Why a Garage Door Reverses by Itself

A door that closes and then goes back up is doing what it was built to do. It thinks something is in the way. The question is what it thinks it found.

Common causes

• Blocked or dirty sensors. The two small eyes near the floor must see each other. A dirty lens or a stray object breaks the beam.
• Misaligned sensors. A bump can knock one out of line.
• Something in the track. Debris or a bent track can add drag.
• A door that is heavy or unbalanced. A broken spring or worn parts can make the opener feel resistance and reverse.
• Opener settings. The force or limit settings may be off.

Simple checks you can do

1. Clear anything from the door path.
2. Wipe each sensor lens with a soft cloth.
3. Look at the lights on both sensors. They should be steady.
4. Look at the tracks for objects or damage. Do not touch the springs or cables.

What not to do

Do not disable the reverse feature. It protects people and pets. Read how to test your garage door auto reverse feature.

When to call

Call if the door still reverses after these checks. Call if the door feels heavy or crooked. Read what a garage door balance problem looks like. Our page on garage door spring repair explains how spring problems can show up as opener trouble.