Garage door stuck open? How to secure it and get it fixed

Updated October 2026

A garage door stuck open is more than an annoyance. It leaves your cars, tools and often your house wide open. The good news is that many stuck doors come down with a simple fix. If yours doesn't, there are ways to keep your home secure until help arrives.

First, look for the dangerous causes

Before you try anything, take a careful look at the door from a safe distance. Stop and call for emergency garage door repair if you see:

• A gap in a spring above the door, or you heard a loud bang
• A loose, frayed or snapped cable near the bottom corners
• Rollers out of the track or a door hanging crooked
• Bent panels or track from a car bump or a storm

An open door with a broken spring or cable can drop suddenly. Keep everyone out from under it, and don't pull the red emergency release while the door is open.

Safe checks if nothing looks broken

1. Clear the sensors. The two small sensors near the floor stop the door from closing if anything blocks the beam. Move any objects, wipe the lenses, and make sure both little lights are steady.
2. Hold the wall button. On most openers, pressing and holding the wall button overrides the sensors and lowers the door. Keep watching the door as it closes and let go if anything is in the way.
3. Check the lock button. If the wall panel's lock or vacation mode is on, the remotes won't work. Turn it off and try a remote.
4. Check the power. Look for a light on the opener and test the outlet. A tripped breaker or GFCI outlet is a common culprit.
5. Look along the tracks. Remove anything caught in the track. If a track is bent, stop and call a technician.

If it still won't close

If the springs and cables look fine and the door moves smoothly, you can lower it by hand. Hold the door firmly, pull the release cord, and lower it slowly to the floor. If the door feels very heavy or starts to drop, let it rest where it is and call for help. See our guide to a garage door that won't close for more checks.

How to secure your home overnight

• Lock the door between the garage and your house, and add a chair or bar under the handle if it doesn't feel solid.
• Move bikes, tools and anything valuable inside.
• Lock your cars and take keys and garage remotes inside.
• Leave an outside light on.
• Unplug the opener so nobody can trigger it by accident.

Emergency call or morning appointment?

If the door won't close and you can't secure the house, or the door is hanging and unsafe, it's worth calling for 24/7 emergency garage door service tonight. If you can lock the house door and nothing is at risk, a regular appointment in the morning usually costs less. Read more about what counts as a garage door emergency.

Find local emergency garage door repair near you by ZIP code.