Magento 2 theme migration might sound daunting, but it’s a crucial move to keep your online store up-to-date and engaging for customers.
A fresh theme can breathe new life into your site, improving both its look and functionality. Plus, with the right approach, the migration process can be smoother than you’d expect.
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the steps of migrating your Magento 2 theme.
By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to follow, making the whole process less intimidating and more manageable.
So, without further ado, let’s dive in!
Contents
Why You Should Consider Magento 2 Theme Migration
Magento 2 theme migration is necessary because Magento 1 has reached its end-of-life and is no longer supported by Magento or Adobe, the company that owns Magento.
This means that Magento 1 websites are no longer receiving security patches, bug fixes, or updates, leaving them vulnerable to security threats and compatibility issues with newer technologies.
In addition, Magento 2 features offer several significant improvements compared to Magento 1, such as better performance, an improved checkout process, and an enhanced admin panel.
To take advantage of these new features and benefits, businesses need to migrate their existing Magento 1 stores to Magento 2.
As part of the migration process, themes need to be updated or rebuilt to work with Magento 2’s different file structures and coding standards. This guarantees that the website will keep working properly and will provide users with the best possible experience.
Overall, Magento 2 theme migration is necessary to ensure long-term sustainability and plan a business’s online store, as well as to take advantage of the latest features and benefits offered by Magento 2.
3 Things You Need to Know About Magento 2 Theme Migration
1. Moving your current theme and templates to Magento 2 is not feasible
There is a serious misunderstanding that we can continue using the existing Magento 1 theme after migration just by moving the code.
In other words, we can’t migrate the Magento 1 theme to Magento 2 but develop a new one that has the same appearance or design your website from scratch.
For some stores, it’s a good chance to improve their design and create a fresh look for the customers. For others, it’s a piece of bad news since they want to maintain the design that has already been familiar to all of their buyers.
2. Migrating themes from Magento 1 to 2 can be expensive
As you might know, in order to migrate the extensions from Magento 1 to Magento 2, we must discard and replace all current Magento 1 modules and plugins with the new ones for Magento 2 having the same functions.
The more extensions you have, the greater your investment is. Unfortunately, this situation is quite similar to Magento theme migration.
The next part will show you five possible solutions to migrate themes from Magento 1 to Magento 2. The option you go for will decide how much money you have to invest in the theme migration.
3. Migrating themes from Magento 1 to 2 is a time-consuming process
Migrating themes from Magento 1 to Magento 2 can be a time-consuming process, especially if you have customized themes in Magento 1.
Magento 2 has a different file structure and coding standards compared to Magento 1, so migrating a theme requires a significant amount of manual work to update the code and files to work with the new platform.
Depending on the complexity of the existing theme, this procedure can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. It’s important to plan and allocate enough time and resources for the migration to avoid any delays in launching your Magento 2 store.
5 Solutions to Migrate Theme from Magento 1 to 2
We’ll start by outlining all the available options for migrating themes to your new Magento 2 website. Next, we’ll examine the pros and cons of each method.
Finally, we’ll recommend the most effective and efficient solution for your Magento 2 theme migration.
1. Download and Install a Free Theme for Magento 2
For small Magento e-commerce stores, this is a cost-effective option. There are plenty of free, responsive Magento 2 themes available that you can easily find and install on your new site.
However, keep in mind that the adage “you get what you pay for” often applies here. Many free Magento 2 themes lack advanced functionality and may not have the most appealing designs.
To avoid issues, make sure to thoroughly test any free theme before applying it to your store.
2. Purchase and Implement a Ready-made Magento 2 Theme
This option involves using a paid, ready-made theme for Magento 2. Commercial themes generally offer better quality in both style and functionality compared to free ones.
These themes typically range from $100 to $250. While these themes are usually well-designed, customization is often necessary to meet your specific needs and preferences.
If you hire a Magento migration company, they can assist with both installation and customization. Expect to spend about a week on this process.
