What To Do if Your Garage Door Remote Is Stolen or Lost

If you find that a garage door remote has gone missing, your first action should be to secure the garage door itself. Since you don’t know where the remote ended up, act quickly to prevent unauthorized access. Disable the opener until you can erase and reprogram any remaining remotes. While this means you’ll operate the door manually for a bit, it’s far better than risking a break-in. Check out our garage door security tips for more guidance.

Consult your owner’s manual for detailed steps on removing all programmed remotes from the system. This ensures the missing remote won’t open the door. If you’re unsure, contact your garage door installer for expert advice. Keep the opener disabled until you’ve successfully erased all programmed remotes. If you have a B&D opener, see our how-to guide for erasing all remotes.

After removing all remotes from the opener’s memory, go ahead and reprogram the ones you still have. If you’re getting a replacement for the missing remote, your garage door technician can recommend compatible options. Refer to your owner’s manual for programming instructionsor, if you have a B&D door, see how to program your remote. Don’t forget to program any wall-mounted remotes too.

Losing a remote offers a prime opportunity to upgrade your security. Consider installing a robust lock, like Auto-Lock, or switch to a secure, hack-resistant remote. Many modern openers also support smartphone control, enabling you to open, close, and monitor your door via your phone. If you frequently lose remotes, adopting smartphone control might be the perfect long-term solution.

In the future, keep a spare remote that you can use in emergencies but ensure it's stored securely. Rather than leaving it in your car, consider a locked drawer in your home or another secure location that only trusted family members can access. You will still need to erase the system and reprogram this remote. However, having a spare will make opening and closing the garage door easier until you can replace the missing remote.

If you’re prone to losing remotes, explore other ways to access your garage, such as a keypad entry system. These systems require a PIN rather than a remote, making them both convenient and highly secureparticularly for families or busy households. For inspiration, browse our options and upgrades to see what works best for your needs.