Programming your LiftMaster/Chamberlain Garage Door Opener in 12 Simple Steps

Ahhhh… home! There’s no place like it, right? Especially when you’re headed there after a long, exhausting day and you want to get out of the cold, dark winter weather into your cozy, warm home. You pull up into your driveway and hit the garage remote button without thinking twice. (Oh, the things we take for granted.) But… wait… something is wrong! You push it over and over, even getting out of the car to hold it closer to the door. Nothing is happening! You know the remote batteries are fine because you just checked them a couple of days ago. Your heart sinks as you realize you need to reprogram your LiftMaster by Chamberlain garage door opener.

Hold up! You want to know how to reprogram your garage door opener, but you also want to know how you can get your garage to look like this picture-perfect scene. These single garage doors are the North Hatley LP Design in Moka Brown. This version is shown with 8-lite Orion windows.

Okay, back to the original situation. Maybe you bought a brand new garage door opener by LiftMaster or Chamberlain and you’ve taken it upon yourself to do the installation. Or, the logic board needed replacing and now you have to reprogram the travel system. This is the simplest, safest way to get it done.

Before You Begin: Are You Qualified? Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You

Consider this information before you take it upon yourself to reprogram your LiftMaster by Chamberlain garage door opener. These tips might save your life!

• Adjustments that aren’t precise or are extremely faulty can make the travel limits of the door interfere with the safety reversal system.
• If too much force is required to close the garage door (possibly due to dirt or ice), it will also interfere with the reversal system.
• Older models of garage door openers should NEVER have to be forced to make up for a binding garage door.
• It is ESSENTIAL that you TEST your garage door after each reprogramming or adjustment you make to the safety reversal system.
• Check for clearance on the ceiling if your vehicle is above the average height (an SUV or truck, for example).

When a safety reversal system doesn’t function properly, people who are in the way of the door (especially small kids or pets who aren’t paying close attention) could be SERIOUSLY INJURED or KILLED when a garage door CLOSES ON THEM. If you aren’t an experienced handyperson, you should NOT do this yourself for fear of tampering with the safety system and not hooking it back up correctly. Instead, contact a certified LiftMaster/Chamberlain technician and they can do the job for you.

Remember: a garage door is basically a large moving wall attached to your house. The springs that move it back and forth are under a great deal of tension. Also, how much do you actually know about motors and their inner workings? Best leave it to the pros.

An experienced, certified LiftMaster/Chamberlain professional expertly installing a garage door opener.

Programming the Travel on a LiftMaster Chamberlain Garage Door Opener with MyQ Technology in 12 Easy Steps

1. Ensure that your garage door is closed but still engaged. Your trolley should be near the garage door.

   

2. Locate the buttons for your garage door opener adjustment. Depending on your LiftMaster or Chamberlain model, the placement for these could vary. Consult the picture below if you need help.

   

3. Press and hold the square black button until you see the UP arrow flash or until you hear a BEEP. Now your opener is set in the OPEN position.
4. Press and hold the UP or DOWN arrow until you see that your garage door is open all the way. This is the position you want to set for UP.
5. Press and let go of the square black button. Now your door opener lights will flash twice, and the DOWN arrow will flash as well. This means that your OPEN position is LOCKED. Now you are ready to set the CLOSE position.
6. Press and hold the DOWN arrow until your garage door is all the way closed.
7. Press and let go of the square black button. This communicates to your opener that the door is in the correct DOWN position. The lights on your opener will flash twice (again) and the UP arrow will flash as well. Now this means that your DOWN position is LOCKED. You are ready to set the force programming mode.
8. Press and let go of the UP arrow. When the door moves into to UP position that you just programmed, the DOWN arrow will start flashing.
9. Press and let go of the DOWN arrow. The door will move into the already programmed DOWN position. Woohoo! Programming is complete.

   IMPORTANT > With MyQ Garage Door Opener

   • If your garage door opener lights flash five times while you are implementing the above steps, this means that the programming has timed out.
   • If the lights flash 10 times, the safety reversal sensors are not aligned correctly or something is in the way.
   • After you align and/or clear the sensors, you’ll need to perform an entire up/down garage door cycle with your remote. Then programming will be complete.
   • See that yellow round button? It’s for one thing and one thing only: to program your garage door opener accessories. Don’t EVER use it to try and program your garage door opener travel.
10. Wait! You aren’t done yet. After you perform ANY adjustments on your opener, the safety reversal system HAS TO BE tested. Follow this link for the recommended steps by US Inspect.
11. Close your garage door with any of the following choices: remote, smartphone, or keypad.
12. When you strike the 2x4, your garage door MUST reverse.

Another Option: Forget Reprogramming Your Old (Possibly Dangerous) Garage Door Opener and Just Replace It

If this sounds dramatic, hear us out. We promise that we aren’t just trying to scare you into buying something that you don’t need. In 1993 and again in 2012, LiftMaster and Chamberlain developed and implemented new technological advances that you’ll want to know about.

If your LiftMaster by Chamberlain was made earlier than 1993… just forget about all that reprogramming information. You MUST replace your garage door opener because it doesn’t have the new technology that will keep your family safe. If they don’t even make the systems without them anymore, then you shouldn’t be using one at all. Here’s why.

After 1993, garage door openers made in the United States and Canada have been required to have two separate reversal systems that come standard in every machine. These are for the protection of you and your family.

Before that, it was every man for himself. If you didn’t want to get hurt by your garage door closing, well, then you better just stay out of the way. What about kids? They were in the same safety hazard boat, which doesn’t seem right or fair.

