1. Customization
PrestaShop offers great opportunities for your store customization. However, it is highly recommended to customize your store after data migration. Please, don’t install any extensions or modules before you start a migration process. It will help to avoid inconveniences during and after data transferring. A universal migration checklist can help.
2. Redirects
In order to ensure that a Connection Bridge works properly, it is highly recommended to turn off site redirects on your VirtueMart and PrestaShop stores. There are different ways to do that:
- Enter your shopping cart maintenance mode and make changes in a source code (turn off redirects).
- You will also be able to check if there are redirects on your VirtueMart and PrestaShop stores using .htaccess file. Usually, you just have to add several lines or make changes in a name of .htaccess file.
3. Firewall/Whitelist
During VirtueMart to PrestaShop migration, Cart2Cart sends and receives a huge amount of information. Your firewall, which controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic may recognize such actions as not assumed to be secure and trusted. As a result, it can block a connection with Cart2Cart server and migration will be interrupted. In order to avoid this situation you should turn off a firewall for the time of migration or add Cart2Cart’s IPs to the whitelist. You can find more detailed information on how to do that here.
4. Store Location
Before you start migration, make sure your VirtueMart and PrestaShop stores are located in different folders or subfolders at FTP. Single shopping cart has to be located in a single folder. It will help Cart2Cart to recognize each of them and perform accurate migration.
So, these are 4 things you should think about before starting VirtueMart to PrestaShop migration. If you still have some question, feel free to contact our Support Team.
Monthly Update – December 2025
As the year 2025 draws to a close, a crucial trend in e-commerce migration, particularly for platforms like VirtueMart to PrestaShop, is the heightened emphasis on SEO URL preservation and effective 301 redirects. Search engine algorithms are continuously refined, making it more critical than ever to prevent any loss of organic traffic during and after your store replatforming. Before initiating your migration, a comprehensive audit of your existing URL structure is indispensable. Plan meticulously for creating a robust 301 redirect map that accurately routes old URLs to their new counterparts on PrestaShop, ensuring search engines can easily crawl and index your new site without encountering broken links or "404 Not Found" errors. This proactive approach safeguards your hard-earned search rankings and ensures a seamless transition for both users and crawlers, contributing significantly to your long-term online visibility and sales performance in the competitive digital landscape. Neglecting this step can lead to a drastic drop in traffic and revenue, making it a top priority for any successful migration strategy in December 2025.
For more details, explore our FAQ section or schedule a call with a migration expert.
