Garage Door Keypad Not Working? Here’s How To Fix It

Test the other elements

Always begin by testing the rest of the system to determine if the issue lies with the keypad itself or some other component of the opener.

• A typical garage door opener system will have a number of distinct parts. They include:
  • The opener itself (attached to the ceiling);
  • A wall-mounted button (usually close to an entry door);
  • Wireless remotes (the ‘clickers’ usually kept in a car);
  • The rails that the door rides as it’s lifted up;
  • Safety sensors located near the bottom of the door;
  • And of course, the keypad that you’re troubleshooting.
• If both the wireless remotes and the wall-mounted button are having issues, look for a problem with the opener itself or the door track.
• • • One common issue is leaves or other debris blocking the safety sensors at the bottom of the door frame. Simply clearing that debris may solve the issue.

If multiple wireless remotes are malfunctioning but the wall-mounted button is working fine, you may want to jump to Step 5: Reset the App/Clear the Opener. If the only element not working is the keypad, continue with the rest of the troubleshooting steps.

Dan Stout for Family Handyman

Clean the keypad

Unlike wireless garage door remotes kept in cars, keypads are exposed to the elements. They suffer through UV rays, rain and pest invasion.

• Wipe down the keypad.
• Look for signs of insect activity, rust, battery corrosion or any other evidence of deterioration.
  • If there are signs that debris or deterioration has reached the inside of the keypad, you can open the case and assess the situation inside.
• Remove the keypad from its mount, open the case and clean the interior. The steps for this will depend on the model, but this tutorial for cleaning a TV remote will apply to most keypads.
• • • If the interior damage is extensive or not easily cleaned, it’s probably best to purchase and install a new keypad.

Dan Stout for Family Handyman

Change the batteries

All wireless keypads (and many wired models) run on battery power. When the batteries run low, the keypad signal can begin to perform strangely. Low battery signal can cause anything from failing to opening the door, to randomly opening the door without a command.

• Change the batteries in the keypad. These will typically be AA or a single 9 volt.
• Even a wired keypad will be drawing power from somewhere. Trace it back to see if it connects to another unit that uses a battery. If so, change the battery of the unit the keypad connects to.

Dan Stout for Family Handyman

Reset the keypad

If the other wireless remotes function correctly, this indicates the receiver isn’t the issue. Resetting the keypad might re-sync it with the receiver, making for an easy fix.

• Reset the keypad following the manufacturer’s instructions. Typically, this involves pressing the Learn or Program button on the back of the opener, entering your chosen new code on the keypad, and repeatedly pressing the keypad’s confirm button.

Dan Stout for Family Handyman

Reset the app/clear the opener

If you have a smart keypad or opener system, check the manufacturer’s instructions for ways to reboot the system. Just like your phone or computer, sometimes you just need to turn it on, off and then back on again.

• Clearing the opener resets it. This often requires re-pairing all the remotes, so don’t do this if a family member will be showing up later only to find they now have a useless remote.

Dan Stout for Family Handyman

Trace the wiring

If you have a wired keypad, the issue might lay in the wiring itself.

• Trace the wires from the keypad to the overhead opener. The wiring will either feed directly to the opener, or into a separate remote box.
• If you have a continuity tester, use it to test the connection between each element in the system, such as from the keypad to the remote box, or the keypad and the opener.
  • If you don’t have a continuity tester, you’ll have to rely on a visual examination.
  • In the system I was troubleshooting, the issue was hidden at the end of the wire, on the push-in connector that plugged into a wired remote.
• If you have a wireless keypad, check to see if there is a separate receiver unit attached to the opener. If so, check the wiring from the receiver to the opener.

Dan Stout for Family Handyman

Install a new keypad (optional)

If you troubleshoot the system and can’t find the problem or, like I did, simply decide that it’s time to upgrade some of that 35-year-old technology, you can easily install a new wireless keypad.

• Program the new keypad to work with the system.
  • The steps to do this vary from model to model, so you’ll need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Typically, it involves pressing the ‘Learn’ button on the opener, then entering your chosen code on the keypad.
• Install the keypad outside.
  • It’s usually easiest to mount over the area where the old keypad was installed. You may need to prep the surface. In my case, the new keypad covered up the wiring hole from the old keypad. I sealed it from the inside.