Remotes for garage door openers are an accessory of convenience and efficiency. Just as most accessories, we either lose it or overuse it. In either case, knowing how to replace garage door opener remote will come in handy.

How to Replace Garage Door Opener Remote - What to Keep in Mind

Which Remote To Buy

If you want to keep within the same brand and type of your garage door, check if the manufacturer is still in business and buy a replacement from them directly. This way there is less of a hassle to program the new garage door opener. By contacting customer service and asking for a replacement, they may even include an option for a service specialist to come check your garage system for routine maintenance and program the new opener. Check the old remote for any valuable information such as contact phone number, manufacturer name or model number. If none of that information is on the old remote, the name and model number may be on the motor hanging above on the ceiling.

Universal Opener

People most commonly opt for buying a universal garage door opener to avoid contacting customer service and searching for the make and model. A universal garage door opener may be the only option if the maker of your garage door system is no longer in business.

Universal remotes generally all follow the same steps to program which are as follows:

• -Add batteries and check inside the remote for a Smart or LEARN button. Make sure that you’ve pressed the button and either a light or sound is made to let you know the programming mode is ready to go.

-Check the garage motor for the same Smart/LEARN button and press that to activate it. You will either notice a quick flash of light or a beeping sound.

-Within 30 seconds of pressing the motor’s button, go 5 feet away from the motor and press the OPEN button on the garage opener.

-When pressing the garage door opener button, look for the motor light or the beeping sound to let you know that it is programming to the motor.

-When the lights on both the motor and remote have turned off, your new garage door opener should be programmed.

-After waiting about a minute, test the garage door remote to see if the garage opens.

-If the garage does not open, start from step one and repeat the process again.

The packaging of your new universal remote should come with instructions as well. It is best to check the steps on the instructions in case there is a specific difference in the make or models process for programming.

Extra Remotes

Say you got a deal on a package of 2 or more garage door remotes and want to program the extra for back up or other family members. You will follow the same steps listed, However steer clear of one common mistake.

If you program an extra remote and somehow the first one stopped working, the garage motors LEARN button may have been held down for too long.

When pressing the button on the motor, only a quick press is necessary. Holding down the button for more than 2 seconds could erase the motors memory, leaving you to reprogram the other remotes.

If all else fails, there are a plethora of videos online to watch and learn how to replace garage door opener remote just in case you are more of a visual learner or need to be shown where all the buttons are.