Quick answer
With the door closed, pull the red emergency release cord down and back toward the door. That disconnects the door from the opener. Then lift the door by its handle or a bottom section with both hands. A door with good springs lifts easily and stays open about halfway on its own. If the door feels very heavy, will not stay up, or a spring is broken, do not lift it: lower it gently and call a technician.
Every automatic garage door can be opened by hand. The opener only guides the door; the springs do the lifting. That is why the springs decide whether opening it by hand is safe.
Before you start: three checks
- Look at the spring on the bar above the door. A gap in the coil means it is broken.
- Look at the cables at the bottom corners of the door. They should be tight, not hanging loose.
- Look at the door. It should be level, with every roller in its track.
If any of these fail, stop here. The door is not safe to lift by hand.
Step by step
- If you can, start with the door fully closed.
- Pull the red emergency release handle hanging from the opener rail, down and back toward the door, until the trolley lets go.
- Check that any manual slide lock on the inside of the door is open.
- Lift from the handle or the bottom section, with both hands and a straight back. Keep your fingers away from the joints between sections.
- Raise the door all the way. A balanced door will stay where you leave it.
- Drive out slowly, then lower the door by hand the same way.
If the door will not stay up
A door that slides back down or feels very heavy has weak or broken springs. Lower it with control and leave it closed. Propping it open is not safe; book a spring repair.
Closing a door by hand
If the door is open and you need to close it, only pull the emergency release when you are sure the springs and cables are intact, and keep hold of the handle as you do. If a spring or cable has broken, an open door can fall the moment it is disconnected.
In a power outage
Use the same steps. If outages are a regular problem, an opener with battery backup keeps working without power for a number of cycles. See opener installation.
Reconnecting the opener
On most openers, the door reconnects the next time you run the opener: the trolley travels along the rail and catches the door again. Some models ask you to pull the release cord toward the opener to reset it first. Your opener’s manual has the exact steps. If it will not reconnect, see garage door opener not working.
When not to open it yourself
- A spring has a gap in it, or you heard a loud bang
- A cable is loose, frayed or off its drum
- The door is crooked or off its track
- The door is stuck partway
- Sections are bent or cracked
In any of these cases, call a technician.
Common questions
How do I open my garage door when the power is out?
Pull the emergency release cord to disconnect the door from the opener, then lift the door by hand. Start with the door closed if you can, and only lift it if the springs and cables look intact.
Why is my garage door so heavy to lift by hand?
A balanced door lifts with one hand. A heavy door has worn or broken springs. Do not keep lifting it; the springs need to be replaced or adjusted by a technician.
How do I reconnect my garage door to the opener?
Run the opener with the button. On most models the trolley moves along the rail and catches the door. Some models need the release cord pulled toward the opener first. Check your opener’s manual.
Is it safe to pull the emergency release?
Yes, when the door is closed or when you are sure the springs and cables are intact. Pulling it on an open door with a broken spring or cable can let the door fall.
