Frequently Asked Questions About Direct Upgrade
Upgrading PrestaShop feels risky when your business depends on the store — so thorough questions are a good sign. This FAQ collects what merchants ask most about Direct Upgrade, from pre-upgrade preparation to handling issues, with honest answers based on real customer conversations.
Group 1: What the module does & upgrade paths
Q: What does the 1-Click Direct Upgrade module do?
A: It upgrades your PrestaShop store directly from your current version to a newer version in a few clicks — including major jumps (for example, one customer upgraded straight from PrestaShop 1.7.8 to 9.1.4) without going through intermediate versions one by one.
Q: Which PrestaShop versions can I upgrade FROM?
A: The module supports upgrades from PrestaShop 1.5.x and above. Versions older than that (e.g. 1.3.x) are not supported because of outdated code — our team advised such customers to first migrate to at least 1.6.x with another tool before using the module.
Q: Which PrestaShop version can I upgrade TO?
A: The latest supported version — currently PrestaShop 9.x. Note that the module's product page, documentation and video may still mention PrestaShop 8 in places; our team has confirmed these are outdated materials and that the module itself supports upgrading to the latest 9.x releases.
Q: Why does the module only offer an older version when a newer PrestaShop release exists?
A: The module offers the versions it has been tested and aligned with, so it can lag slightly behind a brand-new PrestaShop release (for example, it offered 8.2.1 while 8.2.3 was already out with security fixes). Our team releases module updates aligned with new PrestaShop core releases afterward.
Q: Can the module copy products, categories and brands from my old shop into a different, newer shop?
A: No. This is an upgrade module, not a migration tool — it upgrades an existing installation in place. Copying data from one shop (e.g. PrestaShop 1.3) into a separate newer shop (e.g. 1.7) is a different task the module does not do.
Q: How is this different from PrestaShop's built-in autoupgrade?
A: One customer reported repeated failures with PrestaShop's autoupgrade over a long period, then upgraded from 8.2.1 to 8.2.3 successfully on the first try with 1-Click Direct Upgrade. Results vary by store, but the free upgrade service (our team doing it for you) removes the trial-and-error.
Group 2: Free upgrade service
Q: Can your team perform the complete upgrade for me?
A: Yes. There is no need to purchase a separate paid upgrade service — the module's name says it: it includes one free upgrade service performed by our technical team. After you purchase the module, simply provide us with your store access and our developers will carry out the upgrade for you.
Q: What exactly is included in the free upgrade service?
A: Our team upgrades your PrestaShop core to the latest supported version and makes sure the upgrade process completes successfully. Before starting, we check the compatibility of your installed modules and theme, and after the upgrade we test the main store functions (front office, back office, checkout, payment, shipping, theme and third-party modules). The upgrade can be done on a staging/test copy first before going live.
Q: What is NOT included in the free upgrade service?
A: Fixing or updating third-party, paid or custom-developed modules and themes — those must be updated by their original developers once a compatible version is available. We also do not offer website rebuild/creation services: if your theme is not compatible with the new PrestaShop version, you will need a new or updated theme from its developer.
Q: Will you test my store after the upgrade?
A: Yes. Once the upgrade is completed on the staging site, we test the main purchasing flow before moving the updated site to production, so you can review the upgraded store and confirm everything works before it goes live.
Group 3: Compatibility — modules, themes, PHP
Q: Can you check my modules' and theme's compatibility before I buy or before the upgrade?
A: Yes. Send us the list of your installed modules and your theme and we will check their compatibility with the target PrestaShop version before proceeding.
Q: What happens to modules that are incompatible with the new PrestaShop version?
A: During the upgrade, incompatible modules are automatically deactivated to prevent conflicts or errors — this keeps your store running. Native PrestaShop modules are handled by our technical team; for third-party modules you will need to install their PrestaShop-compatible versions (and valid licenses) from their developers after the upgrade.
Q: What happens if my theme is not compatible with the new PrestaShop version?
A: The store falls back to the default PrestaShop theme so it keeps working. Any theme update or code modification needed for the new version must come from the theme developer (or whoever customized it) — we do not rewrite third-party themes.
Q: Do you fix errors caused by incompatible third-party modules or themes after the upgrade?
A: No. Our support covers the upgrade process itself. Errors that come from a third-party module or theme being incompatible with the new version are not upgrade errors, and need to be fixed by that module/theme's developer.
Q: Does my PHP version matter for the upgrade?
