Frequently Asked Questions About MIGRATION 4.0
Migrating a store is one of the highest-stakes tasks a merchant faces — so questions come with the territory. This FAQ gathers what PrestaShop merchants ask most about MIGRATION 4.0, from choosing the right migration path to handling data safely, with honest answers based on real customer conversations.
Group 1: Choosing the right migration module
Q: What is the difference between PS Migrator, 1-Click Migrate, MigrationPro Ultimate and 1-Click Direct Upgrade?
A: All four belong to the PrestaHero migration family but target different scenarios. MigrationPro Ultimate is the most complete solution — fast and highly accurate with advanced database mapping technology, highly automated, and the best choice for large or complex stores. PS Migrator moves data step by step (piece by piece), giving you more control over the process. 1-Click Migrate focuses on a simple, clean interface with minimal configuration. 1-Click Direct Upgrade works differently: instead of transferring data to a new installation, it upgrades your existing store in place to a newer PrestaShop version, and it includes a dedicated upgrade service performed by our team.
Q: Which migration module should I choose for a large store with many products and orders?
A: Our team recommends MigrationPro Ultimate for large or complex stores — its advanced database mapping makes the transfer faster and more accurate than a standard migration. If you prefer a guided, step-by-step process with more control, PS Migrator is the alternative our team suggests for medium-sized stores.
Q: I don't want to set up a new PrestaShop installation. Can I upgrade my existing store in place?
A: Yes! Our 1-Click Direct Upgrade module lets you upgrade your existing store without creating a new installation. It also includes a free, one-time upgrade service performed by our team for one domain per license.
Group 2: Version compatibility & technical requirements
Q: Which PrestaShop versions can I migrate from and to?
A: PS Migrator supports migration from PrestaShop 1.5.x up to 9.x. MigrationPro Ultimate supports 1.5.x through 9.x as well, including migration between two stores on the same version and from a newer version to an older one (e.g. 9 to 8 — do this carefully and make sure the source data is clean). Versions older than 1.5 (e.g. 1.3.x) are not supported.
Q: Can I migrate directly from PrestaShop 1.6 to PrestaShop 9?
A: Yes. Direct migration from 1.6 (or 1.7, or 8) to 9 is a standard use case — you do not need any intermediate upgrade steps. You install the migration module on a fresh target installation of the destination version and transfer the data.
Q: Is the migration module compatible with PrestaShop 9.2?
A: Yes! MigrationPro Ultimate is fully compatible with PrestaShop 9.2.0. You can install the module on PrestaShop 9.2.0 to migrate data from your older PrestaShop store.
Q: What PHP version does the source store need?
A: Your source store can use the PHP version supported by its PrestaShop version. You don't need to upgrade PHP just for migration, as long as the PrestaShop Connector works correctly on your server.
Q: What must be ready on the server before I start?
A: The target site must be a prepared, working PrestaShop installation with its own database — the module transfers data into it, but it does not create the database or install PrestaShop for you. For large stores, raise MySQL max_allowed_packet (one customer's migration only succeeded at 512M; the 16M default caused failures). Both the source and the target sites must be publicly accessible so the modules can connect — a blocked or unreachable source server will fail with a connection error.
Q: Does the module change anything on my live (source) store?
A: No. Migration only reads from the source through the Connector; the source store keeps running unchanged, so you can migrate while the old shop stays live.
Q: The module modified config/defines.inc.php on my site. Is that normal?
A: Yes. During migration the module sets PS_ALLOW_MULTI_STATEMENTS_QUERIES to true so it can execute multiple INSERT queries efficiently. You can safely restore the original PrestaShop value (false) afterwards; the module will re-enable it if you run another migration.
Group 3: What data gets migrated
Q: What data does the migration module transfer?
A: Products and categories (including combinations, features, prices, specific prices, taxes, images, SEO settings, customization), customers and addresses, orders and order data, shopping carts, employees, vouchers/discounts, taxes, carriers and shipping prices, CMS pages and categories, customer messages and services, multi-shop data, localization data (languages, currencies, countries, zones), and SEO settings. For PS Migrator, our team also confirmed blog data migration, including content created with modules such as ps_blog.
Q: Are the original customer, product and order IDs preserved?
A: Yes — Migration Mode 1 ("clear target data and transfer all records, preserving source IDs") keeps the original IDs, so all relationships between customers, products and orders remain correct.
Q: Are customer passwords migrated? Will customers keep their old logins?
A: Yes, with the free companion module "PrestaShop Password Keeper" installed on the target site — customers can then log in on the new store with their old accounts and passwords. Both the Connector and the Password Keeper are provided free with the module download.
Q: Does the module migrate my theme and installed modules?
A: No. Themes and modules are not migrated — install them yourself on the new site and verify they are compatible with the target PrestaShop version. If you plan to switch URL-rewrite modules, install the new one after the migration to avoid conflicts during the data transfer.
Q: Does it migrate data created by third-party modules?
A: The module migrates PrestaShop core data (plus menus and product comments). Data that belongs to a specific third-party module is not migrated — for example faceted-search filter templates, pack builders such as Advanced Pack 5, or a third-party module's own URL-rewrite settings. Those need manual handling or help from that module's developer.
Q: Are product and category images migrated?
A: Yes — product and category images (main image and thumbnails) are copied to the target site. If images are missing after a run, you can re-run the image copy.
Q: Does the module support multi-store setups?
