Introduction: PrestaShop is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms, perfect for creating and managing online stores. In this article, I’ll guide you step by step through the process of installing PrestaShop on your web server, ensuring that your store is ready to operate in no time.

Prerequisites: Before starting the installation, make sure your server meets the minimum requirements:

  1. Web Server: Apache or Nginx.
  2. PHP: Version 7.2 or higher.
  3. MySQL Database: Version 5.6 or higher.
  4. PHP Extensions: GD, cURL, MySQLi, OpenSSL, ZIP, Mbstring, DOM, among others.

Step 1: Download PrestaShop The first thing you need to do is download the latest version of PrestaShop from their official website. Go to PrestaShop.com and download the .zip file.

Step 2: Upload the Files to the Server Once you have downloaded PrestaShop, use an FTP client (like FileZilla) to upload the files to your server. Unzip the .zip file on your computer and then upload all the contents to your web server’s root directory (e.g., public_html).

Step 3: Create a Database Access your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.) and create a new MySQL database. Be sure to save the database name, username, and password, as you will need them during the installation.

Step 4: Start the Installation Process Open your web browser and navigate to the URL where you uploaded the PrestaShop files (e.g., https://www.yourdomain.com). This will automatically start the PrestaShop installation wizard.

Step 5: Configure PrestaShop Follow the steps of the installation wizard:

  • Language selection: Choose the language for your installation.
  • License agreement: Accept the license terms.
  • Store information: Enter your store name, country, time zone, etc.
  • Database configuration: Enter the database details you created in Step 3.

Step 6: Complete the Installation After configuring all the parameters, PrestaShop will automatically install all the necessary files and settings. Once finished, you will be provided with a link to access your store’s backend.

Step 7: Delete the Installation Folder For security reasons, delete the install folder from the server before accessing the PrestaShop admin panel.

Conclusion: Installing PrestaShop on your web server is a straightforward process if you follow these steps. You are now ready to start customizing your store and adding products. Don’t forget to keep your PrestaShop updated and perform regular backups to ensure it runs smoothly.