A: Yes. Newer PrestaShop versions require newer PHP versions, so our team may need server access to adjust the PHP version to match the new PrestaShop requirements.
Q: Will I lose my data (products, orders, customers) during the upgrade?
A: The upgrade is performed in place on your existing store, so your data stays where it is. On top of that, a complete backup of your database and files is created before starting, and the module includes a rollback function to restore the previous working version at any time.
Group 4: Safety — backup, rollback, staging, downtime
Q: Is a backup made before the upgrade?
A: Yes. We recommend — and create — a complete, restorable backup of your database and website files before starting the upgrade, as a reliable recovery point in case anything unexpected happens.
Q: Can the store be restored if something goes wrong during the upgrade?
A: Yes. The module includes a rollback function to restore the previous working version at any time, and the pre-upgrade backup is kept as an additional safety net.
Q: Can the upgrade be performed on a staging/test copy first?
A: Yes. For the safest possible upgrade, we can perform the operation on a staging/test site first and test the main purchasing flow there; only after you confirm everything works do we apply it to your live store.
Q: How long does the upgrade take? Will my shop be offline?
A: The duration depends on your store size and server performance. In one upgrade our team told the customer the website would be inaccessible for approximately 10 to 30 minutes while technicians performed it. Scheduling the upgrade outside peak sales hours is recommended.
Q: Is the upgrade guaranteed to be 100% safe and problem-free for a live shop?
A: The process is designed to be safe — compatibility check first, full backup, optional staging run, and rollback at any time. But as with any major operation on a live store, absolute guarantees are not possible, which is exactly why we recommend the staging-first approach.
Group 5: License — staging, transfer, reuse
Q: Do I need two licenses — one for my test/staging site and one for production?
A: No. One license covers one website, and it can only be assigned to one instance at a time (test OR live). Point it at the test instance while testing, then reassign it to the live domain when you are ready. On the Addons marketplace you manage this yourself in your Addons account under "My licenses"/"My modules" (remove from one domain, assign to the other); for purchases on prestahero.com, contact our team to detach and re-associate the license.
Q: Can I test the module on localhost before using it on my live shop?
A: Yes. You can install and test the module on a local or staging website (e.g. localhost) before applying it to production, even though the license itself should be assigned to your live domain URL.
Q: Can I move my license to a different shop or domain later?
A: Yes. If you stop using the module on one shop and want to use it exclusively on another, the license can be detached from the old domain and associated with the new one — contact us (prestahero.com purchases) or use the license management in your Addons account.
Q: Can I reuse the module for future PrestaShop upgrades, or do I have to buy it again?
A: Reuse it as needed — you do not need to purchase the module again for subsequent upgrades. The license covers upgrading your PrestaShop website whenever a newer version comes out.
Group 6: The upgrade process — access & steps
Q: What access do you need from me to perform the upgrade?
A: FTP and back-office (admin) credentials for your store. In some cases we may also need server/hosting-panel access — for example, to change the PHP version to match the new PrestaShop requirements.
Q: What are the steps of the upgrade process?
A: 1) We check the compatibility of your installed modules and theme with the target version. 2) A full backup of files and database is created. 3) Optionally, the upgrade is performed on a staging copy first and the main store functions are tested. 4) The upgrade is applied to the live store. 5) We verify the result with you.
Q: Do I need to update my modules after the upgrade?
A: Yes — after the upgrade, check with each third-party module's developer for a version compatible with the new PrestaShop release and install those updates (plus make sure the required licenses are in place).
Group 7: Pricing, purchase channels & policies
Q: How much does 1-Click Direct Upgrade cost?
A: The module costs €269.99 (excluding taxes) on PrestaHero.com. Each license covers one domain and includes a one-time, free PrestaShop upgrade service from our team.
Q: Can I try Direct Upgrade before buying?
A: As Direct Upgrade 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, upgrade process and compatibility check features, 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.
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: How long does support last, and how do I renew it?
A: Your purchase includes 1 year of free technical support. To renew, log in to prestahero.com, go to My Account > Download & licenses, and select the support renewal option. You can continue using the module and receiving free lifetime updates without renewing support.
Q: What is the difference between buying on prestahero.com vs the Addons marketplace?
A: Both offer the same module, but purchasing directly from prestahero.com gives you free lifetime updates via PrestaHero Connect, one year of technical support, and a 15-day conditional refund policy. Payments are processed through Paddle.
On PrestaShop Addons, updates and support require an active Business Care subscription (the first year is included). Purchases follow the marketplace's payment and refund policies, including a conditional refund period of up to one month.