Garage Door Stops Halfway: Causes and What to Check
A garage door that stops halfway is either stopped by the opener or held back by the door itself. The opener may have wrong limit settings. The door may be heavy from a spring problem or stuck in a bent track. A quick test tells you which one.
Common causes
- Travel limits set too short on the opener
- Something blocking a track or roller
- A track that has bent or pulled away from the wall
- A door that is out of balance from a worn spring
- Cold stiffness in an old opener
Test the door by hand
This test separates an opener problem from a door problem.
- Close the door and pull the red release cord. Our manual release guide shows where it is.
- Lift the door by hand. It should rise with moderate effort and stay put at about waist height.
- If it feels very heavy or drops when you let go stop. The spring is likely worn or broken. Do not force it.
- If it moves easily the opener limits or force setting may be the cause.
What you can check safely
Look along both tracks for debris or dents. Our guide to inspecting garage door tracks shows what to look for. Clean any dirt you see. Do not hammer a bent track or loosen the track bolts.
An out of balance door puts extra load on the opener so it may quit partway. Read what a balance problem looks like for the signs.
Leave these to a professional
Springs and cables are under high tension. Do not adjust them yourself. A crooked door or a loose cable also needs care. Our off track repair page explains how a technician handles that. If the door is stuck open and you cannot secure your home see our emergency garage door repair page.
Door stuck partway open?
Call or send a message. Tell us where it stops and what you hear.