Migrating from Magento 1 to Magento 2: Risks and Steps
· 5 min read
If your store is still on Magento 1, it runs on software the vendor stopped supporting in 2020, with no more official security updates. Migrating to Magento 2 (or to another platform) is not a matter of fashion but of risk: every extra month exposes customer data and payments to problems nobody fixes any more. The good news is that migration can be planned, and done without stopping sales.
Why staying on Magento 1 is a risk
- No official security fixes: vulnerabilities found after 2020 stay open. Even Adobe's most recent security patches, such as the one of October 13, 2026, cover Magento 2 only.
- The server ages too: Adobe states that PHP 8.1 reached end of life on December 31, 2025 and PHP 8.2 reaches it on December 31, 2026, with consequences for PCI compliance. If your store runs on a PHP version older than 8.2, not even the server receives official fixes: we saw it with the critical PHP update announced for October 21, 2026.
- Payments and compliance: anyone taking card payments must follow security rules that require up-to-date software. A system that is no longer updated makes that harder to demonstrate.
- Compatibility and costs: payment modules, shipping and other tools stop supporting old versions, and every intervention on a dated platform takes more time and more caution.
What can be transferred and what must be rebuilt
Magento 2 is not a simple upgrade of Magento 1: it is a new platform. So it helps to know what comes with you.
| Element | Does it transfer? |
|---|---|
| Products, categories, customers, orders | Yes, with Adobe's migration tool and spot checks. |
| Theme and design | No: it must be rebuilt or adapted. |
| Third-party modules | Often no: you need the Magento 2 version or an alternative. |
| Custom features | No: they must be rewritten for the new platform. |
| Page addresses (SEO) | They must be kept with redirects, to avoid losing rankings. |
Adobe's tool works in three stages: first the settings, then the data in bulk, finally the changes that arrived in the meantime, such as new customers and orders. That is what lets the old store stay open while the new one is built.
How big is the job?
Three questions already give an idea:
- How many third-party modules do you use? Each one must be replaced or rewritten.
- How many custom features do you have? They are the longest part, because they are rewritten.
- Which systems does the store talk to? Back-office, shipping and payments must be reconnected and tested.
A migration is also a chance to decide
Magento 2 is not the only road. Before spending, it is worth asking:
- Do you still need all the features you currently use?
- Would a lighter, more modern theme improve speed and sales?
- Which edition fits? Magento Open Source is free, Adobe Commerce is licensed, Mage-OS is the free distribution developed by the community: it has published regular security fixes in 2026, such as 3.6.0 on October 14. Another system can be considered too.
- There are community projects that keep Magento 1 going, such as OpenMage: it still publishes versions (the latest in October 2026), but it is an unofficial project and should be weighed carefully.
The steps of a well-run migration
- Analysis of the current store: data, modules, customizations, pages that bring traffic.
- Choice of platform and migration plan.
- Build of the new store and transfer of data, with repeated trial runs on a copy.
- Testing of orders, payments and key pages.
- Go-live in a low-traffic window, with redirects active.
- Post-launch checks for errors, missing pages and sales trends.
For details on protecting your rankings, read migrating an e-commerce store without losing rankings.
Frequently asked questions
How much does moving to Magento 2 cost?
It depends on catalog size, modules and the customizations to rebuild. I work hourly starting at €60/hour, with discounts for large projects, or with a fixed-price quote. To get your bearings on costs, read how much an e-commerce store costs.
How long does the migration take?
From a few weeks to a few months, depending on complexity. After the analysis a concrete estimate is possible.
Does the store stop during the move?
No: the old store stays live while the new one is built, and the orders that arrive in the meantime are carried over. Downtime is limited to the switch itself.
After the migration, a store to keep up to date
Moving to a supported platform is the first step: then you have to follow the updates. With the maintenance and support service I take care of it. It is better to plan the migration calmly than to do it after a security incident: see the page on replatforming and migrations.
Want to know what it takes to migrate your store? Request a consultation and a free quote.
Informative article, written on November 2, 2026: the data on migration tools, PHP end of life and patches comes from Adobe's documentation and php.net. PCI compliance remains an assessment for each individual store.