Can I Open My Garage Door with My Phone?

Home automation is on the rise. And as your house gets smarter, so should your garage. We all have left home only to get down the block and realize we didn’t close the garage door. Or return home only to discover that the garage door was wide open throughout the day. 

It happens. And I know it has happened to you as well! Fortunately, tech advancements have brought us a solution. 

Can I open my garage door with my phone? Yes. Smart garage door openers allow you to use your smartphone or any linked smart device to open and close your garage door.

Smartphones have become a must-have device for everyone. You are probably reading this article on your smartphone. It is amazing what these devices can do, including controlling your garage door.

So, can you really open your garage door with your phone? How does it work and what do you need? Let us dive in!

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How can I open my garage door with my phone?

There are a few things to do before you operate your garage door using your smartphone. You first need to ascertain that your garage door opener is smart and whether it can be operated using your phone.

If your garage door opener is smart, all you need is to install the associated app on your phone. However, if your garage door opener is not smart, you have to buy a smartphone control kit.

Case 1: Smart Garage Door Openers

If you already have a smart garage door opener, all you need is to download its corresponding app from the App Store, Google Play Store or the manufacturer’s website.

The smart garage door opener has built-in Wi-Fi connectivity that allows it to communicate with your linked smartphone or smart device. 

Smart garage door openers use their sensors to transmit data to the app on your phone. This connection allows you to monitor and remotely operate your garage door opener provided your smartphone has internet connectivity. 

The majority of these models usually have additional capabilities other than just opening and closing the garage door. 

They give you the option to link the garage door opening system to other smart devices in your home, including smart lights, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa.

As such, you can use voice commands to control your smart garage door opener or set your smart lights to turn on and off from your smartphone console.

Some brands include the option to set an automatic lock for your smart garage door opener. This feature automatically locks the garage door when the door reverses or when the door is left unattended for a period of time.

There are many affordable models in the market going from as little as $169. Reputable manufacturers of smart garage door openers with Wi-Fi include Genie, Chamberlain, Ryobi, and Skylink. 

Case 2: Non-Smart Garage Door Openers

Don’t have a smart garage door opener? Worry not!

You don’t necessarily need a smart garage door opener for you to use your phone to open and close your garage door. 

If you have a garage door opener with no built-in smartphone compatibility, you can still transform it into a Wi-Fi-enabled unit and control it from your phone. 

However, this involves buying and installing smart add-on accessories for your existing opener. The smartphone control kit imparts Wi-Fi connectivity to your existing garage door opener.

These kits only add the WI-FI connectivity option that transforms your existing garage door opener into a smart one. Having installed the kit, you can now operate your garage door opener using your phone.

The smartphone control kit typically includes a controller and a sensor. The sensor attaches to you the garage door and enables it to track the position of the garage door. The sensor then transmits this information to the app in your smartphone and prompts action.

The controller comes with double-sided adhesive strips and two wires for relaying the open-close commands from the app. They connect to the corresponding open and close command nodes on the existing garage door opener.

Add-on kits have an associated smartphone app that you should download and install on your phone to operate your garage door remotely.

The apps not only allow you to monitor and operate your garage door remotely but also help walk you through the general installation and setup procedure for your new kit.

How to tell if your new garage door opener is smartphone-compatible

To check if your new garage door opener is smartphone-compatible, look for the myQ logo. This logo should appear under the opener’s plastic cover or on the side.

If you have the logo on your purchase, you are good to go; simply download the associated mobile app to enable your phone to communicate with the garage door opener.

The myQ logo means the device has the myQ technology built into it. MyQ is the primary technology that enables remote connection and communication between your phone and the garage door opener, gate, and several other smart units in your home.

Manufacturers also indicate in the features section whether the garage door opener is smartphone compatible. Retailers such as amazon and home depot also list the features on their websites. 

Benefits of Smart Garage Door Openers

There are many reasons why you should have a smart garage door opener. Smartphone operations are very convenient and seamless. The benefits can be limitless. Let us break them down.

Smartphone operations replace the need for remotes

We all lose remotes. I have countless times lost my remote controller and been forced to open the garage door manually. But we rarely misplace our smartphones. 

With smart garage door openers, your smartphone turns out to be the remote you will never misplace or forget. The app installed in the phone replaces the old-school clickers of the remote control.

Location-based Access

Some advanced garage door openers have this feature that automatically opens your garage door based on your location and proximity to your garage door. The door automatically opens when you pull up on your driveway.

You don’t have to open your app and operate your garage door with this feature. The door automatically opens itself when you get home. This feature can be turned off or scheduled to work at certain times. 

Sharing and Extended Access

Some smart garage door openers allow for extended access. You can invite friends through the app. They would similarly be able to control the garage door opener from their app.

Imagine having a party and instead of opening the garage door every time a guest shows up, you instead extend access to them. They can therefore open the garage door themselves when they pull up on your driveway.

You can extend this access to your close friends or relative who use your garage from time to time. Be sure to only extend this access to people you trust.

Scheduled Opening and Closing

Smart garage door openers offer you the option to schedule when the garage door should open and close. The scheduling can conveniently be done from your phone through the app.

This feature is very helpful with deliveries. You can schedule when the door should open to let in the delivery guy or any other person you want to access your garage.

Reminders and Notifications

This is among the best features that come with smart garage door openers. Reminders and notifications are pretty handy for every garage owner.

Smart garage door openers send you reminders through your smartphone in case you forget to lock the garage door or left it open for a certain predetermined period.

The smart garage door opener also sends you notifications whenever something happens at your garage door. These notifications come to your phone whenever the garage door is opened. 

