Garage door won't open?

If the opener hums or strains and the door barely lifts, a broken spring is the usual cause, and that is a pro job. If nothing happens at all, check power, the remote and the wall console first.

Not sure which one it is? Snap your garage door and we’ll narrow it down.

Does the door go up but won't come down?

Safety sensors or the close setting usually cause that. Garage door won't close

Likely causes

  1. Broken spring

    Most commonCall a pro

    The opener hums or strains and the door barely lifts, or the door feels very heavy. You may see a gap in the spring above the door, or hear a loud bang when it broke.

    Part: $180–350 (spring repair)

  2. Opener has no power

    CommonEasy DIY

    No light, no hum and no response from the remote or the wall console. The opener may be unplugged, or a GFCI outlet or breaker may have tripped.

  3. Remote batteries or the console's lock or vacation mode

    CommonEasy DIY

    The wall console works but the remote doesn't, or the console shows lock or vacation mode and ignores the remote.

  4. Manual release pulled

    CommonModerate DIY

    The opener motor runs but the door doesn't move, and the door lifts easily by hand. The door is disconnected from the opener.

  5. Broken or slipped cable

    Less commonCall a pro

    One side of the door hangs lower than the other, or a cable hangs loose or off its drum.

    Part: $100–400 (cable repair)

  6. Stripped opener gear

    Less commonCall a pro

    The motor runs and you hear it spinning, but the door doesn't move even though it lifts freely by hand.

    Part: $124–370 (opener repair, average $236)

  7. Door's manual slide lock engaged

    Less commonEasy DIY

    A bar or latch on the door is locked into the track, so the door can't rise, and the opener strains or does nothing.

Quick checks

Springs and cables are under extreme tension. Never adjust, loosen or replace them yourself. Don't pull the emergency release while a door with a broken spring is open, because it can drop. Keep fingers out of panel joints, rollers and tracks. Unplug the opener before working on it. Never disable or bypass the safety sensors.

  1. Check that the opener is plugged in, and that any GFCI outlet or breaker feeding it hasn't tripped.
  2. Try the wall console. If it works but the remote doesn't, replace the remote batteries.
  3. Look at the wall console for a lock or vacation mode, and turn it off.
  4. Look for a bar or latch on the door locked into the track, and release it.
  5. Look above the door for a gap in the spring. If you see one, stop and call a pro.
  6. Only if the spring looks intact: check whether the opener's manual release has been pulled, which disconnects the door from the opener.
  7. Photograph the spring above the door, the cables and rollers along one side, and the opener's lights or the wall console.
Sharpen the read

Diagnose your garage door in seconds, for free

No account, no phone number. Fixology’s AI reads your photo and tells you what’s likely wrong, how worried to be, and whether it’s a DIY fix.

Snap one of these:

  • the spring above the door, showing any gap
  • the opener's lights or the wall console
  • the cables and rollers along one side
  • the safety sensors at the bottom of each track and their lights

Add a note or more photos next. Nobody calls you.

When to call a pro

Call a garage door pro for a broken spring, a broken or slipped cable, or a stripped opener gear. If you see a gap in the spring or the door is very heavy, leave it closed and don't force it. For the bigger picture, see the garage door guide.

Typical cost: HomeAdvisor puts garage door repair at an average of $265 ($155–379), with labor at $75–150 per hour. Springs run $180–350 and cables $100–400. Opener repair averages $236 ($124–370), and a new opener installed averages $379 ($218–540).

Sources: HomeAdvisor: How much does garage door repair cost? (updated June 20, 2026), HomeAdvisor: How much does garage door spring repair cost? (updated June 17, 2026), HomeAdvisor: How much does garage door opener repair cost? (updated June 17, 2026), HomeAdvisor: How much does garage door opener installation cost? (updated June 20, 2026)

After a scan, Fixology can also help you find pros near you.

Related problems

  • Garage door won't close?

    Garage door

    A garage door that reverses or won't come down from misaligned or blocked safety sensors, something in the path, a bent track, a wrong close limit, lock mode or dead remote batteries.

  • Furnace won't heat?

    FurnaceFall

    The furnace runs but the house stays cold, which is usually a clogged filter, a thermostat setting, or an ignition fault.

  • Heat pump not heating?

    Heat pumpFall

    The heat pump runs but the house stays cold, which is usually thermostat settings, a clogged filter, or an iced-over outdoor unit.

  • Washer won't drain?

    Washer

    Water is left in the drum after the cycle, which is usually a clogged pump filter or a kinked drain hose.

Fixology helps you understand your home — it isn't a substitute for a licensed pro on serious gas, electrical, or structural work.