What to Do When Your Garage Door Remote is Lost or Stolen

A lost or stolen garage door remote is not just inconvenient; it’s also a security risk. Garage security is an essential component of your overall home security so you’ll need to take immediate action, implement preventative measures, and consider secure upgrades to provide immediate and long-term protection and peace of mind.

Immediate Steps

Don’t Panic, But Act Quickly

While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, it’s important to stay calm and assess the situation. Take a moment to retrace your steps and check areas it might have fallen or been accidentally placed, including under car seats, in bags, jacket pockets, or atop a random counter. However, if the remote was attached to your car keys and/or your car was broken into or stolen, treat the incident seriously and call the police immediately.

Disable the Garage Door Opener(s)

As a precaution, you should unplug your garage door opener or turn off the circuit breaker that powers it in order to prevent anyone with the remote from using it. For most modern garage doors, though, you can also clear the memory and remove all programmed remote codes from its stored memory. This process often involves pressing and holding the “learn” or “smart” button on the opener unit for about 10-30 seconds until the indicator light blinks or turns off. Check your owner’s manual for specific instructions for the brand and model your home has.

Secure Other Entry Points

Even though your garage will be your primary focus, don’t forget to check other potential vulnerabilities.

• Lock the Door that leads from the garage into your home.
• Check Garage Windows and Side Doors for proper locks and reinforce if necessary.
• Activate Your Home Security System if you have one and consider installing cameras near the garage area.

Since over 70% of Americans use their garages as the primary entryway into their homes, it’s important that the entire area is secure.

Preventative Measures

Reprogram or Replace the Remote

Once you’ve cleared the memory and erased the old remote, you have a few options, including:

• Reprogram a Spare Remote using the same “learn” function.
• Buy a New Remote like a universal remote which is easily available and compatible with most garage door openers.
• Upgrade to a Smart Garage Door Opener to control the garage door via smartphone apps. This eliminates the need for physical remotes altogether and often includes features like motion detection, remote locking, and notifications.

Secure the Interior Door to Your Home

If your garage is attached to your home, treat that interior door as if it were the front door. Consider installing a deadbolt or adding a smart lock or alarm sensor for added protection. Additionally, be sure to keep this door locked at all times, especially after having lost the garage door remote. In these cases, even if someone gains access to your garage, this extra layer of protection can buy valuable time or prevent any further entry.

Keep Track of All Remotes

Maintain a simple inventory of all garage door remotes and who has access to which one. This makes it easier to identify when one goes missing. Additionally, never leave remotes in your vehicle, especially not attached to the visor, since this is easily visible and quite accessible. Approximately 62% of stolen garage door openers are taken from parked vehicles so it’s incredibly important not just to lock your cars, but also to take your garage door openers with you instead of leaving them in your parked cars.

Regular Maintenace Checks

Perform regular security checks on your garage door system, including testing the auto-reverse safety function, examining the door tracks, springs, and cables for wear, etc.. Garage door vulnerabilities that compromise both safety and security can typically be mitigated by regular maintenance.

Long-Term Prevention Tips

Consider Smart Garage Door Openers

These modern systems often offer enhanced security features and allow you to monitor and control your garage door remotely, receive real-time alerts, and set automatic closing schedules. Modern garage door openers also typically use rolling code technology which changes the access code each time your remote is used. This makes it nearly impossible to guess, capture, or recreate your remote’s signal and code.

Install Security Cameras and/or Motion-Activated Lights

Motion-activated lights and security cameras can be a deterrent and even provide evidence if suspicious activity occurs. Well-lit properties have about 39% less break-in attempts than those without adequate lighting and homes with visible security cameras have approximately 50% less break-in attempts.

When to Call a Professional

If you’re unable to reset your garage door opener or if your system is outdated and you’d like to update it, consult with a professional garage door technician to evaluate your current setup and recommend appropriate (security) upgrades.