History of garage door activity

Smart garage door openers can provide the history and a report of the garage door activity and who did what. Ensure that the garage door opener has a history feature if at all you want to track what happened, and at what time.

Remote Monitoring through Cameras

Your opener is also likely to incorporate a camera. With this, you can check the activity in your garage without having to move an inch. This camera-smartphone-app gateway provides an excellent way to detect if an intruder tries to access your garage.

Best smartphone control kits for your garage door opener

Now that you see the outright need for a smart garage door opener, let us take a look at some of the available smartphone control kits for your garage door opener.

I foraged the marketplace and tested a few top models, so you don’t have to. 

Chamberlain MyQ-G0401

The Chamberlain MyQ-G0401 really strikes me as the best option in the market. It has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and goes for just below $40 on Amazon. 

Despite the low cost, the wireless garage hub and sensor offer more than smartphone connectivity. It has a well-designed and easy-to-use mobile app.it works with Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, Wink, Xfinity Home, Google Home, Nest, Vivint Smart Home, and IFTTT.

The stand-out feature is its integration with the Amazon key. You don’t necessarily have to be home at all times to receive a dispatch from Amazon. The delivery personnel can safely drop it in your garage without compromising your home’s security.

Pros

• Features a beautiful design that’s not only appealing but also functional in diverse setups.
• It is easy to set up and use thereby saving time even for non-DIY enthusiasts
• It is low-cost and affordable compared to the competition and what it offers.
• The setup instructions are clear and straightforward which reduces time it takes to install

Cons

• It does not work with Alexa which may break your heart if this was a main consideration for you.

Chamberlain MyQ-G0301

This trusty old model is still a customers’ favorite. It is effective and works great with a horde of smart home systems, including IFTTT, SmartThings, Apple HomeKit, Xfinity Home, Google Home, Wink, and Nest.

The physical setup is pretty straightforward and will not make you break a sweat. It features an intuitive app interface that makes it quick and easy to use.

Even though this model does not work with Alexa, the myQ works great with Google Assistant. So you can easily pair it to this virtual assistant from Google and use your voice commands to control it.

Pros

• Easy to set up and use
• The unit can manage multiple devices
• It is low cost

Cons

• The device is incompatible with Alexa

Tailwind iQ3

This model has some clever and exciting features worth exploring. The most notable feature of this model is the automatic opening and closing. 

If Amazon’s Alexa is a must-have for you, then the Tailwind iQ3 is definitely for you. It works with Alexa as well as Google Assistant. 

Also, check out our extensive list of smart garage door openers that are Alexa-enabled.

This garage door opener is close to the G0401 in terms of features and functionality, except it can be a little more tasking to set up. Android users can use it without any additional hardware. iPhone users however need a separate sensor.

Once you get through the installation, you will be happy to enjoy using Amazon Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, and a couple of other exciting features.

Pros

• Alexa and Google Home integration
• Automatically opens and closes the garage door
• Highly customizable features

Cons

• Relatively complex installation procedure
• Some openers require an additional adapter and extra hardware to properly set up and function
• iPhone users require a car sensor which may be an added cost

FAQs-Can I Open My Garage Door with My Phone?

Below are some of the common questions most garage owners ask.

Q: In what other ways can I open my garage door with my phone?

You can open your garage door using your phone through an app or through voice command. Most garage door openers, whether smart or modified to be smart, allow app control and voice command control.

Smart garage door opener kits such as the Chamberlain MyQ allow you to control your garage door over Wi-Fi and through Bluetooth connectivity. This means you can operate your garage door with your smartphone even when internet is down or during a power outage provided the opener has a battery backup.

Q: Can I control multiple garage doors with my phone?

Yes. You can control multiple garage doors using your phone. Some garage door openers can be paired with a second garage door opener, therefore, allowing you to control multiple doors. 

However, most smart garage door openers and smart sensors only allow you to control each sensor individually using its associated smartphone app. This means you need multiple sensors if you wish to control multiple garage doors remotely, just like you need a separate garage door opener for each door.

Q: Can I connect multiple devices to smart garage door openers?

Yes. Most garage door openers allow you to connect several smart devices. However, this option varies with brands. But most smart garage door openers and smart sensors allow for connectivity to multiple devices. 

Connectivity to multiple devices allows anyone you grant access to, such as your entire family, to operate the garage door with their smartphones.

Q: What security concerns are there with smart garage door openers?

Since the smart garage door opener communicates with remote devices over the home’s Wi-Fi signal. This means a dedicated and skilled hacker could gain control if they managed to access the network system. 

However, most manufacturers have increased the security of their smart garage door openers. You can also encrypt and highly secure your home’s network to prevent potential hackers from accessing it.

Q: Can I open my garage door with my phone during a power outage?

Yes. Most smart garage door openers have incorporates WI-FI and Bluetooth. In case of a power outage, you can always use Bluetooth to operate your garage door. This however requires your garage door opener to have a battery backup. 

Your smart garage door opener will not work if there is no power in your home unless the opener is connected to a backup power source. 

So, can I open my garage door with my phone?

The outright answer is yes. You can operate your garage door opener with your phone regardless of whether your garage door opener is smart or not. 

For smart garage door openers, just install the associated app on your smartphone and set up for operation. Alternatively, install and use a smartphone control kit if you have a standard garage door opener with no built-in Wi-Fi connectivity.

The convenience brought by smart garage door openers is one to be desired. They allow you to monitor and operate your garage door from anywhere, anytime. No need to master a multi-digit code or carry around a bunch of clunky keys. All you have to do is tap a button on your phone’s screen and the door opens or closes. 

I hope that you enjoyed this guide. Please let me know your thoughts and comments in the comments section.