If your site doesn’t require any customization, you can install the theme yourself or use the installation service provided by the theme vendor.
3. Create a New Design Based on The Existing Magento 1 Theme
Some merchants prefer upgrading their design with a new Magento 2 theme, while others want to maintain the same look. In this case, you’ll need to clone your Magento 1 theme and build a similar one for Magento 2.
The complexity of your site will affect the time required to complete the new design. Generally, expect this process to take at least one month.
Outsourcing your Magento migration project to an agency will increase costs as more time means higher investment.
For the second solution, you’ll pay for the theme ($100-250) plus one week of service costs. For cloning your site, you’ll be looking at a service fee for at least one month (4 weeks).
4. Develop a New Look Based On Your Favourite E-commerce Website
Similar to the previous solution, this approach involves creating a new design by cloning, but instead of copying your current Magento 1 theme, you’ll be inspired by another e-commerce website’s design.
If you’ve found an appealing e-commerce website and want to replicate that design for your Magento store, it’s possible to clone it and create a new look for your Magento 2 store.
However, this solution requires more time and effort compared to the previous one. Having the PSD design files of your current theme simplifies the cloning process.
On the other hand, obtaining the PSD files of a different website’s design can be challenging, making this method more complex and time-consuming.
5. Create a One-of-a-Kind Theme from Scratch for Your Magento 2 Store
The final option is to create a brand-new Magento 2 theme from scratch. This will give you a unique design tailored to your exact needs and requirements.
However, it’s also the most expensive and time-consuming method.
You’ll need to work with a designer to transform your ideas into a complete PSD design. Then, you’ll have to find skilled Magento front-end and back-end developers to build your store based on this design.
This process typically takes two to three times longer than the previous solutions and about eight times longer than implementing a ready-made theme.
Be prepared to allocate a substantial budget and several months to manage this project effectively.
7 Steps to Migrate Themes from Magento 1 to Magento 2
Migrating themes from Magento 1 to Magento 2 can be a complex process, but the following steps can help you navigate the migration process more smoothly:
- Analyze your Magento 1 theme: Start by analyzing your Magento 1 theme, including its design, functionality, and customizations. This analysis will help you identify the changes required to migrate your theme to Magento 2.
- Create a new theme in Magento 2: Create a new theme in Magento 2 based on the design and functionality of your Magento 1 theme. The relevant files, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and pictures, should be present in this new theme.
- Copy over the design elements: Copy over the design elements of your Magento 1 theme to your new Magento 2 theme. This includes your logo, background image, and any custom fonts or colours you may have used.
- Update the code: Magento 2 uses a different file structure and coding standards than Magento 1, so you will need to update the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files to work with Magento 2. This includes updating the layout and block files, as well as updating any custom code or extensions.
- Test your new theme: Once you have updated the code, test your new Magento 2 theme thoroughly to ensure that it works as expected. This includes testing the layout, functionality, and performance of the theme.
- Make necessary adjustments: After testing, make any necessary adjustments to your new Magento 2 theme. This may include further code updates, design changes, or additional testing.
- Launch your new theme: Finally, launch your new Magento 2 theme and make any necessary adjustments based on user feedback or issues that arise.
By following these steps, you can migrate your theme from Magento 1 to Magento 2 while minimizing disruption to your online store.
Wrap Up
Migrating your Magento 1 theme to Magento 2 is a significant undertaking, but it’s an essential step to ensure your online store remains modern, functional, and competitive.
Whether you choose a free theme, purchase a ready-made option, clone your existing design, replicate another website, or create a unique theme from scratch, each method has its own set of benefits and challenges.
Evaluate your specific needs, budget, and timeframe to determine the best approach for your store.
Remember, investing time and resources into a seamless migration will pay off in the long run, providing your customers with an improved shopping experience and helping your business thrive in the ever-evolving e-commerce landscape.
