Shopware 5 to Shopware 6 Migration Guide – A Deep Dive into the Migration Process

Migrating from Shopware 5 to Shopware 6 is a crucial step for any e-commerce business aiming to future-proof its platform. Shopware 6 introduces a more modern, API-first architecture, improved user experience, and expanded customization possibilities. However, many merchants face challenges when transferring data, such as customers, products, and orders, due to architectural differences and data structure changes. 

The digital commerce landscape is evolving fast, and businesses need flexible, scalable platforms to keep up. Shopware 6 meets these needs with enhanced performance, headless commerce, rule-based pricing, and seamless third-party integrations. These features help merchants deliver personalised, multi-channel shopping experiences. With Shopware 5 reaching end-of-life in 2024, remaining on the outdated platform poses risks, such as a lack of support, security vulnerabilities, and reduced compatibility with new tools.

Partnering with a trusted Shopware development agency ensures a smooth migration to Shopware 6. With expert Shopware development services, businesses can handle data transfer, plugin issues, and SEO preservation, transforming a technical upgrade into a strategic move to enhance performance, scalability, and long-term eCommerce success.

The need for migration usually arises when: 

• Shopware 5 reaches end-of-life (EOL support ends in 2024). 
• Businesses want to take advantage of Shopware 6 features, including rule-based pricing, dynamic product groups, or headless commerce. 
• Scalability and long-term maintainability become a priority. 

Understanding and executing this migration smoothly is essential for minimizing downtime, preserving SEO rankings, and maintaining a seamless customer experience.

Why You Should Work With a Shopware Development Agency

With the complexity of the migration, partnering with a professional Shopware development agency can make a significant difference. These professionals provide customized Shopware development services that not only facilitate migrating without a hitch but also improve the ability of a store. An experienced team of Shopware development solutions will take care of each aspect, starting from product data up to plugin compatibility.

A reputable agency will perform an in-depth audit of your existing Shopware 5 installation, identify high-risk elements, and develop a customised roadmap that reduces risk and maximises business continuity. They will also assist with the post-migration phase, helping with SEO recovery, UI/UX enhancements, and additional feature integrations.

Understanding the Problem 

Shopware 5 and Shopware 6 are fundamentally different platforms. While Shopware 5 follows a monolithic architecture, Shopware 6 is built around Symfony and Vue.js, with a focus on API-first and headless commerce. 

Key challenges arise due to: 

• Differences in data models (e.g., product structure, category trees, customer groups). 
• Incompatibility of plugins and themes. 
• Changes in order handling and checkout processes. 
• Need to rebuild frontend and backend customizations.

Choosing the Right Shopware Development Services

To overcome these challenges, it’s important to rely on robust Shopware development services. Whether you’re looking to execute custom themes, create plugins from the ground up, or connect third-party systems, a trusted agency can offer end-to-end Shopware development solutions designed around your business objectives.

Causes of the Issue | Challenges We’ve Faced While Working on It 

Common Issues During Migration: 

Data Mapping Failures 

Fields such as VAT, custom attributes, and language-specific content require manual mapping. 

Broken Images or Media Links 

Media paths differ; missing or incorrect paths can cause broken images. 

Loss of SEO URLs 

SEO-friendly URLs must be regenerated or manually mapped. 

Order Status & History 

Orders may lose state transitions unless explicitly mapped. 

Plugin Conflicts 

Many Shopware 5 plugins are not compatible with Shopware 6 and need replacements or custom solutions. 

Shopify Checkout Tools and Best Practices

Follow Shopify’s Guidelines: Always follow Shopify’s official documentation and guidelines when making changes. This helps you: 

• Avoid errors 
• Keep your store secure 
• Get support easily if anything breaks 

You can find detailed help in Shopify’s developer docs. 

This is How We’ve Fixed the Issue

Step-by-Step Migration Process: 

Step 1: Preparation 

• Backup your Shopware 5 store completely (files + database). 
• Update to the latest version of Shopware 5.7. 
• List installed plugins and identify Shopware 6 alternatives. 

Step 2: Install Shopware 6 and Migration Plugin 

• Set up a fresh Shopware 6 instance. 
• Install the Shopware Migration Assistant Plugin from the Shopware Store. 

Step 3: Initiate the Migration 

• Connect Shopware 5 via database or API. 
• Select entities to migrate: Customers, Products, Orders, Categories, Media. 

Step 4: Run Migration in Batches 

• Migrate each data type individually. 
• Review logs for errors and warnings after each batch. 
• Manually fix inconsistent entries in the database or use mapping options in the plugin. 

Step 5: Rebuild Missing Features 

• Reassign taxes, customer groups, and rules in the new Shopware 6 environment. 
• Test product variants, checkout flow, customer login, and order history. 

Step 6: Go Live 

• Perform a final migration (delta migration) to sync recent orders/customers. 
• Switch domain to Shopware 6. 
• Monitor performance and logs post-launch. 

Suggested Plugin: 

• Shopware Migration Assistant

Post-Migration Shopware Development Solutions

Following migration, most companies choose to expand the functionality of their store with innovative new features available in Shopware 6 alone. That is where custom Shopware development can be crucial, from creating customized extensions to performance optimization and seamless integration with new APIs. An experienced Shopware development firm can assist in fine-tuning your platform for success within the dynamic digital commerce.

Whether you need bespoke checkout features, integration with ERPs or CRMs, or the establishment of dynamic product pages, custom Shopware development services can make a big impact. Shopware development also allows you to future-proof your eCommerce store by allowing headless commerce integrations and omnichannel sales models.

Best Practices / Preventative Measures (If Relevant)

• Always work in a staging environment first. 
• Use delta migration to sync recent data changes before going live. 
• Maintain detailed mapping logs to ensure data accuracy. 
• Use custom scripts for unhandled data (e.g., legacy attributes). 
• Plan a soft launch or beta phase with limited users for testing. 
• Retain Shopware 5 access temporarily for historical reference.