How to Upgrade PrestaShop Using the 1-Click Upgrade Module (Update Assistant)

Post Date: November 18, 2019
Last Updated: November 10, 2026

Introduction

Keeping your PrestaShop store updated is important for maintaining security, improving performance, fixing bugs, and ensuring compatibility with the latest features and technologies.

Although PrestaShop can be upgraded manually, the process may involve several steps, including backing up files and databases, replacing application files, running database updates, and checking module compatibility. For store owners who prefer a guided approach, PrestaShop provides an official upgrade module.

Previously known as 1-Click Upgrade, this module is now called Update Assistant (technical module name: autoupgrade). It helps automate the store upgrade process and provides options for backup and restoration if something goes wrong.

In this article, we will explain how to install and use the Update Assistant module to upgrade a PrestaShop store through the back-office interface.

Prerequisites

Before starting the upgrade, make sure you have the following:

• Access to your PrestaShop back office.
• Administrator permissions to install and configure modules.
• A compatible version of the Update Assistant module.
• Sufficient disk space for the backup and upgrade files.
• A PHP version compatible with the target PrestaShop release.
• Verified backups of your website files and database.
• Confirmation that your installed themes, modules, and customizations support the target PrestaShop version.
• Access to your hosting control panel or server for troubleshooting if required.

Note: Always take a separate manual backup of your PrestaShop files and database before starting. Do not rely exclusively on the backup generated by the upgrade module.

Where possible, test the upgrade on a staging copy of your store before applying it to production.

Implementation

Follow the steps below to upgrade your PrestaShop store using the Update Assistant module.

Step 1: Download the Update Assistant Module

The Update Assistant module is the official PrestaShop tool for upgrading stores. It was previously known as the 1-Click Upgrade module.

1. Visit the official PrestaShop Addons Marketplace.
2. Locate the Update Assistant / 1-Click Upgrade module.
3. Download the module ZIP file compatible with your PrestaShop installation.

Note: You can also obtain the module through the official PrestaShop Update Assistant GitHub repository.

Note: Check the module’s compatibility with your current PrestaShop version before installing it.

Step 2: Upload and Install the Module

After downloading the module ZIP file, upload it through your PrestaShop back office.

1. Log in to your PrestaShop administration panel.
2. Navigate to Improve → Modules → Module Manager.
3. Click the Upload a module button in the upper-right corner.
4. Select the downloaded Update Assistant ZIP file.
5. Wait for the upload and installation process to complete.
6. Locate the installed module in the Module Manager and click Configure.

The module configuration page will open, providing access to the store update and restoration options.

Note: Menu names and layouts may differ slightly depending on your PrestaShop version.

Step 3: Open the Update Assistant and Review the Pre-Upgrade Checklist

After installing the module, open its configuration page and select the option to update your store.

The module will perform preliminary checks to identify potential issues before starting the upgrade.

Depending on your PrestaShop and module versions, these checks may include:

• PHP version compatibility.
• File and directory permissions.
• Available disk space.
• Required PHP extensions.
• Module compatibility.
• Maintenance mode status.
• Store configuration requirements.

Review every warning or error displayed by the module before proceeding.

Where the checklist displays a green status, the corresponding requirement has passed. Resolve any failed checks before starting the upgrade.

Note: Enable maintenance mode for your store before upgrading so customers cannot place orders or modify data while the upgrade is in progress.

You can generally enable maintenance mode through:

Configure → Shop Parameters → General → Maintenance

The exact menu path may vary depending on the PrestaShop version.

Step 4: Select the Upgrade Version

Once the preliminary checks are completed, select the target PrestaShop version.

The Update Assistant may provide different update channels depending on your current version and the server’s compatibility:

• Recommended version: The version recommended for your store based on compatibility and PrestaShop’s update guidance.
• Latest version: The latest available version compatible with your server configuration.
• Local version: An update package that has been manually placed in the appropriate module download directory.

Review the available versions and select the appropriate target.

Recommendation: For production stores, prefer the recommended stable version unless you have a specific requirement to upgrade to another supported release.

Do not assume that the latest release is automatically compatible with your existing themes, modules, or custom code.

Step 5: Configure Backup and Restoration Options

Before proceeding, configure the backup options.

The Update Assistant provides backup options that can include:

• Store files.
• Database.
• Product images and other uploaded content, depending on the selected backup configuration.

It is strongly recommended to create a complete backup before starting the upgrade.

