What to Do If Your Garage Door Remote Isn’t Working

You pull into your driveway after a long day of work only to discover your garage door remote is not working. When you’re unfamiliar with how your remote works or the common problems that can arise due to regular use, it might be tricky to get your garage door open again.

A range of functionality problems might be at play, so you’ll want to consider a few before attempting to fix your remote. We’ll discuss the most common reasons garage door remotes stop working and offer solutions to ensure your remote control functions properly.

How Garage Door Remotes Work 

Before diagnosing and solving any problems concerning your garage door remote’s functionality, it helps to understand how these opener transmitters work in the first place.

The secret to your remote’s functionality is a radio signal that can be set from 350 to 390 megahertz (MHz). The button on your garage door remote transmits this radio signal frequency and is encoded with a unique binary number so that the door receiver responds to your specific remote.

Sometimes the transmitter can be interrupted, or your signal might malfunction due to a circuit board issue. To help you troubleshoot this issue, we’ll describe these specific predicaments below and outline a few DIY fixes. We’ll also offer some tips that might require a professional inspection to get your remote working again.

Common Problems and Solutions for When Your Garage Door Remote Stops Working

To get to the bottom of a non-functioning garage door remote, you’ll want to inspect it for a few key things before calling a professional. There are six common reasons your remote might have stopped working and some troubleshooting tips you may want to apply.

Problem: Drained Batteries

One of the leading causes of a non-functional remote is depleted batteries. To diagnose this specific dilemma, try your garage’s wall-mounted control panel. If your garage door responds to the control panel, drained batteries are often the root cause of a non-functional remote.

Solution: Luckily, the answer to depleted remote batteries is quite simple. Typically, garage door remote batteries will last two years. If your remote stops signaling to the receiver, you’ll want to replace the old batteries with new ones and test the remote to ensure it’s working again. Always remember to use fresh batteries that match the kind previously used in your remote for the best results.

Problem: Physical Damage

If your remote was dropped or stepped on, this can be why it’s no longer functioning. If the exterior seems intact, you might not even realize it’s damaged. Additionally, take note of weather conditions such as rain or snow that could have impacted your remote’s functionality.

Solution: If you determine your remote was physically damaged, the only solution is to replace it. Remember to keep your newly replaced remote inside and away from rain, cold and other weather conditions that could affect it.

Problem: Disrupted Signal

Another common problem that might be causing a non-functioning remote is a disrupted signal. If you replace the batteries and your garage door won’t respond to the remote signal, the remote and door sensor signal might be interrupted by an obstruction. Other causes of a disrupted signal might be clicking the remote while out of range or having a broken antenna.

Solution: To solve a disrupted signal, make sure you are within 20 feet of the garage door before attempting to open it with your remote. Any farther away, and the signal might not detect your remote. If you’re close enough but the door opener still won’t respond to your remote, remove any objects that might be blocking the signal.

Also, check the antenna to ensure it’s pointing toward your door and that there’s no debris building on it. If you notice your antenna is broken, contact repair professionals to inspect and fix it right away.

Problem: Engaged Lock Button 

Ensure you haven’t accidentally pressed the lock button on your garage door’s control panel. If the lock is engaged, your remote will seem non-functioning since your garage door won’t move or respond to controls.

Solution: To disengage the lock on your garage door opener, press the lock button on your control panel. If the remote signals the door to move up or down, you’ve solved the issue. Also, make sure your wall control panel is still working by pressing it after disengaging the lock.

Problem: Remote Needs Reset 

With regular use, your remote can sometimes disengage from the opener machine signal. In this case, reprograming the remote is an easy DIY solution to guarantee the remote signals to your door correctly.

Solution: To learn how to reset your garage door remote, first locate your door opener’s Learn button on the control panel and press it for 30 seconds. After releasing the button, find the same button on your remote control and hold it for three seconds. At this point, you might notice the garage door opener blink or its LED light flash. To determine a successful reset, try your remote again to ensure the garage door opens.

Problem: Door Wiring Malfunction

If you’ve tried all our solutions so far and your garage door is still not opening after pressing the button on your remote, the opener’s circuit board might be malfunctioning. A malfunctioning opener might result from a power surge and should be inspected by a garage door repair professional.

Solution: If a circuit board malfunction occurs, a professional will inspect the opener to diagnose and solve the issue. They’ll test the quality of the wiring on your opener’s receiver board by disconnecting the wires on the motor and control panel, reconnecting the machine and clearing its memory. Next, they’ll reprogram your remote, reconnect the wiring and test the door to guarantee a working system.

Trust Door Pros to Fix Your Garage Door Remote Problems 

When there’s an issue with your garage door remote, you’ll want to diagnose and treat it so that you can safely access your garage when needed. Since we typically use our garage door remotes every day, it’s essential to know how they work to mitigate any future problems. To get the total value of your garage door opener, you’ll want to follow our tips to properly inspect and repair your remote.

Suppose you run into a problem with your remote control that you can’t treat on your own — trust Door Pros for answers and a fast repair. We offer garage door services in San Mateo, San Rafael, Sacramento, San Francisco, Carmel and surrounding areas.

Request garage door service today to get your door back in working order. If you have more immediate concerns, call us at 415-717-7015 today!