Garage Door Won't Close: What to Check Before You Call

Most doors that won't close, or that start down and pop back up, have a sensor or settings problem, not a broken door. Work through these checks in order.

1. Safety sensors: blocked, dirty, or misaligned

The photo-eye sensors are the two small units near the floor on each side of the door. If anything breaks the invisible beam between them, the opener refuses to close or reverses.

• Clear the path. Look for bins, bikes, snow, ice, or cobwebs in the beam.
• Clean the lenses with a soft cloth (frost and salt spray are common in winter).
• Check the lights. Most sensors have an indicator light on each side. A light that's off or flickering usually means they're out of line. Gently adjust the bracket until both lights are steady.
• Check the wires for damage, such as a staple through the wire or chewed insulation.

On many openers, a flashing opener light after the door reverses is a sensor error. Your owner's manual lists the codes, and our sensor light guide explains what the common light patterns mean. Angi's Minneapolis repair guide also notes that humid summers can cause sensor misalignments. Opener, remote, and keypad repair

2. Sun glare

Strong, low sun hitting a sensor lens can make it think the beam is blocked. If your door only misbehaves at a certain time of day, glare is a likely cause.

3. Ice or debris at the threshold

A ridge of ice, packed snow, or a rock on the floor where the door lands can make the opener reverse as if it hit an obstruction. Clear the threshold before adjusting anything else. If the seal itself is frozen, free it safely: frozen to the ground. Cold-weather causes in more detail: door won't close in cold weather · door reverses in the cold · torn or frozen bottom seal.

4. Limit and force settings

The opener's limit setting tells it where "closed" is, and the force setting tells it how much resistance to accept before reversing. If the door:

• Reverses right after touching the floor, the close limit may be set too far.
• Stops short and leaves a gap, the limit may not be set far enough.
• Reverses partway down for no visible reason, the force setting may be too sensitive, or the door may be binding.

Adjustment steps vary a lot by model, so follow your manual or have a technician do it, and always re-test the auto-reverse feature afterward. Don't turn up force settings to fight ice. Opener repair

5. Something in the track

Debris, a bent section of track, or a damaged roller can make the door bind, so the opener senses resistance and reverses. If a track is visibly bent or a roller has come out, stop using the door. Off-track repair

6. When reversing points to a spring problem

A door that suddenly feels heavy, closes too fast, or reverses because the opener is straining may have a broken or weak spring. Look for a gap in the spring above the door or a stretched extension spring. If you see one, stop. Broken spring signs · Broken spring repair

Securing the garage overnight

If the door is stuck open and you can't fix it tonight (full walkthrough: garage door stuck open):

• Lock the door between the garage and the house.
• Move valuables out of sight and turn on exterior lights.
• On a cold night, close interior doors to keep heat in the living space.
• Don't force the door down or prop it if a spring or cable might be broken.
• Request help and choose "ASAP." Say the door is stuck open.

More: emergency and same-day repair · door stuck halfway · winter won't-open checklist · emergency repair cost

Don't disable the sensors

It can be tempting to bypass a faulty sensor. Don't. The sensors and auto-reverse feature are what keep the door from closing on a child, a pet, or your car. If they're failing, have them repaired or replaced.

Getting help in the Twin Cities

Twin Cities Garage Door SOS is a free referral service for homeowners. We're not a contractor. Send a request and we'll connect you with one independent local company. The company sets its own price. How it works.