To upgrade Prestashop 1.6 to 1.7 manually, download the latest version of Prestashop 1.7, backup your website files and database, then upload and replace the old files with the new ones, and follow the upgrade wizard to complete the process.

PrestaShop is a popular e-commerce platform that allows businesses to create their online stores. With the release of PrestaShop 1.7, many users are looking to upgrade their existing 1.6 installations to the latest version. While PrestaShop does offer an automated upgrade tool, some users prefer to perform the upgrade manually to avoid any potential issues. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to upgrade PrestaShop 1.6 to 1.7 manually.

Backing up Your Store

Before proceeding with any major upgrade, it is crucial to back up your store to prevent any data loss in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process. You can back up your store manually by downloading all the files from your server and exporting your database. Alternatively, you can use a backup module or a hosting provider that offers automated backups. Once you have completed the backup, you can proceed with the upgrade process.

Preparing Your Store for the Upgrade

To begin with, make sure that your store meets the minimum requirements for PrestaShop 1.7. You will need a web server with PHP 5.6 or higher, MySQL 5.5 or higher, and the necessary PHP extensions such as zip, pdo_mysql, and gd. Additionally, you should disable any third-party modules and themes that are not compatible with PrestaShop 1.7 to avoid any conflicts during the upgrade.

Upgrading PrestaShop Files

To upgrade PrestaShop files manually, you will need to download the latest version of PrestaShop 1.7 from the official website. Once you have downloaded the ZIP file, extract the contents to your computer. Next, connect to your server using an FTP client such as FileZilla and navigate to the root directory of your PrestaShop 1.6 installation. Upload the extracted PrestaShop 1.7 files to this directory, overwriting any existing files when prompted.

Running the Upgrade Script

After uploading the PrestaShop 1.7 files, you will need to run the upgrade script to migrate your database from version 1.6 to version 1.7. To do this, open a web browser and navigate to your store's URL followed by /install/upgrade/upgrade.php. For example, if your store's URL is www.yourstore.com, you would enter www.yourstore.com/install/upgrade/upgrade.php in the browser's address bar.

The upgrade script will guide you through the upgrade process, prompting you to enter your database connection details and confirming that you have backed up your store. Once you have completed these steps, the script will begin upgrading your database to PrestaShop 1.7. This process may take some time depending on the size of your database, so be patient and do not interrupt the upgrade.

Completing the Upgrade

Once the upgrade script has finished, you should see a confirmation message indicating that the upgrade was successful. You can now log in to your PrestaShop back office using your existing credentials. You may notice that some modules and themes have been disabled during the upgrade process, as they may not be compatible with PrestaShop 1.7. You will need to enable or replace these modules and themes with compatible versions to ensure that your store functions properly.

Testing Your Store

After completing the upgrade, it is essential to thoroughly test your store to ensure that everything is functioning correctly. Check the front end of your store to verify that the layout, navigation, and product pages are displaying correctly. Test the checkout process to ensure that customers can place orders without any issues. Additionally, check the back office to verify that you can manage orders, products, and customers without any problems.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues during the upgrade process, such as error messages or missing files, you may need to troubleshoot the problem to determine the cause. Common issues include incompatible modules and themes, incorrect file permissions, and database errors. You can refer to the PrestaShop documentation or seek help from the PrestaShop community forums for assistance in resolving these issues.

In conclusion, upgrading PrestaShop 1.6 to 1.7 manually can be a complex process, but with careful planning and attention to detail, you can successfully migrate your store to the latest version. By following the steps outlined in this article and taking the necessary precautions, you can ensure a smooth transition to PrestaShop 1.7 and take advantage of its new features and improvements.