Can I bypass the garage door safety sensors?

No. The photo eyes are a federally required safety device that stops the door from closing on a person, pet or vehicle. They should be repaired, never disabled.

Why do my sensors only act up in the afternoon?

Direct sunlight can interfere with the receiving eye on some models. A brief shading check while the door is stationary can help identify this. Use only manufacturer-approved shielding that leaves the beam unobstructed; do not move sensors out of their required position.

How do I know which sensor is bad?

You cannot reliably identify a failed sensor by color alone. Different sending and receiving colors may be normal. Check your model's manual, clear the beam and clean the lenses. Persistent blinking or no light can also come from wiring, power or alignment; have the system diagnosed before replacing parts.

Why is one garage door sensor green and the other amber?

On many Chamberlain and LiftMaster systems, amber identifies the sending sensor and green identifies the receiving sensor. Different colors are expected; their steady or blinking state matters. Other brands use different indicators, so follow the manual for the exact opener model.

Garage Door Sensors Blinking

If the door will open but will not close and a sensor light is blinking, first clear the beam and clean the lenses. Do not bypass the sensors or increase closing force.

Call 440-478-5350 Request Service

Most modern residential openers use two photo-eye sensors near the floor on either side of the opening. An obstruction, dirty lens or bumped bracket can interrupt their beam and prevent the door from closing or cause it to reverse.

Light colors and blink codes are model-specific. Many Chamberlain and LiftMaster systems use an amber sending light and a green receiving light; those different colors are normal. Some Genie models use red and green lights. Check the manual for your exact model rather than replacing a sensor based on color alone.

A blinking or dark light can indicate alignment, wiring, power or sunlight interference, but does not prove the sensor itself has failed. If the sensor lights look normal and the door still reverses, track resistance or another opener fault may need diagnosis.

What usually causes it

A bracket bumped out of alignment by a bike, trash can or snow shovel
Dust, cobwebs or road salt film on the lenses
Low winter sun shining directly into the receiving eye
A pinched, corroded or stapled-through sensor wire
A failed sensor after water intrusion near the floor
Loose wire connections at the opener terminals

What is safe to check yourself

Clean both lenses with a dry soft cloth
With the door stationary, check whether a sensor was bumped; follow the model manual for a minor alignment adjustment without loosening track hardware
Move anything stored near the door track away from the sensors
Look for visible sensor-wire damage without touching bare wires, opening the motor housing or changing connections
With the door stationary, briefly shade the receiving lens without blocking the beam to see whether its light changes; keep hands out of the door path
Read the model number and note which light blinks and how often so a technician can interpret the correct code

Stop and call a technician if

Both LEDs stay dark even after cleaning and alignment
The wire is cut, chewed or corroded
The door still reverses with clean, aligned sensors
You would have to disconnect the safety system to close the door

Garage door springs and cables hold enough stored energy to cause serious injury. We do not publish repair steps for those components — call 440-478-5350.

How we fix it

Garage Door Safety Sensor RepairA door that opens but will not close can have a blocked beam, misaligned photo eyes or a wiring fault. We diagnose the cause without bypassing the safety system.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bypass the garage door safety sensors?: No. The photo eyes are a federally required safety device that stops the door from closing on a person, pet or vehicle. They should be repaired, never disabled.
Why do my sensors only act up in the afternoon?: Direct sunlight can interfere with the receiving eye on some models. A brief shading check while the door is stationary can help identify this. Use only manufacturer-approved shielding that leaves the beam unobstructed; do not move sensors out of their required position.
How do I know which sensor is bad?: You cannot reliably identify a failed sensor by color alone. Different sending and receiving colors may be normal. Check your model's manual, clear the beam and clean the lenses. Persistent blinking or no light can also come from wiring, power or alignment; have the system diagnosed before replacing parts.
Why is one garage door sensor green and the other amber?: On many Chamberlain and LiftMaster systems, amber identifies the sending sensor and green identifies the receiving sensor. Different colors are expected; their steady or blinking state matters. Other brands use different indicators, so follow the manual for the exact opener model.

garage door sensor blinking near me in Northeast Ohio

Garage Door Medic is a mobile service based in Chardon, Ohio, covering Geauga, Lake, Cuyahoga, Portage and Ashtabula counties. Choose your community for local details.