A remote problem. You can almost certainly fix this yourself
If the wall button works, the door and opener are fine. This is a battery, a lock setting, or a reprogram.
What is probably happening
- The remote or keypad battery is flat. This is the answer most of the time.
- The LOCK button on the wall control has been pressed, which disables all remotes. Chamberlain: if the opener light flashes twice, the lock feature is on.
- The remote has lost its pairing after a power cut or a battery change.
- Less often, the receiver in the opener has failed, or a new LED bulb in the opener is interfering with the radio signal.
Do this in the next five minutes
- Change the battery in the remote or keypad. Coin cells and 9V batteries are both common.
- Look at the wall control. If it has a LOCK button, press and hold it for a couple of seconds to turn the lock off, then try the remote.
- Find the LEARN button on the back or side of the opener motor. Press it, then press the remote button within 30 seconds. The opener light blinks to confirm. The exact steps are in the manual, which is online under the model number on the motor.
- If the remote only works close to the door, swap the opener's light bulb for a plain incandescent or an opener-rated LED and test again.
- If none of that works, order a replacement universal remote before you book a service call.
Do not
- Do not pay a service call for a battery. Angi puts a professional remote repair at $100 to $350 and a remote part at $20 to $300.
- Do not leave the remote in a car parked on the street. DASMA and the CPSC both say keep remotes where children cannot reach them, and a stolen remote is a house key.
Who to call
Nobody, unless the receiver has failed
A garage door company can replace a receiver board or an opener, but only after the battery, lock and reprogram steps have been tried.
BestHonestPro is a free comparison resource, not a contractor. There is nothing to sign up for and we do not sell your details. When we begin connecting callers to contractors, we will be paid a referral fee by the contractor, never by you, and this line will say so.
What it should cost
$20 to $300 for a remote or keypad part. $100 to $350 if a technician does it
Remote repair, parts and professional
Source: Angi, garage door repair cost, updated August 2026. View source
National published range, not a quote for your job. The full cost table for this trade is on the garage doors page.
Ask this contractor, on the phone, before anyone comes out
Tap each one as you ask it.
- I have replaced the battery, turned off the lock, and reprogrammed. What else would you check before replacing the receiver?
- Can you quote a receiver or logic board repair separately from a new opener?
End the call if
- A new opener recommended for a remote fault when the wall button works.
- A very low advertised call fee. The BBB describes companies that advertise artificially low service call fees, then demand extra for supposed repairs.