The backup allows you to restore the previous store state if the upgrade fails.

The module may also provide options to skip its backup process. Only consider this when you have already created and verified an independent backup of both the website files and database.

Note: A backup is useful only when it can be restored successfully. Confirm that the backup files are available and that you have a working recovery procedure before proceeding.

The module’s backup location is generally under the PrestaShop administration directory:

/your-admin-directory/autoupgrade/backup

The exact location and backup options depend on the installed module version.

Step 6: Configure the Upgrade Options

Review the available upgrade settings before launching the process.

Depending on the Update Assistant version and PrestaShop release, options may include:

• Disable non-native modules: Temporarily disable or handle third-party modules that may cause compatibility problems.
• Upgrade the default theme: Apply the appropriate default theme update when supported.
• Switch to the default theme: Use the default theme during the upgrade to reduce custom-theme compatibility issues.
• Keep customized email templates: Preserve customized email templates where supported.
• Disable overrides: Temporarily disable overrides to reduce potential compatibility conflicts.
• Regenerate email templates: Regenerate the default email templates when required.

Review each option carefully before enabling or disabling it.

Recommendation: Document any custom themes, modules, overrides, and email templates before upgrading. Some third-party modules may need separate updates or reconfiguration after the PrestaShop upgrade.

After reviewing the settings, click Save to apply the selected configuration.

Step 7: Start the PrestaShop Upgrade

Once the target version, backup settings, and upgrade options have been configured, the module will validate the selected settings.

If all required checks pass, the Upgrade Now button will become available.

1. Confirm that the manual backup is complete.
2. Verify that the store is in maintenance mode.
3. Review the selected target version and upgrade options.
4. Click Upgrade Now to begin the upgrade.

The module will start executing the upgrade tasks.

During the process, you may see progress notifications such as:

• Backup files in progress.
• Downloading the upgrade archive.
• Extracting update files.
• Replacing application files.
• Updating the database.
• Updating modules.

For example, the backup process may display progress messages such as:

Backup files in progress. 30374 files left
Backup files in progress. 29974 files left
Backup files in progress. 29574 files left
Backup files in progress. 29174 files left
Backup files in progress. 28774 files left

The time required depends on the size of your store, the number of files, database size, and available server resources.

Important: Do not close the upgrade process, restart the server, or manually modify PrestaShop files while the upgrade is running unless instructed by the recovery procedure.

Step 8: Monitor the Upgrade Process and Resolve Errors

Continue monitoring the upgrade progress until all tasks are completed.

The module may report errors related to:

• File ownership or permissions.
• PHP execution time limits.
• Request timeouts.
• Insufficient disk space.
• Missing PHP extensions.
• Database connection failures.
• Incompatible modules or customizations.

Review the error messages and module logs to identify the underlying cause.

Troubleshooting: Request Timeout

A request timeout may occur when the upgrade process takes longer than the PHP or web server request timeout allows.

Possible causes:

• Low PHP max_execution_time.
• Insufficient PHP max_input_time.
• Web server or proxy timeout limits.
• Large numbers of files or database records.
• Insufficient server resources.

Solution:

1. Check the PHP configuration used by the PrestaShop website.
2. Review the current max_execution_time and max_input_time values.
3. Check the web server and PHP-FPM logs for timeout-related errors.
4. If necessary, increase the relevant PHP execution limits based on the hosting environment and application requirements.
5. Review any applicable web server or proxy timeout settings.
6. Retry the upgrade only after confirming that the previous attempt has stopped safely and the store is in a consistent state.

For example, PHP configuration values can be reviewed using:

max_execution_time = 300
max_input_time = 300
memory_limit = 512M

These are illustrative values, not universal requirements. The appropriate settings depend on the store size, PHP handler, server resources, and hosting configuration.

If the hosting environment uses PHP-FPM, additional service or pool-level timeout settings may also need to be reviewed.

Troubleshooting: File Permission or Ownership Errors

If the upgrade reports permission or ownership errors, check the ownership and permissions of the PrestaShop installation files.

For Linux hosting environments, you can inspect the file ownership using:

ls -la /path/to/prestashop/

Check that the PHP process has the required access to the files and directories used by the upgrade.

Do not apply unrestricted permissions such as 777 to resolve permission issues. Correct ownership and permissions according to your hosting environment’s security requirements.

Troubleshooting: Incompatible Modules

Third-party modules may not support the target PrestaShop version.