A: Yes — the module is compatible with multishop/multi-store sources and migrates the selected shops' data (products, categories, customers, orders and the rest) to the target.
Group 4: Migration process & modes
Q: How does the migration process work?
A: Three steps: (1) install the free "PrestaShop Connector" module on the source site; (2) install the migration module on the target site (your fresh PrestaShop installation); (3) paste the source store URL and the access token from the Connector into the migration module, choose the data groups and a migration mode, then start. The process runs in a few clicks with no programming knowledge required.
Q: What are the 5 migration modes?
A: Mode 1: clear target data and migrate all records, keeping original IDs. Mode 2: clear target data and migrate all records with new IDs. Mode 3: keep target data, migrate only new records (skip duplicate IDs). Mode 4: keep target data, migrate new records and update records with duplicate IDs. Mode 5: keep target data, migrate all records with new IDs (append). For a final pre-launch sync of new customers and orders, Mode 3 or 4 is recommended.
Q: Can I migrate while my old store keeps selling, then sync only the new data before go-live?
A: Yes — this is the recommended workflow. Run a full migration first and keep the old store live; prepare and test the new site; shortly before switching, run a final incremental migration (Mode 3 or 4) selecting only the data groups that changed (customers, orders, carts). Data groups you don't select stay untouched.
Q: Can I migrate only some data — for example only customers, or only orders?
A: Yes. You select exactly which data groups to migrate, so you can transfer only customers and addresses (with passwords, via the Password Keeper module) without orders, or only orders, vouchers, messages, etc.
Q: What happens if a migration fails halfway, e.g. with a 503 error? Can I safely restart?
A: Yes. With Mode 1 the module clears the target data first and re-imports everything fresh, so restarting does not create duplicates or a messy database. If a run finishes without errors, the data on the target is complete and consistent. If a large migration times out, lowering the migration speed setting helps it complete.
Q: Are order statuses updated when I run an incremental migration later?
A: Order statuses are imported during the first migration but are not automatically refreshed by later incremental runs. If statuses look out of sync after a delta migration, reconfigure your payment modules' status mapping on the target — that is the correct procedure.
Q: How long does a migration take?
A: Migration time depends on your store's data size, number of images, and server performance. Small stores may take minutes, while larger stores can take several hours. The module displays migration progress in real time.
Q: Can I test everything on a staging site before going live?
A: Yes. You can migrate your data to a staging site and verify everything before going live. We recommend testing products, customers, orders, images, and checkout before switching to production.
Group 5: SEO & URLs
Q: Are friendly URLs preserved after migration?
A: The module preserves friendly URLs when the same URL settings are enabled on the target store. To avoid SEO loss our team recommends: enable Pretty URLs on the target, regenerate the .htaccess file after migration, and verify that category/product URL patterns match the source. Custom URL rewrites coming from another module must be re-applied manually.
Q: Does the module create 301 redirects from the old URLs?
A: The module migrates SEO information, including friendly URLs, but does not automatically generate 301 redirects for changed URLs. If your URL structure or domain changes, you should configure the necessary redirects separately.
Q: Is multilingual SEO data migrated?
A: Yes — the "Metadata & SEO" scope covers meta titles, descriptions, keywords, rewritten (SEO-friendly) URLs and associated redirects per language, so natural search rankings are preserved across languages.
Group 6: License, pricing & policies
Q: How much does the migration module cost?
A: PS Migrator €89.99, 1-Click Migrate €119.99, MigrationPro Ultimate €139.99, 1-Click Direct Upgrade €269.99.
Q: How does the license work — do I need one license per shop?
A: Each license covers one live website and one development/test website. If you want to use the module on multiple live websites, you need additional licenses.
Q: Can I use one license to migrate two shops one after another (not at the same time)?
A: No. Each license is valid for one website/project, even if migrations are performed at different times. Separate projects require separate licenses.
Q: Do I get free updates of the module?
A: Yes! Purchases made directly on PrestaHero.com include free lifetime updates. You can download new versions or update through PrestaHero Connect at no additional cost.
Q: Can I get a refund or swap the module if it does not fit my project?
A: Our priority is to help you get the most out of our module. If you encounter technical issues, our support team will investigate and help resolve them, including checking directly on your website when necessary.
If the issue is caused by our module and our developers cannot fix it after troubleshooting, you are eligible for a refund within 15 days of purchase, in accordance with our refund policy.
As our products are downloadable digital software, refunds for a change of mind or features outside the module's advertised scope are not covered. However, we're happy to discuss alternative solutions, such as exchanging the module or offering store credit, depending on your situation.
Q: Are there discounts or promo codes available?
A: Yes, we occasionally offer special discounts and promotions. Check our website or contact our support team for current offers.
Q: Will your team perform the migration for me?
A: MigrationPro Ultimate is designed for self-service migration. Our support team can help with setup, configuration, and troubleshooting. If you prefer us to handle the migration, please contact our team to discuss service availability and pricing.
Q: Can I try MigrationPro before buying?
A: As MigrationPro is a downloadable digital product, we do not offer a free trial. However, you can explore our Front Office and Back Office demos, which showcase the module's features, migration settings and data mapping options, and configuration options, helping you evaluate whether it meets your needs before purchasing.
If you have any questions about compatibility or specific features, our support team is happy to assist. After purchase, we'll also help with installation, configuration, and troubleshooting to ensure a smooth experience.