to 1.7, then to 8.2, and finally to 9. The longer you wait, the bigger the step.
Does everything have to be rebuilt from scratch?
No. The update keeps the database: products, customers, orders and invoices. What takes work is the modules, the theme and the custom development. A full backup is still essential before starting.
Will I lose my search rankings?
Not if page addresses stay the same, or are redirected one by one to the new ones: I check this during testing, before the switchover. To go further, I explain my approach on my SEO for Google and AI page.
Does my store stay open during the migration?
Yes. Everything is prepared on a copy, and your store sells as usual. The switchover happens at the very end, at the quietest time for your sales.
How long does a migration take?
The update itself is quick. What takes time is everything added over the years: modules, custom development, theme, connections. I give you a precise timeline after the review.
How much does a migration cost?
It depends on the review: number of modules, custom development, theme. I never quote blind. Tell me about your store: I will send you a clear quote, broken down line by line. Reply within one business day.
Do you work in Monaco, Nice, Cannes or Antibes?
Yes. I’m based between Monaco and Cannes and work across the whole area, from Monaco to Cannes, including Nice, Sophia Antipolis and Antibes. You’ll find more on my web developer in Nice, web developer in Cannes and web developer in Antibes pages. If your store is further away, we work remotely: we talk by video call or email.