How to open your garage door manually during a power outage
Updated October 2026
Power out and your car is stuck inside? Most garage doors can be opened by hand using the red emergency release cord that hangs from the opener rail. It takes about a minute, as long as the door's springs are working.
Before you pull the cord
- Make sure the door is fully closed. Pulling the release while the door is open or partly open can make it slam down, especially if a spring is broken.
- Look at the springs. If you see a gap in a spring or a loose cable, don't open the door by hand. Call a technician.
- Unlock any manual lock on the inside of the door.
Opening the door
- Pull the red cord down and back toward the motor. You may hear a click as the trolley lets go.
- Grab the door's handle or the bottom edge from the inside, not the panel joints, where fingers can get pinched.
- Lift slowly and steadily. A balanced door should feel fairly light and stay put when it's halfway up.
- Open it all the way and make sure it stays open before you drive under it. If it starts to drift down, hold it and lower it gently, then call for help.
Closing it by hand
Pull the door down slowly using the handle and lock it with the manual lock if you'll be away while the power is out.
Reconnecting the opener
When the power comes back, most openers reconnect when you press the button and the trolley slides back into place with a click. Some need the release pulled toward the door first. Your opener's manual has the exact steps.
If the door won't budge or feels very heavy
That usually means a broken spring or a door that's off balance. Stop, leave it closed, and see our guide to broken garage door springs. If you need the car urgently, find a company near you that offers emergency service.