How to Upgrade NopCommerce 3.5 to 4.8?

NopCommerce has become one of the most trusted open-source eCommerce platforms. It is built on ASP.NET Core and MS SQL Server, making it a strong choice for businesses that want a reliable and flexible online store.

However, many businesses are still using older versions, such as NopCommerce 3.5, which was released years ago. While these older versions were good in their time, they now bring several challenges, such as:

Security Risks – Old codebases are more vulnerable to cyber attacks.
Poor Performance – They are not optimized for modern servers or devices.
Lack of Modern Features – No proper mobile-first design, slower checkout experiences, and limited plugin support.

Scalability Issues – Not suitable for growing businesses handling high traffic.

By upgrading to NopCommerce 4.8, you get:

Improved performance because it runs on modern .NET Core
Better scalability for enterprise and cloud deployments
Enhanced security features to protect your store and customer data

Modern UI that is responsive and mobile-friendly

Support for the latest themes and plugins

This guide will walk you step by step on how to move from NopCommerce 3.5 to 4.8 safely and successfully.

Step 1: Backup Your Existing Store

Before you make any changes, always take a full backup of your existing store. This ensures that if something goes wrong, you can restore your shop without losing data.

What you need to back up:

1. Database – Export a .bak file using SQL Server.

2. Custom Themes – If you’ve designed unique layouts, keep them safe.

3. Plugins – Both free and paid plugins that you are using.

4. Media Files – Product images, banners, and other media.

5. Configuration Files – Web.config, app settings, etc.

Example SQL Backup command:

BACKUP DATABASE [NopCommerce35] 
TO DISK = 'C:\Backup\NopCommerce35.bak'
WITH FORMAT, MEDIANAME = 'DBBackup';

This backup acts like an insurance policy. If your migration breaks, you can always roll back.

Step 2: Download NopCommerce 4.8

1. Go to the official site → www.nopcommerce.com

2. Download the latest stable release (v4.8)

3. Unzip the files into your development environment (not directly on the live server).

This way, you are preparing a fresh working copy of NopCommerce 4.8 to start the upgrade process.

Step 3: Upgrade the Database

The database structure of NopCommerce has changed a lot between 3.5 (on .NET Framework) and 4.8 (on .NET Core). So, we need to migrate it.

Steps:

1. Open the `Nop.Web` project in NopCommerce 4.8.

2. Configure your database connection string inside `appsettings.json`:

{
  "ConnectionStrings": {
    "DefaultConnection": "Data Source=YOUR_SERVER;Initial Catalog=NopCommerce48;Integrated Security=True;Persist Security Info=False;"
  }
}

3. Run Entity Framework migrations to update the schema:

dotnet ef database update

This command updates your database structure to match 4.8 standards, while keeping your data intact.

Step 4: Migrate Plugins

Plugins are very important, as they power features like payment gateways, shipping, SMS, email, and custom business logic.

But here’s the issue:

NopCommerce 3.5 plugins were built on the .NET Framework
NopCommerce 4.8 runs on .NET Core 7.0+

This means many plugins will not work directly.

Steps to handle plugins:

1. Check essential plugins – List which ones you need (payments, shipping, analytics, etc.).

2. Look for updated versions – Visit the NopCommerce marketplace and download the 4.8 compatible plugins.

3. For custom plugins – Refactor the code to .NET Core.

Example of plugin update:

Old Version (3.5)

public class MyCustomPlugin : BasePlugin
{
    public override void Install()
    {
        // logic for .NET Framework
    }
}

New Version (4.8)

public class MyCustomPlugin : BasePlugin
{
    public override void Install()
    {
        base.Install();
        // logic compatible with .NET Core
    }
}

If your plugin is too old or unsupported, you may need to rebuild it from scratch in .NET Core.

Step 5: Upgrade Themes

Themes are also different between 3.5 and 4.8.

In 3.5, themes were based on Razor views (.cshtml) using MVC5.
In 4.8, themes use ASP.NET Core MVC with TagHelpers and modern UI practices.

Steps to update:

1. Convert old Razor syntax into TagHelper syntax.

2. Update CSS and JavaScript to match the responsive design.

3. Test layouts on desktop, tablet, and mobile.

Example Conversion:

Old Razor Syntax (3.5)

@Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.Email)

New Razor Syntax (4.8)

<input asp-for="Email" class="form-control" />

Step 6: Testing & Debugging

After migrating the database, plugins, and themes, test everything locally.

Run your store with:

dotnet run

Things to test:

Add to Cart → Checkout → Payment flow
Plugin functionality (shipping, tax, discounts, etc.)
Mobile responsiveness

Performance (using SQL Profiler or browser DevTools)

Security (check HTTPS, admin panel access, etc.)

Do not skip this step. It’s better to catch bugs in development than in live production.

Step 7: Deploy the Upgraded Store

Once testing is complete and your store is stable:

1. Publish your project:

dotnet publish -c Release

2. Deploy on your preferred server:

IIS (Windows hosting)
Azure (Cloud hosting)
Docker (Containerized deployment)

3. Restore your media files, plugins, and themes.

4. Test again in the live environment before announcing the upgrade.

Which Version is Best in 2025?

If you are still on NopCommerce 3.5, you are running on outdated technology.

By upgrading to NopCommerce 4.8, you get:

Faster performance with .NET Core 7.0
Stronger security with modern encryption
Mobile-first design for better shopping experiences

Cloud-native support for scalability (Azure, AWS, Docker)

Compatibility with new plugins & marketplace features

In 2025, NopCommerce 4.8 is the smart choice to future-proof your online store.

Conclusion

Upgrading NopCommerce from 3.5 to 4.8 might look difficult at first, but when you follow the proper process—

1. Take backups

2. Upgrade database

3. Migrate plugins

4. Update themes

5. Test everything

6. Deploy carefully

—your migration becomes smooth and safe.

At Sparkle Web, we help businesses with:

NopCommerce upgrades
Plugin migration & refactoring
Custom theme development

Full deployment support

So, whether you are running a small online shop or a large eCommerce platform, we make sure your NopCommerce store is modern, secure, and ready for the future.

Ready to upgrade? Contact us today and let us handle your migration with zero downtime and maximum performance.

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