How do I add a second or extra remote to my garage door opener?

Adding a second remote to your garage door opener takes about 60 seconds once you know where the learn button is. You press the learn button on the opener, then press the button on the new remote while the indicator light is active. That is the whole process on most modern openers.

Two things go wrong most often when people try to add a remote. First, they buy a remote that is not compatible with their opener's protocol. A remote built for Security+ 2.0 will not program to a white-button Security+ 3.0 opener, even if it looks the same. Second, they take too long between pressing the learn button and pressing the remote. Most openers give you only 30 seconds. If you miss the window, the learn button's indicator goes off and you have to start over.

Here is the step-by-step for the three most common brands, plus what to watch out for with compatibility and older systems.

Where to find the learn button on your opener

The learn button is on the opener motor unit itself, not on the remote or the wall button. On most openers it is on the back or side of the unit, near where the antenna wire hangs down. Pull the light cover off if you cannot see it.

The button color tells you which generation of protocol your opener uses:

• Yellow button: Security+ 2.0, used on LiftMaster and Chamberlain from about 2011 through 2024
• Purple or brown button: older Security+ 1.0
• Red or orange button: older Security+ 1.0
• White button: Security+ 3.0, new openers from 2025 onward
• Green button: pre-1997 fixed-code opener (does not use rolling code)

The button color also tells you what remotes are compatible. A yellow-button opener uses 315 MHz rolling-code remotes. The new white-button Security+ 3.0 openers pair accessories via Bluetooth and are not compatible with older remotes.

How to add a remote to a LiftMaster or Chamberlain opener

LiftMaster and Chamberlain are made by the same company (Chamberlain Group) and use the same programming process.

1. Locate the learn button on the opener. Press it once. The indicator light next to the button will turn on. You have 30 seconds to complete the next step.
2. On the new remote, press and hold the button you want to use to control this door. Hold it until the opener's indicator light blinks (usually one or two flashes), then release. The blink confirms the remote is paired.
3. Test the remote. Press the button briefly and the door should move.

If you want to program one remote to two different doors, repeat this process at each opener. The remote can store multiple door codes as long as it has enough buttons.

Buying a compatible LiftMaster or Chamberlain remote: look for the model 893MAX (3-button) or 891LM (1-button) for yellow-button openers. These are direct replacements that work out of the box. For white-button Security+ 3.0 openers, you must buy a Security+ 3.0-specific remote, such as the 893MAX3 (if available). Third-party universal remotes made for Security+ 2.0 are not compatible with Security+ 3.0.

How to add a remote to a Genie opener

Genie's process is slightly different:

1. Press and release the PROG button on the opener or press the learn button (location varies by model, usually on the back panel). The indicator LED will blink.
2. Press the button on the new remote twice within 30 seconds. The opener lights will flash to confirm.
3. Test the button.

For the Intellicode II system (most Genie openers from 2011 onward), the remote must be an Intellicode II-compatible unit. The GIRUD-1T universal remote works for most Genie Intellicode openers.

Adding a remote by copying from an existing remote

Some openers allow you to program a new remote using an existing working remote rather than pressing the learn button on the unit. This is useful when the opener is mounted high on the ceiling and is hard to reach.

For LiftMaster and Chamberlain: hold the two small outside buttons on an existing remote until the LED flashes. Then hold the button you want to program on the new remote within 30 seconds until the new remote's LED blinks twice. This copies the code from the old remote to the new one without needing to touch the opener unit.

This method works for rolling-code remotes. It does not work for fixed-code openers or Security+ 3.0 openers.

You can also program a remote from the wall button on some LiftMaster and Chamberlain models. Hold the wall button until the opener light blinks twice, then press the new remote button. This is useful for garage ceilings over 10 feet where reaching the unit safely requires a ladder. Not all wall button models support this function, so check your opener's manual first.

Remote capacity, compatibility, and security tips

Most modern LiftMaster and Chamberlain openers hold up to 40 remote codes in memory. Genie openers typically hold 50. If you reach the maximum, you need to erase older codes to make room, or the new remote will not program.

To clear all remote codes and start fresh: hold the learn button on the opener for 6 to 10 seconds until the indicator light turns off. This erases all remotes and keypads at once. You will then need to reprogram everything you want to keep.

Keep a written list of all remotes you have programmed. A remote left in a car you sold is a real security risk: the new owner can open your garage. If you ever sell a vehicle with a programmed HomeLink or a remote in the glove box, do a full memory clear on your opener and reprogram only the remotes you still have in hand.

Here is the compatibility chart for the most common remote types and opener protocols:

Opener protocol	Learn button color	Compatible remotes
Security+ 2.0 (LiftMaster)	Yellow	893MAX, 891LM, 375UT, 877MAX keypad
Security+ 2.0 (Chamberlain)	Yellow	953EVP, 950EV, 940EV series
Genie Intellicode II	Purple or blue (on Genie)	GIRUD-1T, GIT-1BL, GIT-2BL
Security+ 3.0	White	Security+ 3.0 specific remotes only
Older fixed-code (green button)	Green	Dip-switch remotes matching the code setting

For very old openers with green buttons and dip switches, a remote must be physically set to the same switch combination as the opener. These are fixed-code systems, and any remote with the matching dip-switch position will open the door. Anyone who knows the code can open it. If security matters, replacement with a rolling-code opener is the right answer, and Denver metro prices for a basic new opener installed run $300 to $500.

If your opener is 10 or more years old and you are having trouble finding a compatible remote, it may be time for a new opener. Modern LiftMaster and Chamberlain openers include a remote in the box, and replacement opener costs for the Front Range are typically $300 to $500 installed.

G Brothers can help you find and program compatible remotes for any opener brand across Denver and the Front Range. If you need help or want a same-day service call, we offer free estimates throughout the metro area.