Now, These Two Systems Have Made Garage Door Systems Much Safer

• The first system that your LiftMaster by Chamberlain must have is a MECHANICAL system. If the bottom of the door coming down hits something, the motor feels the resistance and immediately goes back up.
• The second system is PHOTOELECTRIC. There are two units about six inches off the ground on either side of the garage door. One is an infrared beam and the other is a receiver. If anything (toy, person, pet, car, etc.) breaks that beam while the door is closing, it will go back to the open position, no questions asked.

Look how sweet and innocent these sisters are! That’s because they are sweet and innocent, and nothing should get in the way of their playing to put their lives in danger (even though they forgot their parents’warnings). When the older girl’s foot breaks that infrared beam, the garage door will move right back up. Whew! So thankful for technology, right?

If you aren’t yet convinced that you need to replace or upgrade your garage door, keep reading. Click this link to learn about photocell safety beams. You’ll even learn about the urban legend stating that airplanes can open your garage doors! Spoiler alert: it’s true.

Okay, you’re in the clear; your LiftMaster by Chamberlain garage door opener was made after 1993. Whew! WAIT. Don’t go out just yet and purchase that brand new whatchamacallit that you’ve had your eye on because you think you don’t need a new garage door opener. If your opener was made before 2012, you’ll still want a new one after you read this.

If you want to determine if your opener system has this technology, look on your Chamberlain, LiftMaster, or Craftsman system for this label.

In 2012, Chamberlain began making their systems with an amazing innovation called Security+ 2.0. This technology ensures that your house is safe against unwanted intruders by using rolling code technology. Basically, each time you use your remote to open or close your garage door, it generates a new code.

A specialized algorithm “rolls” the code of your opener system to one of more than 100 billion possibilities. The previous code is deleted from the system, which means that an intruder can no longer cruise through a neighborhood with any random remote, waiting to see which doors will open. Once a code is used, that’s it!

How Do You Find Out When Your LiftMaster/Chamberlain Was Made?

These are the main models made by LiftMaster/Chamberlain. Find the one that matches yours and look for the sticker with the manufacturing date.

This sticker will have a whole host of information such as the model and serial number—you’ll need this when you call your garage door specialistS to come work on your system.

The manufacturing date (MFG date) will tell you when your system was made and therefore, what safety systems it has installed.

You have a Chamberlain machine but it’s not a LiftMaster? This FAQ sheet can help answer some other questions you might have.

Alright, Fine. You Need to Replace Your Opener. No More Waiting. How Do You Even Start the Process?

You’ve admitted to yourself that you don’t know squat about garage door openers, or even about motors in general. You don’t even have the desire to learn. Here’s how to narrow down your choices for a new system.

First, determine if your garage ceiling is cathedral or low. Do you want to save space for overhead garage storage? Maybe your home’s design has windows over the garage?

This sleek, modern garage door is the Vog Design with above-mounted windows. In a situation like this, you’ll want a wall-mounted LiftMaster 8500W. A jackshaft-type opener specifically made for a residential home is engineered specifically for certain requirements. It will mount on whichever side of the door you want. This system comes with a remote 1500-Lumen light that you can position anywhere in your garage.

Is your garage attached to the home, possibly right underneath or next to the living room or a bedroom? How about the kitchen?

If this garage door is catching your eye, you’ll want to look at the Prestige XL Design in Chocolate Walnut with Pinhead windows.

If so, you’ll want a system that operates QUIETLY. Garage door openers that use a chain will be LOUD. Sure, they might be less expensive, but it’s not worth the few dollars saved to have to listen to that day in and day out. Choose a garage door that operates with a rubber BELT.

Think we’re making too big a deal out of something that you truly won’t notice? Just wait until you’re napping on the couch or relaxing in your bedroom after a long day and your chain-operated garage door “clank-clank-clanks” all throughout the home. Yikes!

LiftMaster makes two different rubber belt-driven garage door openers:

This is the LiftMaster 87504-267

This opener replaced the previous, popular LiftMaster 8550. It operates with a rubber belt drive, has a battery backup, a built-in camera, and two-way audio—all connected to the MyQ app. This means that when you open or close your garage door using your smartphone or tablet, you can also SEE what is happening in or around your garage at any given moment! You can even TALK to the people in your garage! Pretty cool, right?

Okay, maybe something so high-tech isn’t your thing. If you don’t much care about connecting to your smartphone app, then you can just go with the LiftMaster 84501, which is also a rubber-belt-driven system. It operates smoothly and quietly, is equipped with MyQ, but doesn’t have a battery backup.

Talk to the Experts. They Have All the Knowledge You Want and Need about Garage Doors and Garage Door Openers.

Buying a garage door or a garage door opener system is something that most people only do once or twice during their lives. This isn’t like impulse-buying a pair of jeans that don’t fit and then that sit in the back of your closet forever. This is an investment that you might lose sleep over if you aren’t confident in your choice. A garage door opener system is highly technical and should be considered carefully.

If you choose well, your system should last a quarter of a century! That’s a LONG time. A new garage door will also add curb appeal and resale value to your home if you think you’ll be selling sometime soon. Might as well talk to the experts and make sure you’re making the best possible decision.

Here at Doan’s Overhead Doors, overhead doors and door openers are our specialty. We’re not only experts, we’re passionate about it. Our seasoned experts will be able to have a friendly, helpful conversation with you that will answer all your questions while still thinking about staying within your necessary budget.

Contact us today at 705-324-1005!

You say you’ve already found the perfect garage door opener or door of your dreams?

We can give you a quote over email! Easy!

If you want to shop around a bit for inspiration…

Feel free to browse our residential photo gallery. You can also use our Design Centre to see what your favorite designs and colors would look like on your actual home. You can even use your smartphone! Designing the garage of your dreams was never easier.