Garage door won't open? 7 causes and what to do
The most common culprits are a dead remote battery, a locked door, blocked safety sensors, or a broken torsion spring. You can safely check the first three yourself in under 5 minutes. If you hear a loud bang from the garage or the door feels extremely heavy, it's a spring — stop and call a pro.
What should you check first?
| Check | DIY-safe? | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Remote battery + wall button | Yes | Wall button works but remote doesn't = battery or reprogramming |
| Lock switch / vacation mode | Yes | Many openers have a lock button that disables remotes |
| Safety sensor lights | Yes | Blinking sensor = misaligned or blocked beam |
| Power to the opener | Yes | Tripped GFCI or unplugged unit is a free fix |
| Springs, cables, track | No | High-tension parts — professional only |
1. Is it just the remote or keypad?
If the wall button opens the door but the remote doesn't, you're looking at a battery or a lost pairing — both five-minute fixes. If neither works, keep reading.
2. Did someone hit the lock button?
Most LiftMaster, Genie, and Chamberlain wall consoles have a lock (or "vacation") switch that disables every remote. Kids find it. Hold or toggle it per your model's manual and test again.
3. Are the safety sensors blocked or misaligned?
The two small eyes near the floor must see each other. A garbage can, cobweb, or bumped bracket breaks the beam — and by federal safety rule (UL 325, required on all openers sold since 1993), the opener then refuses to close, and some fault states affect opening too. Clear the path and line up the lenses until both indicator lights are solid.
4. Does the opener have power?
Garage outlets are often on a GFCI circuit shared with bathrooms or exterior plugs. If the opener's light is off, reset the GFCI and check the breaker before assuming the worst.
5. Motor runs but the door doesn't move?
That's usually a stripped drive gear, a trolley that's been disconnected (did someone pull the red cord?), or a door too heavy to lift because a spring let go. Stop pressing the button — you can burn out a motor forcing it. Our opener repair service handles all of these, and it's often a repair, not a replacement.
6. Did you hear a loud bang recently?
A snapped torsion spring sounds like a firecracker in the garage, and afterward the opener strains or gives up entirely — the spring, not the motor, does the actual lifting on a door that can weigh 150–350 pounds. Springs are the one garage door part you should never touch yourself; they're under extreme tension. This is our most common emergency call, and we stock cycle-rated springs for same-day replacement across Round Rock and Greater Austin.
7. Is the door itself jammed?
Bent track from a bumper tap, a snapped cable wedged in the drum, or a roller out of its track can physically jam the door. Forcing it makes the damage worse. Leave it where it sits and have it repaired — bent track is fixable more often than people expect.
From the field
One thing we tell every customer: when a door won't open, the order you try things matters. People often cycle the opener over and over hoping it catches — and turn a $150-class spring problem into a spring and opener problem. Check the simple stuff (battery, lock, sensors, power), and if those pass, stop and call. It's the cheaper path every time — and it's why our reviews keep mentioning "fixed the real issue, not a band-aid."
Frequently asked questions
How do I open my garage door manually when the power is out?
With the door fully closed, pull the red emergency release cord hanging from the opener rail, then lift the door by hand. If the door is too heavy to lift smoothly, a spring is likely broken — stop and call a professional. Never pull the release with the door stuck open.
Why won't my garage door open but the motor runs?
A running motor with a non-moving door usually means a stripped internal gear, a disengaged trolley, or a broken spring leaving the door too heavy for the opener. Stop pressing the button — repeated attempts can burn out the motor — and have it diagnosed.
Is a garage door with a broken spring dangerous?
Yes. Torsion springs are under extreme tension and counterbalance a door that can weigh 150–350 pounds. Never try to open the door with the opener, lift it manually, or replace springs yourself. This is the one garage door repair that should always be professional.
Can my car get stuck inside if the garage door won't open?
It happens more than you'd think — and we treat trapped-vehicle calls as top priority. We are open 8 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday, and most calls are resolved same-day, often within hours. Call 512-337-3338.
Door still stuck after the five-minute checks? Describe the symptom over the phone and we'll tell you honestly whether it's a repair, a part, or nothing at all. Related reading: 5 common garage door problems and what repairs typically cost.