Garage door closes then reverses

Updated November 2, 2026. Every manufacturer code and safety rule on this page links to its source below.

Where does it reverse?

Reverses right away

If the door barely moves before returning, start with the safety sensors. LiftMaster and Chamberlain list code 1-2 (sensor wires reversed or shorted) as a door that moves an inch or two and goes back to open, and code 1-1 for a blocked, misaligned or disconnected sensor. Our won't-close guide has the alignment and wiring steps.

Reverses partway down

When the door gets partway and returns, the opener usually felt more resistance than its force setting allows. Genie's Excelerator chart lists the checks for a door that starts down, stops and goes back up:

• If the installation is new, check the door arm position.
• Check the contact reverse function and the Safe-T-Beam sensors for an obstruction or misaligned lenses.
• Check the close force adjustment per the manual.
• Check the garage door for binding.

To check for binding the way DASMA describes it, pull the red release with the door closed, then lift the door slowly by hand a few inches at a time. It should move freely, the rollers should stay in the track, and it should stay put at a balance point. If the door begins to move on its own once disconnected, is too heavy to lift, or binds or sways, stop. That is a door or spring problem, and turning up opener force will not fix it.

DASMA says operator forces should be set to the minimum level needed to run the door reliably. Linear notes its LDCO850 measures door force throughout travel on every cycle and adjusts for wear and weather, so a door that suddenly starts reversing is worth inspecting before you change any settings.

Reverses at or just before the floor

Chamberlain says a door will often reverse once it touches the floor when the down travel is set too far, and that the fix is to decrease the travel limit (the steps vary by model). LiftMaster and Chamberlain code 4-3, a door that stops and reverses just before the floor, points to the tracks, rollers and hinges first, then the travel module.

Limit adjustment is in your owner's manual. Linear's LDCO850, for example, sets the close limit by holding DOWN and LEARN for three seconds and jogging the door. Whatever the brand, Linear's safety instructions apply: after adjusting force or limits, retest the reversal.

Reverses after a repair

A new spring, door or opener part can change how the door moves, and the opener may need to re-learn it. Linear's manual says that after a field reset both the open and close limits must be adjusted and the automatic door force setup completed. Chamberlain code 4-5 means the opener does not recognize a replacement travel module. Ask the technician who did the work to reset limits and force and run the reversal test before leaving.

Opens, then drifts back down

This is a different problem. LiftMaster and Chamberlain code 1-6 (unexpected door movement) calls for a balance test. DASMA's spring cycle-life data sheet says a torsion spring with too little torque can let a door drift down from its open position over time. Spring torque is set by winding the spring, which is a job for a trained technician. Our torsion spring guide explains what they will check.

Finish with the reversal test

Lay a 2x4 flat on the floor where the center of the door will hit it and close the door. Linear's manual says the door must reverse within two seconds of striking the board. Then start the door closing and break the photo-eye beam: it should reverse and open fully. If either test fails, stop using the opener until it is serviced.