To resolve this:

1. Identify the modules reported as incompatible.
2. Check whether compatible updates are available from their developers.
3. Review custom module dependencies and overrides.
4. Update or temporarily disable incompatible modules where appropriate.
5. Test the affected functionality after the upgrade.

Avoid uninstalling modules without understanding whether they contain configuration or business data that needs to be preserved.

Step 9: Verify the Upgrade Completion

After all upgrade tasks finish successfully, the Update Assistant should display an upgrade completion or success notification.

Verify the following before making the store available to customers:

• The PrestaShop back office is accessible.
• The installed PrestaShop version matches the selected target.
• The storefront loads correctly.
• Product pages and category pages work.
• Customer login and registration work.
• Shopping cart and checkout processes work.
• Payment and shipping modules function correctly.
• Database connectivity is working.
• Email notifications are being delivered.
• Images and other uploaded content display correctly.
• Custom themes and third-party modules work as expected.

If any issue occurs, review the module logs and application error logs. If the store cannot be recovered through troubleshooting, use the verified backup and restoration procedure.

Step 10: Disable Maintenance Mode and Complete Post-Upgrade Checks

Once the store has passed the necessary functional checks:

1. Log in to the PrestaShop back office.
2. Navigate to the maintenance settings.
3. Disable maintenance mode.
4. Clear the PrestaShop cache if required.
5. Test the storefront again.
6. Confirm that customers can browse products and complete orders.

Keep monitoring the store after the upgrade to identify any unexpected application errors or module compatibility issues.

Congratulations! Your PrestaShop store has been upgraded using the Update Assistant module.

Conclusion

The PrestaShop Update Assistant, previously known as 1-Click Upgrade, simplifies the store upgrade process by providing a guided workflow for version selection, backup, file updates, database migrations, and restoration.

However, an automated upgrade does not eliminate the need for preparation. Always verify application compatibility, create independent backups, review the pre-upgrade checklist, and test the store after completing the upgrade.

Following these precautions helps reduce upgrade-related downtime and protects important store data.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the PrestaShop 1-Click Upgrade module?

The PrestaShop 1-Click Upgrade module is now called Update Assistant. It is the official PrestaShop module used to update a store to a newer version through a guided back-office interface or command-line interface.

2. Is the PrestaShop Update Assistant module free?

The official Update Assistant module is available as an open-source PrestaShop module. Always download it from the official PrestaShop Marketplace or its official GitHub repository.

3. Do I need to back up my store before upgrading PrestaShop?

Yes. Create a complete backup of your website files and database before starting the upgrade. It is recommended to maintain an independent backup in addition to the backup option provided by the Update Assistant module.

4. Why should I enable maintenance mode before upgrading?

Maintenance mode prevents customers from accessing normal storefront functionality while the upgrade is in progress. This helps avoid new orders or data changes during the upgrade process.

5. What should I do if the PrestaShop upgrade fails?

Review the Update Assistant logs and identify the cause of the failure. Depending on the issue, you may need to resolve file permission problems, PHP timeout settings, missing extensions, or module compatibility issues. If the store is left in an inconsistent state, restore it using the verified backup.

6. Why does the PrestaShop upgrade process show a request timeout error?

A request timeout can occur when the upgrade takes longer than the PHP, web server, or proxy timeout limits. Review PHP execution settings, server logs, and available resources before attempting the upgrade again.

7. Can I restore my previous PrestaShop version after an unsuccessful upgrade?

The Update Assistant provides a restoration option when a suitable backup is available. You can use the module’s restore workflow or its supported command-line procedures. Restoration should be performed using a verified backup rather than attempting an arbitrary version downgrade.

8. Will third-party modules work after upgrading PrestaShop?

Not necessarily. Third-party modules must support the target PrestaShop version. Check module compatibility and obtain updated versions from their developers before upgrading.

9. How long does a PrestaShop upgrade take?

The upgrade duration depends on the store’s file count, database size, server performance, network connectivity, and the number of installed modules. Larger stores may require significantly more time.

10. Can I upgrade PrestaShop through the command line?

Yes. The Update Assistant also provides a command-line interface for supported environments. This is useful for technical teams managing upgrades through terminal-based workflows and automation.

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Need Assistance?

Need help upgrading your PrestaShop store, resolving upgrade errors, or troubleshooting module compatibility issues?

The Pheonix Solutions technical team can assist you with PrestaShop upgrades, PHP configuration, website migration, server administration, and e-commerce troubleshooting.

For assistance, contact us.