​​How to Get Your Garage Door Open Manually 

Open Garage Door After The Power Goes Out

Get Your Garage Door Open

It's early in the morning, you're rushing to get to work and the power goes out at your home. You step into the garage, get into your car and press the button on your visor to open your garage door...nothing. Many times it takes a power outage for us to realize all the necessary things that run on electricity in our home.  If you don't have a battery back-up unit on your garage door opener then chances are you're going to have to open your garage door manually to get your car out and your day started.  

Opening your garage door manually is a fairly simple thing to do. Here we've given you steps and some important reminders for you when you need to manually open your door.  You can also find these instructions with pictures in your garage door openers owners manual​.

​Your garage door system should have a red hanging emergency cable with some type of handle. This cable is there to help you to easily disengage (and reengage) your garage door from your opener system so you can still operate your garage door in emergency situations.

Safety Precautions

For your safety, you should always disconnect the power cord to your garage door opener before the following steps. Even though your power may be out, for safety precaution it's always smart to make sure no power is going to your opener.  Also the following steps should be done while your garage door is closed. 

First check to see which type of drive you have on your opener system. There's screw drive, belt and chain drive openers.

Screw Drive Openers

If you have a screw drive opener​ then follow these two steps for detaching and reattaching your garage door:

Detaching a garage door ​From a Screw Drive Opener System

For screw drive models, the shuttle release lever will be engaged and in the up position (see image 1 below). To disengage, you'll pull the emergency release cord down which will release your garage door from the opener system. Now that your door is disengaged and you can carefully lift your garage door from the handles located on your door. 

Reattaching/reengaging a garage door from a screw drive opener system

To reattach your garage door to opener system, you'll pull the emergency release cord down and towards the opener.  This will reengage the door to the opener system and now the only way to open and close your garage door would be with the power of your opener unit. ​

Image 1: Diagram of garage door engaged and disengaged to screw drive opener system.

Quick review: 

To detach, pull the emergency release cord down. 

To reattach, pull emergency release cord down and towards the opener.

Chain or Belt Drive Openers

If you have a chain​ or belt drive opener​ then follow these steps for detaching and reattaching your garage door.

Detaching A Garage Door ​From A Chain or Belt Drive Opener System

For chain and belt drive opener models, to disengage your garage door from opener system you'll pull the emergency release cord down while pulling towards the door. ​

Reattaching/Reengaging A Garage Door From a chain or belt drive Opener System 

Then to reengage your garage door to the opener system all you'll need to do is pull the emergency release handle down and towards the opener.  Once your garage door is reattached to the opener system you can then go ahead and plug your unit back in to operate your door electronically. 

Quick review: 

To detach, pull emergency release cord down while pulling towards the door.

To reattach, pull the emergency release​ cord down and towards the opener. 

It's important to remember that if you're leaving your home and you've detached your door from the opener system, your door can be opened​ by someone from both the inside and outside. To keep your garage and home secure, it's recommended that you lock your garage door using the key lock on the outside when leaving.  While home, you can also lock your garage door from the inside. (See owners manual​ for instructions on locking your garage door)

For additional details on your garage door opener unit, read carefully the owners manual​ for your garage door opener model.  

If you need any assistance with your garage door opener or feel like your garage door opener needs service or repair, contact your local Overhead Door garage door company.