5 Ways to Fix a Garage Remote That’s Not Working

If your garage remote is not working, you can be locked out of your garage or your car may be stuck inside. Some remote control problems are easy to fix. However, others require the repair or replacement of the device. There are many reasons a garage door remote can stop working. We’ll look at some of the most common issues and your options for addressing them.

Before you try to fix a malfunctioning garage door remote, it helps to understand how it works. The device is a transmitter that uses a 350 to 390 megahertz signal. This signal is transmitted when you press the button. It’s encoded with a unique number your garage door system can recognize, so it responds when you want it to open or close.

Here’s what you can do if your garage remote is not working:

1. Change the Battery

A depleted battery is one of the most common garage door remote issues. It’s also the most straightforward to fix. First, try to operate the door via the wall-mounted control panel. If it works, then replace the battery in the remote. It’s usually a 3-volt lithium battery but an older model may use a 12-volt battery. 

To change the battery, open the panel in the back of the remote (or follow the manufacturer’s instructions). You should see the old battery. Remove it and insert a fresh battery of the same type and brand. Generally, garage door remote batteries last about two years.

2. Move Within Range of the Receiver

Another reason your garage remote is not working is it’s out of range. To solve this problem, step closer to the garage door. Most garage remotes have a range of 20 feet. Any farther than that and the signal might not reach the receiver. Once you move the transmitter closer and press the button, your garage door should open.

Also, make sure nothing is blocking the path of the signal. An obstruction may have to be removed but you must have a direct line of sight between the transmitter and receiver. If the remote still doesn’t operate the garage door, an issue such as a broken antenna must be fixed by a professional.

3. Disengage the Lock Function on the Control Panel

If the lock button on the control panel is pressed, the garage door won’t respond to commands from the remote. A blinking light on the panel may mean the lock function is engaged. To turn it off, press and hold the “Lock” button, and then try the remote again. The issue is solved if the door moves up or down. You can also try the controls on the wall panel to ensure it’s working properly.

4. Reset the Remote

The remote is set at a frequency unique to your garage door opener system. If it loses this setting, the remote can’t signal the door to open. To reset the remote, locate the “Learn” button on the main control panel. Hold it down for 30 seconds or until the LED light goes off, and then press the “Learn” button on the remote for three seconds. An LED light on the garage door opener may flash to indicate the system has been reset; now you can try opening the door with the remote again.

5. Call a Garage Door Repair Professional

There are some problems you can’t fix yourself. Call a repair company if none of the above solutions work. The following issues may be why your garage remote is not working:

• Physical Damage: Your garage remote must be replaced if it’s physically damaged. A cracked casing is obvious, while internal corrosion, moisture, or wear and tear may be less obvious. Contact a local garage door repair company for a new remote of the same model. To protect the unit, store it where it’s unlikely to fall, get stepped on, or be exposed to rain or extreme weather conditions.
• Control Wire: Older wiring may have deteriorated or a wire may have been damaged by a power surge. If your garage door stops working, check the wires near the control panel or opener. Call for help if they appear damaged.
• Door Control: Damage to the door control mechanism can prevent the system from responding to any signals from the remote. Contact a repair company if you’ve tried to get the remote working again but are unsuccessful. 
• Receiver Board: A power surge can damage the receiver’s circuit board or wiring. To check for a circuit board malfunction, a professional disconnects the wires to the panel and motor, reconnects them, and clears the opener’s memory. Then the remote control is reprogrammed and the opener is unplugged and reconnected. Lastly, they’ll test the door to ensure it’s working.

Call Mesa Garage Doors If Your Garage Remote Is Not Working

Whether your detached garage door is stuck closed or an attached garage door stays open no matter what, we can find the underlying problem and repair it. Our team is available 24/7. If you’re unable to fix a garage remote that’s not working, contact us to troubleshoot it, provide a free estimate, and make the necessary repairs.