BACKJAN 20, 2026
There are few things more frustrating than a garage door that refuses to cooperate. Whether you’re stuck outside in the rain or can’t get your car out for an important appointment, a malfunctioning garage door can bring your day to a screeching halt.
Looking for more guidance? Take a look at our Repairs overview.
The good news is that many common garage door problems have simple solutions you can handle yourself in under an hour. You don't always need to call a technician right away. From simple power issues to misaligned safety sensors, we'll walk you through the troubleshooting process step-by-step.
Think of this guide as your friendly expert on the phone. We’ll help you diagnose the problem and get your door moving again.
Before we dive into fixing things, we need to figure out what kind of door you have. This might sound obvious, but it determines our troubleshooting path.
Stand inside your garage and look up. Do you see a large motor unit mounted to the ceiling, connected to the door by a long metal rail (the trolley rail)? Do you have a button on the wall or a remote control in your car that you use to open the door?
If you answered yes, you have a motorized (or automatic) garage door, and you can proceed to the next section.
If you normally open and close your door by lifting it manually and there's no motor in sight, you have a manual door. You can skip ahead to the section titled "Troubleshooting a Manual Garage Door."
For motorized doors, the problem usually lies with the opener system—the motor, the remote, the sensors, or the power supply. Let's start with the easiest and most common culprits first.
Your garage door opener is an electrical appliance, and just like any other, it won't work without power.
First, press the button on your wall-mounted control panel. Does the light on the motor unit turn on?
If the opener light does NOT turn on:
The opener isn't receiving power. This is often caused by a tripped circuit breaker.
If the breaker trips again immediately, or if resetting it doesn't restore power, there may be a wiring issue. At this point, it's best to call a licensed electrician or a garage door technician to investigate safely.
If the opener light DOES turn on but the door doesn't move:
This is great news! It means the opener has power, and the problem is likely with the remote, the sensors, or the door’s engagement mechanism. Let's move to the next step.
If the wall button works but your remote doesn't, the problem is almost certainly the remote itself. The most common culprit is a dead battery.
If the door opens, congratulations! It was just a dead battery. If a new battery doesn't solve the issue, you may need to reprogram the remote to the opener or purchase a replacement.
If the door starts to close but then reverses and goes back up, the problem is almost always the safety sensors. These are two small "eyes" located at the base of your garage door tracks, about 6 inches off the floor. They project an invisible infrared beam across the opening. If anything breaks this beam while the door is closing, the door automatically reverses to prevent injury or damage.
Once both lights are solid, press the wall button. If the door now closes properly, you've fixed it! Misaligned sensors are one of the most frequent reasons for a garage door that won't close.
Every automatic garage door opener has a manual release cord. It’s that red rope hanging from the trolley on the rail. Pulling this cord disengages the door from the opener, allowing you to open or close it by hand during a power outage. Sometimes, this can be pulled by accident.
If the door now moves, the opener was simply in manual mode. If it still doesn't move, and you've tried all the steps above, there might be a mechanical failure within the opener itself, and it's time to call a professional.
If you have a door that you operate by hand, the troubleshooting process is more mechanical.
If you've unlocked the door and cleared the tracks but it still won't move smoothly, a broken spring or cable is the most likely cause.
The cost can vary widely depending on the problem.
While a DIY fix can save you money, safety should always be your top priority. For issues involving springs, cables, or electrical wiring, hiring a qualified technician is the smartest choice.
A garage door that won't open or close is a major inconvenience, but with a little systematic troubleshooting, you can often find and fix the problem yourself. By checking the power, remote, and sensors, you can solve the most common issues without spending a dime.
For more helpful home maintenance guides, expert advice, and an easy way to connect with trusted professionals for the bigger jobs, download the Casa app today. Casa empowers you to take control of your home maintenance, one project at a time.
