My garage door won't close and a sensor light is blinking. What do I do?

A blinking light on a safety sensor means the opener is not getting a clean beam, so it refuses to close the door normally. The cause is often simple, but blink meanings vary by brand and model, so treat the light as a clue rather than a diagnosis.

Steps to take

1. Keep the door stationary and stay out of its path. Do not reach under a door that is stuck, crooked or damaged.
2. Move anything near the sensors: trash cans, bikes, brooms, boxes or plants.
3. Wipe both lenses with a soft, dry cloth to remove dust and cobwebs.
4. Note which sensor is blinking and check your opener manual or the label on the motor unit for what that pattern means.
5. Look at the brackets for signs one was bumped, and at the wires for chew marks, cuts or pinching.

What the blink can point to

• An obstruction or dirty lens.
• Sensors that are no longer aimed at each other.
• A loose, damaged or shorted wire, or lost power to the sensor.
• A failed sensor, often from moisture, sun or age.

What not to do

Do not bend tracks or force a bent bracket back into place, do not bypass the sensors and do not raise the opener's closing force. If the light is still blinking after the checks above, book a visit. We test the sensors and wiring, realign or replace what failed and test the safety functions before we leave. Our sensor repair guide covers the signs in more detail.

Read more

• Safety sensor service
• Garage door sensor repair
• How garage door sensors work

Related questions

• Why won't my garage door close in the afternoon?
• Can I install garage door safety sensors myself?
• Why does my garage door go back up before it touches the ground?
• Is it okay to use a garage door opener without safety sensors?
• Is it safe to fix a broken garage door myself?

Have a different question? Call (916) 838-8182 or browse all garage door questions.