Upgrade PrestaShop 1.7 to 8: a step-by-step checklist

When you upgrade PrestaShop 1.7 to 8, most of the work happens on a copy of the store. First make a backup and a test copy, and note the PHP version, modules and theme. Then update the copy with the Update Assistant module, test an order, emails and URLs, and only then repeat the steps on the live store at the quietest hour.

Author: The TellMyShop team. A guide for PrestaShop store owners: the cause, the manual fix and the same work in a chat conversation.
Last updated: 11 October 2026 · 5 min read

Why move from 1.7 to 8?

PrestaShop 1.7 no longer gets security fixes. Version 1.7.8 runs on PHP 7.4 at most, and hosting companies are switching that PHP version off one by one. Module authors now release new versions only for 8 and 9, so every month it gets harder to fix anything on a 1.7 store.

The order matters, because the PHP version and the PrestaShop version have to match at every stage.

PrestaShop version	PHP it runs on	Notes
1.7.8	up to 7.4	no security fixes
8.0, 8.1, 8.2	7.2 to 8.1	7.4 works on both, so you go through it
9	8.1 and up	the second step, after 8

The current overview is in the PrestaShop 8 system requirements. The simplest route: upgrade to 8 on PHP 7.4, then switch PHP to 8.1 straight after.

What should you prepare before the upgrade?

This part decides whether the upgrade takes an evening or a week. Do it calmly, before you click anything.

A backup of the files and the database. Check that it can be restored. How to make one is described in the backup documentation.
A test copy of the store on a subdomain, for example test.yourstore.com, password-protected so Google cannot see it.
Versions on the server: PrestaShop, PHP, MySQL or MariaDB. Ask your host whether you can switch PHP to 8.1 yourself in the control panel.
A list of modules not made by PrestaShop. Mark each one: has a version for 8, has none, not used.
The theme. Check with the author whether there is a version for 8. If not, plan a theme change as a separate project.
Overrides and edits to files. Note what is in the override folder and what someone changed in PrestaShop files. The upgrade will not carry these changes over.
A list of product and category URLs exported to a file. You will need it for the comparison after the upgrade.

Uninstall modules you do not use while you are still on 1.7. Every unnecessary module is one less thing to check.

How do you run the upgrade on a store copy?

The upgrade is done by the Update Assistant module, formerly 1-Click Upgrade. You will find the latest version of the module in the releases on GitHub, and the whole process in the update documentation.

On the copy, turn off the cache and turn on debug mode so you see the real error messages.
Install or update Update Assistant to the latest version.
Run the upgrade to the latest version 8 and keep the log.
Update modules and the theme to their versions for 8.
Switch the copy's PHP to 8.1 and check the store again.
Clear the cache and regenerate image thumbnails.

If something goes wrong, you go back to the backup and start again. On a test copy that costs nothing. How to read the messages that show up in debug mode is explained in the article on the PrestaShop 500 error.

What should you test before upgrading the live store?

You test on the copy, as a customer, in a private browser window. The order is important: first whatever brings in money.

A test order with every payment and delivery method.
Emails: registration, order confirmation, status change, password reset.
The cart, discount codes and promotions.
Search, filters and category pages.
The error log in the back office. What the error levels mean is described in the logs documentation.
Product and category URLs compared with the list from before the upgrade.
Connections to your wholesaler, price comparison sites, invoicing and e-invoicing.

Only when everything passes do you repeat the steps on the live store: backup, maintenance mode at the quietest hour, upgrade, PHP, tests. For the first week look at the error log and the report of pages not found every day.

How does the chat help after the upgrade?

Once the store is on 8.1, TellMyShop Free reviews it for you. Your chat (Claude or ChatGPT) reads the error log, the 404 report and the store status, then tells you where to start. It changes nothing while doing so.

You: Yesterday I moved from 1.7 to 8.2. Check whether anything broke.

Your chat: The store runs on PrestaShop 8.2 and PHP 8.1. There are 23 log entries since yesterday, all from one reviews module, when a product page opens. It is worth checking whether the author has a version for 8.

The 404 report shows 17 old category URLs that people visited since yesterday. They come from the old theme menu. Each of them is worth redirecting to the new category.

The other settings look fine: cache on, debug mode off.

Illustration: products, numbers and replies are examples.

Redirects and fixes are made by TellMyShop Pro. The chat shows a preview, saves after your approval, and you can undo most changes from the history. An example of such a request is the plan for old URLs, and the check before the next upgrade is described in the store review before an upgrade. We write more about what to do with old URLs in the article on 404 errors in PrestaShop.

What comes after version 8?

When the store runs steadily on 8.1 or 8.2, the next step is PrestaShop 9. There is no need to rush: wait until your modules and theme get versions for 9. You will find the checklist for that step in the article on upgrading PrestaShop to 9.

Questions and answers

Is a store on PrestaShop 1.7 still safe?

PrestaShop 1.7 no longer gets security fixes. The store keeps working, but every new hole in the core stays open, and module authors release versions for 1.7 less and less often. On top of that, 1.7.8 runs on PHP 7.4 at most, which no longer gets fixes either. Upgrading to 8 solves both problems.

Can I go from 1.7 straight to PrestaShop 9?

PrestaShop 9 needs PHP 8.1 or newer, and 1.7.8 does not run on that PHP. It is safer to go in two steps: first 1.7 to 8 on PHP 7.4, then switch PHP to 8.1, and move to 9 only when your modules and theme have versions for 9. We cover the second step in a separate article on upgrading to 9.

Will my 1.7 modules work in PrestaShop 8?

Some will, some will not. Modules from PrestaShop usually have versions for 8; modules from other authors vary. Before the upgrade, check each module's page or ask the author. Replace a module with no version for 8, or disable or uninstall it on the store copy and see what is missing.

Will product URLs change after the upgrade?

Usually not, because friendly URL settings move with the database. Changes appear when you change the theme, an SEO module or languages. So before the upgrade save a list of product and category URLs, compare it afterwards and set a 301 redirect for every difference.

Does TellMyShop work on PrestaShop 1.7?

Yes, on PrestaShop 1.7.8, in a separate Free and Pro package. The main package runs on PrestaShop 8.1 and 9. Remember that PrestaShop 1.7 no longer gets security fixes. After upgrading to 8.1 you can use TellMyShop Free straight away: the chat reads the error log, the 404 report and the store status without changing anything.

PrestaShop is a registered trademark of PrestaShop SA. Claude is a trademark of Anthropic PBC. ChatGPT and OpenAI are trademarks of OpenAI. TellMyShop is not affiliated with these companies.