Your Step-by-Step osCommerce to Shopify Migration Guide
Migrating your store data from osCommerce to Shopify with Cart2Cart is a streamlined process designed for efficiency and accuracy. Follow these simple steps to get started:
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Connect your Source osCommerce Store
First, select 'osCommerce' as your Source Cart type in the Cart2Cart migration wizard. You'll then need to provide your osCommerce store's URL and establish a connection using the Cart2Cart Bridge. This involves downloading a
connection_bridge.zipfile, unpacking it, and uploading thebridge2cartfolder to your osCommerce store's root directory via FTP/SFTP. This bridge creates a secure link for data extraction.Connect your osCommerce store by uploading the Cart2Cart bridge files via FTP/SFTP. -
Connect your Target Shopify Store
Next, choose 'Shopify' as your Target Cart type and enter your new Shopify store's URL. Cart2Cart offers two convenient methods to connect to Shopify:
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API Connection: Generate an Admin API access token within your Shopify admin panel (Settings > Apps and sales channels > Develop apps > Create an app > Configure Admin API scopes > Install app > Retrieve token). Paste this token into the designated field in the Cart2Cart wizard.
Connect Shopify as your target store using an Admin API access token. -
Cart2Cart App: Alternatively, you can click to install the Cart2Cart app directly from the Shopify marketplace. This will redirect you to Shopify for installation, and upon completion, you'll be automatically returned to the wizard with the connection established.
Install the Cart2Cart app from the Shopify marketplace for a seamless connection.
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API Connection: Generate an Admin API access token within your Shopify admin panel (Settings > Apps and sales channels > Develop apps > Create an app > Configure Admin API scopes > Install app > Retrieve token). Paste this token into the designated field in the Cart2Cart wizard.
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Select Data Entities for Migration
Once both stores are connected, you'll proceed to the 'Entities Selection' step. Here, you can choose exactly which data types you want to migrate from osCommerce to Shopify, such as products, customers, orders, categories, and more. The wizard will display available entities and any dependencies (e.g., orders cannot be migrated without customers).
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Configure Additional Options & Run Demo Migration
Enhance your migration by selecting various additional options, such as creating 301 redirects, preserving order IDs, or migrating images embedded in descriptions. After configuring your preferences, we highly recommend running a free Demo Migration. This transfers a limited subset of your data (e.g., 20 products, 20 customers, 20 orders) to your Shopify test store, allowing you to review the results and ensure everything transfers correctly before a full migration.
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Launch Full Migration
Satisfied with your demo results? Proceed to launch the Full Migration. Cart2Cart will then transfer all your selected data from osCommerce to Shopify accurately and efficiently, bringing your new store to life.
What Data Can Be Migrated from osCommerce to Shopify?
Cart2Cart ensures a comprehensive transfer of your essential store data. For your osCommerce to Shopify migration, you can seamlessly move the following entities:
- Products: Names, SKUs, descriptions, prices, special prices, images, quantity, weight, stock status, variants (attributes, quantity, images, price, special price), meta title, meta description.
- Product Categories: Names, descriptions, status, images, meta title, meta description.
- Customers: First names, last names, emails, billing addresses (first name, last name, company, address 1, address 2, country, state, city, zip code, telephone), shipping addresses (first name, last name, company, address 1, address 2, country, state, city, zip code, telephone).
- Customer Groups: Migrated to Shopify Customer Tags.
- Orders: IDs, order dates, order statuses, order products (name, SKU, product price, quantity), subtotal price, shipping price, total price, customer name, email, billing address, shipping address.
- Manufacturers: Names.
- Reviews: Created date, rate, comment, user name, product.
- Stores: Information about your different store views.
- Taxes: Tax rates and configurations.
More details
See a full walkthrough and pair-specific notes for osCommerce to Shopify.
Frequently Asked Questions about osCommerce to Shopify Migration
How long does an osCommerce to Shopify migration take?
A free Demo Migration, transferring a limited number of entities, typically takes 15-30 minutes. The duration of a Full Migration depends on the total volume of your data, but Cart2Cart's automated process is designed for speed and efficiency.
Will my osCommerce store be offline during the migration to Shopify?
No, Cart2Cart performs the migration without affecting the operation of your live osCommerce store. Your current store remains fully functional throughout the data transfer process, ensuring zero downtime for your customers.
What types of data can I transfer from osCommerce to Shopify?
You can migrate a wide range of data, including Products, Product Categories, Customers, Customer Groups (as Shopify tags), Orders, Order Statuses, Manufacturers, Product Reviews, Stores, and Taxes. Please refer to the 'Data You Can Migrate' section for a detailed list.
Is there a way to preview the migration results before committing to a full transfer?
Absolutely! Cart2Cart offers a free Demo Migration feature. This allows you to transfer a limited number of entities (up to 20 products, customers, and orders) to a test Shopify store in 15-30 minutes, enabling you to review the migration accuracy before proceeding with the full transfer.
Can I migrate customer passwords from osCommerce to Shopify?
Yes, Cart2Cart provides an additional option to migrate customer passwords. By selecting this feature, your customers will be able to log into their new Shopify accounts using their existing osCommerce credentials, ensuring a seamless transition.
What happens to my SEO URLs after migrating from osCommerce to Shopify?
You can choose additional options to preserve your SEO. Cart2Cart can migrate categories and products SEO URLs and automatically create 301 redirects from your old osCommerce URLs to the corresponding new pages on Shopify. This helps maintain your search engine rankings and prevents broken links.
What if I need to re-migrate data or update my store after the initial transfer?
Cart2Cart offers flexible Migration Insurance plans that include options for free re-migrations and recent data updates within a specified period (e.g., 14 days) following your initial full migration. This provides a safety net for any unforeseen changes or new data.
Enhanced demo data transfer service
Advanced Application Software Migration System With customer in mind, App is created. We want to save your time, that resources and guarantee the highest standard of service. Therefore, we provide a range of 'all-inclusive' specialized demo support services. Our team will migrate your data, provide you with the appropriate personalization and help for every phase of the migration.
Reviews

The team provides the easiest data migration way.
The team provides the easiest data migration way. I figured out everything quite fast but still had several questions. After a brief phone call, the app team helped me through the process and everything went smoothly. Thanks!
Alex

The team is always there to help you
I've been through several migrations using this service and I can tell nothing but best. The whole process and service are on point. The team is always there to help you. I like the fact that there are several options to migrate from one platform to another. There is no better service than this for sure.
O.B.

This app performs greatly
This app performs greatly. The service is very reliable and the support is superb. The service is quite costly for me but in the end, it's worth its money. There is also an automated shopping cart migration and I'm very happy about that! I'm really satisfied.





