Technology has made accessing your garage door as easy as speaking to your phone. Still, reading instructions for any new system is critical. Know what your options are and how to program your devices to ensure safety, security, efficiency, and to avoid erasing important memory in your system.
What are your options today?
Voice activation
It’s the smartest way to access your garage door, and pretty much any system manufactured after 1993 can be fitted with accessories to allow voice connection using an iPhone or apply watch. WiFi, Apple TV, or an iPad using at least IOS-8 allows you to verbally control your garage door or check that your garage door is closed from anywhere. Command systems also are available to upgrade garage door systems so they can be operated with voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Home.
Be sure to research the accessories your garage door needs and follow the instructions for programming, as technology can vary.
Built-in vehicle remotes
Most new cars, SUVs, and trucks have built-in remote buttons, eliminating the need to clip remotes to the visor. These are easy to program but you will need to clear the memory on your garage door opener and possibly the remote on your vehicle. Follow the steps here but be sure to read instructions for your vehicle before beginning.
- Press and hold the learn button on your garage door opener to clear the memory. To clear your car, press the leftmost and rightmost buttons (most built-in car remotes will have three to four buttons on the panel) and hold them for 30 seconds.
- Press and release the learn button on your garage door opener. You will see a light flash or hear a click indicating it is in program mode.
- Press and hold the button in your car until the light on your garage door opener flashes or you hear a series of clicks indicating they are paired.
- Repeat the steps for additional garage doors and remote buttons in your car.
Older garage door openers that use DIP switches instead of rolling code technology are not compatible with built-in car remotes. Ask your garage door expert about whether you can convert your system to a rolling code operating system.
Reprogramming remotes/programming new or replacement remotes
Most garage door openers today will use rolling code technology and are programmed or reprogrammed using a learn button. Here’s what you need to know:
- For a newly installed garage door opener – Press firmly and release the learn button on the motor unit and then immediately press and hold the button on your remote. You will see the lights flash or hear a click (or both) to indicate your remote is synched.
- For reprogramming a garage door opener and remote – Use the learn button to erase the previous code by pressing and holding it until the indicator light goes out or you hear two clicks. You are ready to reprogram your remotes.
- For new and replacement remotes – Once memory is erased, press and release the learn button on the opener, then press and hold the button on the remote, repeating this for each remote you want to use. Depending on your motor unit you may see flashing lights or hear clicks to indicate the remotes are synched.
Older garage door openers that use DIP switches can only be programmed to remotes that have the same number of DIP switches as the opener. Check if yours has 8 or 12 switches before choosing a replacement remote. Here’s what you need to know:
- Locate the DIP switches on the motor unit by removing the cover, then change their position using a flathead screwdriver.
- Locate the DIP switches inside the remote, usually next to the battery, and move them to the same position as on the motor. Click the button on the remote until the garage door responds.
Universal remotes
Universal remotes are readily available, but they must be compatible with your garage door opener. Check if your system uses rolling code technology or DIP switches and then confirm that the universal remote you are considering will work with your brand and model of garage door opener.
Read the instructions with your universal remote to confirm how it should be programmed. Programming your universal remote will usually be the same process as your previous remotes. Remember, however, that newer universal remotes are using updated technology and additional features, which may impact the programming depending on the color of the learn button on your garage door opener. Read the instructions to determine if the universal remote will operate in conjunction with any existing remotes you are using.
What you need to know about programming:
- You may need to toggle through brands and models to find yours before starting programming steps.
- Check your garage door opener for a red or green learn button, as this will indicate which toggle and programming steps you will need to follow.
The garage door experts at Above & Beyond are always available to advise you on your options for garage door openers, remote programming, and smart technology that will be compatible with all your home systems. Contact us today for more information about new garage door opening systems and retrofitting your older model.