Are All Generic Garage Door Openers Universal? Here's What We Found

You'll often see the terms "universal garage door opener" or "universal garage door remote" suggesting that a generic garage door opener will work with any type of garage door. Is that true? Well, the simple answer is no, but the last thing you want to do is waste time shopping around and still end up with the wrong one, so we went looking for answers.

There are several reasons you might want a generic garage door opener. Maybe you lost or damaged one of the originals, and a replacement is cheaper online. Perhaps you've been considering some modern garage door ideas or your outdated garage door opener is making your home vulnerable to break-ins, and the new kit doesn't include enough remotes for the whole family.

Choosing a generic door remote is complicated by a couple of factors. First is the ever-changing technology of the garage door opener mechanisms. Brands regularly add new features to increase security or link them to smartphones and other home automation systems. This may mean new generic remotes need to be used. Another possibility is the type of remote signal might differ: the most common is RF (radio frequency), but there are also infrared and rolling code versions that were introduced so remotes couldn't be copied and used by thieves. What we found was that there are generic garage door openers that will work on numerous garage door models, but not all.

When you're considering a generic garage door opener, it's vital to check compatibility carefully. Lots of them can be programmed to work with a whole bunch of different doors, but the fact that the manufacturer claims the product is compatible with Chamberlain, Craftsman, Genie, Liftmaster, etc., is not enough. You need to find a match to your specific door model number.

Some people have used an old garage remote to program a new generic remote. Technically it might be possible, but you can see the security problem: if you can clone the remote, so can anybody else. As a result, while some of these types are available, they are best avoided.

Whether you're looking for a clicker or a visor-mounted unit, it's not difficult to find a generic garage door opener that will work, and it could save you money over buying a brand-name alternative. However, just as there are garage door brands experts recommend you should avoid, there are remotes that don't do all they claim. Despite what they might suggest, we found that most generic garage door openers are not actually "universal," so it's important to check the details before you buy.