Garage door opener remotes are incredibly convenient, but they’re also incredibly easy to lose.
The good news is garage door openers are usually easy to program and disable. So, when yours goes missing, what should you do?
In today’s blog, we’ll discuss how to program your garage door opener and how to disable it to keep your garage safe and easy to access.
• Before learning how to program your garage door opener, make sure that your remote is compatible with your specific garage door opener’s brand and model.
• If your remote is lost or stolen, knowing how to disable your garage door opener can help prevent unauthorized access until you can program a replacement.
• Before heading out on an extended trip, it’s a good idea to understand how to disable a garage door opener to keep your home safe.
Considering the variety of garage door openers available, the steps below are meant to be general guidelines. You may have to consult your owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer if following these steps doesn’t work. In the case of older openers, a garage door professional is likely to be necessary.
If you don’t have the original remote, check that the replacement is compatible.
Carefully climb the ladder and inspect the power box attached to the opener to find the “learn” button. This button is typically behind a small panel that can be removed or folded back to reveal the wires and a light bulb. In some models, it may be hidden under the light cover.
Once you’ve found the “learn” button, press it until it blinks. This signals that the opener is ready to be programmed.
After pressing the “learn” button, quickly press the main button on your garage door remote. There’s typically a 30-second window, so you’ll have to be quick. When the connection is successful, the opener light will blink to confirm that the remote has been programmed.
Close the panel and test your remote by pressing the open button to see if the garage door responds. If your garage door remote responds, it has been successfully programmed.
Have you lost your garage door remote or think it might be stolen? Don’t panic! Until you find or replace it, you can disable it.
Besides being lost or stolen, you may need to know how to disable your garage door opener for other reasons.
If you are renovating or repairing your home, temporarily disabling your garage door opener can be a useful safety measure. Doing so can help prevent any accidental operation that could interfere with the work or cause injury. When there’s a heavy storm, you can disable your opener to prevent it from accidentally opening or being damaged by electrical surges. Should you need to change a remote or remove access from a previous tenant, disable the opener until it has been reprogrammed.
For safety reasons, unplug the unit or switch off the circuit breaker before resetting.
On most openers, the reset button is on the back or bottom of the motor unit. Look for a symbol of a circling arrow or the word “reset.”
Do this for around 10 seconds. You can press recessed buttons with a small tool or toothpick.
Release the button. Plug in your garage door opener again or switch on the circuit breaker.
Open and close the garage door using the remote or wall-mounted control to test the unit. If your door responds, it has been successfully reset.
At Allied Doors, we’re dedicated to keeping your garage door operating smoothly and safely, from installation to hurricane preparation. Family-owned and proudly serving South Florida for over 50 years, we operate from the Keys to Vero Beach. More than just a service provider, we’re your family in the garage door business.
Contact us today to see how we can meet your garage door needs!
