If your garage door opens but won’t close, the cause is usually a safety sensor issue, an obstruction, or a simple opener setting. In many cases, you can fix it yourself in under 30 minutes with the right troubleshooting steps. The key is knowing where to look first.
Your garage door goes up like normal. You grab your keys, hit the button to close it, and it stops halfway… then reverses. Now your garage door is stuck open, your home feels exposed, and you’re already late.
That sinking feeling hits fast. Most homeowners assume something major just failed. The truth is, many automatic garage door issues trace back to small, overlooked problems like a garage door sensor problem or minor alignment issue.
Is Something Blocking the Sensors?
Garage doors have built-in safety sensors that prevent the door from closing if something is in the way. These sensors send a beam of light across the door’s path. If the beam is interrupted, the system assumes there’s an object in the way and keeps the door open.
This is one of the most common reasons a garage door gets stuck open. The obstruction could be something obvious, like a bike or a trash bin. Other times, it’s less noticeable, like a garden tool handle, a leaf pile, or even spider webs stretched across the lens.
These issues often trigger what people describe as a garage door sensor problem.
To check, hold the wall button down. If the door closes and stays closed, that usually confirms the issue is sensor-related.
How Do You Realign Garage Door Sensors?
Sensor alignment plays a major role in how your garage door functions. These sensors are located about 4-6 inches off the ground on either side of the garage door track. Both sensors must face each other at the exact same angle and height.
Most models have a small LED light on each sensor. When the sensors are aligned, the lights stay solid. If they’re blinking or off, there could be a misalignment or wiring problem.
That’s a good time to pause and consider a service call, especially if the lights won’t stabilize after cleaning and adjusting.
To realign your sensors, follow these steps:
- Loosen the mounting wingnuts just enough to let the sensors move
- Adjust each sensor until the lights on both go solid
- Use a string across the mounts to check that they’re level
- Tighten the mounts gently to keep the sensors from shifting
Test the Wall Button and Remote
Sometimes the door opens fine, but won’t respond when you try to close it using the remote. That can feel like a total mystery, yet it’s often easy to solve.
First, try using the wall-mounted control panel. If the door closes from the wall but not from the remote, the issue could be the remote battery or interference.
Replace the battery in your remote and try again. If nothing changes, unplug the opener for about 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This resets some internal settings that occasionally glitch.
Non-LED-safe bulbs installed in the opener can also mess with the signal. If you’ve recently swapped bulbs, take them out briefly and retest.
Check for Manual Locks or Track Obstructions
A manual lock can block your garage door from closing, even if the opener is working fine. That sliding bar in the middle of the door frame needs to be fully retracted. If it’s partially engaged, the opener might try to close and then reverse right away.
Next, check the door tracks. Objects stuck in the track or bent sections of metal can stop the rollers from moving freely. Do not attempt to force or bend anything yourself; doing so could make the problem worse.
Adjust Travel and Force Settings
Your garage door opener has settings that control how far the door travels and how much force it uses. If the settings are off, the door might think it hit something and reopen. This tends to happen when the opener thinks the floor arrived too soon or with too much resistance.
Some openers use dials; others have digital controls. Look for labeled screws or settings on the opener unit itself.
Garage Door Opens But Won’t Close? When to Call a Professional
DIY troubleshooting helps solve a lot of simple problems. Still, there are situations where it’s smarter to step back. A garage door that’s jerky, off-balance, or won’t stay up halfway could have a spring problem. That kind of repair isn’t safe to handle yourself.
Loose or snapped cables, flickering sensor lights that won’t stabilize, or an opener that hums but does nothing all point to more serious mechanical or electrical faults. If your garage door is stuck open and nothing has worked so far, don’t push it further.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does My Garage Door Open But Not Close With The Remote?
This usually points to a garage door sensor problem or interference from a nearby light source. Try replacing the remote battery, cleaning the sensor lenses, and removing any LED bulbs that aren’t compatible with openers.
What If Both Sensors Are Lit, but the Door Still Won’t Close?
If both lights are solid, check for hidden obstructions, a partially engaged lock, or bent tracks. The opener’s force or travel settings might also need adjustment. If those all check out, the issue might be a bad circuit board or damaged sensor wiring.
Is It Safe to Fix a Garage Door Spring Myself?
Absolutely not. Springs are under extreme tension. A broken spring is dangerous to handle and should only be repaired by someone trained in repairing garage doors safely.
When DIY Stops, We Step In
A garage door opens but won’t close for a reason, and most causes come down to sensors, settings, or simple obstructions. Working through the steps in this guide can often restore safe, smooth operation. When the door feels heavy, uneven, or refuses to respond, professional service is the safest move.
Meadows Garage Doors provides same-day service throughout Trophy Club and the DFW Metroplex with fully licensed, insured technicians who are never subcontracted. You receive upfront pricing, tracked technicians, and even a photo of your tech before arrival.
Schedule a service today and secure your home before a small issue turns into a major repair.
