Automatic upgrade

PrestaShop introduced automatic upgrade in version 1.4.4 and 1.4.4.1, which was then turned into a free module for earlier versions (starting with PS 1.3) and later versions (including 1.5.x).

It enables shop owners to backup and update their site in a few clicks and no technical knowledge.

Note that this module is still experimental. Use at your own risk.

If you'd rather be safe, take the longer but more detailed manual instructions instead.

Downloading and installing the Auto-Upgrade module

Simply follow the normal path to installing a module on PrestaShop:

  1. Download the Auto-Upgrade module this URL: http://www.prestashop.com/download/autoupgrade.zip . Save the Zip file to your desktop.
  2. In your PrestaShop administration panel, go to the "Modules" tab.
  3. Click on the the "Add a module" button", located at the top right of the list of available modules.
  4. In the form that opens, click on the "Browse..." button, then find and select the module Zip file that you just downloaded.
  5. Click the "Upload this Module" button. PrestaShop will put the module on your server, unzip it, and place the files in the /modules/ folder.

The module is now available, but you still have to install it:

  1. Still in the "Modules" tab, type "autoupgrade" in the module search box (not the global search at the top).
  2. PrestaShop should display the module you just installed. Click it, it should display in the main list.
  3. Click the module's "Install" button.

You're done! Now start configuring!

The Configuration Screen

If you have the latest version of PrestaShop already, the tool will simply display "You currently don't need to use this feature."

IMPORTANT: you should make sure to properly backup both your files and your database before attempting an automatic upgrade.

The "Current configuration" section gives you useful information on your current PrestaShop install, and how it might interact with the automatic upgrade:

The "Modify your options" button at the bottom of the section is in fact a link to the "Options" section, at the bottom of the page.

These options enable you to have some control on the upgrade process:

The Upgrade process

The update button itself is at the center of the page.

It gives you an indication of your version number, and the number for the latest version available on the PrestaShop servers. If there's a difference, you can click the "Upgrade PrestaShop Now!" button in order to start the upgrade process. A status upgrade then appears at the right, while the process is running.

The area below the "Update" section will then scroll with a list of the various changes brought to your PrestaShop install: removed files (normally, the ones for the default theme), location of the backup archive (normally in the {{/\[admin\]/autoupgrade}} folder), files added to said archive, files copied from the new version (and therefore marked as upgraded). A lot of files are thus mentioned, and you do not need to read it all!

You'll know the upgrade is over when the message "upgrade complete. Please check your front-office (try to make an order, check theme)" appears in green, along with the following status update: "Upgrade process done. Congratulations! You can now reactive your shop."

Indeed, the auto-update does deactivate your shop, but does not re-activate it automatically. Until you have checked that everything is okay in your back-office (everything is functioning correctly, all your products and images are there...), it is better to keep your shop from the public eye.

Once you have made sure your install is still correct, active your shop using the option in the "Preferences" tab, at the top of the options list, then make tests on your front-office: browse products, sort them, try to order one, etc. In short, go through the entire buying process, in order to make sure that you won't miss a sale.

Is everything working fine? Congratulations, you know have successfully upgraded your PrestaShop install!

Rollbacks

Sadly, not all upgrades are successful – which is the very reason why you should always backup all your files and data, and why PrestaShop performs an additional backup of said files and data itself (which you should not always count on, obviously. Make your own backup first).

PrestaShop's own backup files are saved on your server, and if it turns out your update has gone badly, you can find them in the "Rollback" section of the "Upgrade" sub-tab.

There are three available options:

The rollback's status is indicated at the same location as the upgrade process'.