Quick answer
If your garage door has come off its track, stop using it, unplug the opener and keep people and cars away. A door off track is only partly supported and can fall. Do not force the rollers back in or pull the emergency release. The usual causes are a car or object hitting the door, a snapped cable, a broken spring, or a bent or loose track. The door needs to be reset and the cause repaired by a technician.
Rollers on each side of the door run inside the tracks. When one or more comes out, the door twists, jams or hangs at an angle.
Why doors come off track
- A car, bike or bin bumps the door or track
- A cable snaps or comes off its drum, so one side drops
- A spring breaks while the door is moving
- A track bracket works loose or the track bends
- Worn rollers or hinges let the door shift
Signs the door is off track
The door is crooked, a roller is visibly outside the track, there is a gap between the door and the track on one side, or the door jammed with a grinding noise.
What to do right now
- Stop using the opener and unplug it, so nobody presses the button.
- Keep people, pets and cars away from the door.
- Do not pull the emergency release.
- Do not try to push the rollers back in or pry the track.
- Call a technician.
What the repair involves
A technician secures the door, takes the tension off where needed, sets the rollers back in the tracks, straightens or replaces bent track sections, and repairs whatever caused it, often a cable, rollers or a bracket. The door is then rebalanced and tested. See off track repair.
Preventing it
Keep the tracks clear, replace worn rollers before they fail, and have the cables and springs checked during a tune-up. A door that runs crooked or noisy is a warning sign.
Common questions
Can I put a garage door back on track myself?
It is not recommended. The cables and springs are under tension, and a door off track can shift or fall while you work on it. A technician can reset it safely and fix the cause.
Can I still use my garage door if it is off track?
No. Running the opener can bend the door and tracks further or bring the door down. Unplug the opener until it is repaired.
Why did my garage door come off track?
Most often something hit it, or a cable or spring failed so one side dropped. Loose brackets and worn rollers are the other common causes.
