Garage Door Stuck Halfway
My garage door is stuck halfway — what do I do?
What is actually causing it
Most likely first, based on what our crews find on the call.
01Roller off the track
One roller jumps the channel and the door jams at an angle. Do not pull, pry or run the opener again — every attempt bends more track and can bring the door down. Leave it where it is and call. If a car is trapped inside, say so when you call; that changes the response priority.
Do not attempt this yourself. It is under spring or cable load and it injures people every year — this one is a licensed-technician job.
02Bent or dented track
A dent from a bumper, a ladder or a bike stops the roller cold at the same point every time. The section has to be straightened or replaced, and the door realigned to it.
Do not attempt this yourself. It is under spring or cable load and it injures people every year — this one is a licensed-technician job.
03Obstruction in the track channel
Look along both tracks for a screw, a zip tie, a hardened blob of grease or a stone. If you can see something loose and reach it safely with the door at rest, remove it — but only if the door is not under strain.
Safe to check yourself, with the door closed and the opener unplugged.
04One of two springs broken
On a two-spring door, one broken spring leaves just enough lift to get the door partway up before it stalls. The imbalance is what stops it. Never work under a door held by a compromised counterbalance.
Do not attempt this yourself. It is under spring or cable load and it injures people every year — this one is a licensed-technician job.
05Frayed or slipped lift cable
A cable that has jumped the drum or begun to unwind lets one side of the door lag, and the door binds in the tracks. Cables carry the full door weight under spring tension — this is not a homeowner repair under any circumstances.
Do not attempt this yourself. It is under spring or cable load and it injures people every year — this one is a licensed-technician job.
06Opener force reversal on a binding door
The safety logic did its job: it felt resistance and stopped. Repeatedly re-triggering the opener to push past it is how a bind becomes a derailment.
Do not attempt this yourself. It is under spring or cable load and it injures people every year — this one is a licensed-technician job.
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Frequently asked questions
My garage door is stuck halfway — what do I do?
Is this safe for me to fix myself?
How much will the repair cost?
Are you licensed?
Describe the noise. We will tell you what broke.
Most calls are diagnosed in under two minutes, with a price range before anyone drives out.
CA-GARAGEDOOR California — California contractor licence CSLB #1098234. Licensed, bonded and insured. 1-year parts & labor.