Does Security+ 3.0 work with old remotes and smart home apps?

If your new LiftMaster or Chamberlain opener has a white learn button, you have a Security+ 3.0 unit, and the compatibility rules changed completely. Your old Security+ 2.0 remotes will not program to it. Universal remotes will not pair. Tools like ratgdo or Konnected blaQ cannot connect. The new protocol uses encrypted Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) instead of the radio-frequency handshake older accessories relied on. Here is exactly what works, what does not, and what your options are.

What the white button means and what accessories stop working

Chamberlain Group released Security+ 3.0 in late 2025 across the LiftMaster, Chamberlain, and Craftsman opener lines. Identify your protocol by the learn button color: white = Security+ 3.0 (BLE-based, 2025-present), yellow = Security+ 2.0 (rolling code, 2011-2024), purple/red/orange = Security+ 1.0 (older), green = pre-Security+ fixed code.

Security+ 3.0 pairs accessories via Bluetooth rather than radio frequency. That shift is the root cause of every compatibility problem. The opener and its accessories now speak a different language than everything that came before.

Old remotes and keypads will not program to a white-button unit. This includes manufacturer remotes (891LM, 893MAX, etc.) and universal remotes like the 380UT or the Clicker brand.

HomeLink in your car uses radio in the 288-433 MHz range for pairing. Security+ 3.0 requires BLE for accessory setup. A special programming procedure is needed, and some 2025 vehicles report difficulty completing it. Check your car manufacturer's HomeLink firmware version before assuming it will work. If the vehicle's firmware is not current, an update from the car maker may resolve it.

ratgdo and Konnected blaQ (wireless mode) work by tapping the Security+ 2.0 data port on the opener. Security+ 3.0 changed that interface. As of mid-2026, neither device supports Security+ 3.0 wirelessly. The Konnected community thread confirms active development, but no release date has been set. The ratgdo project is in the same position, citing the BLE encryption as the specific technical hurdle.

Third-party smart home platforms (Home Assistant, Hubitat, SmartThings, Homebridge) lost myQ cloud access in 2023-2024 when Chamberlain blocked third-party API calls. Security+ 3.0 adds a hardware-level block on top of that cloud-level block. The result is that Security+ 3.0 openers cannot be reached by third-party systems wirelessly or through the cloud.

What still works and the wired relay workaround

New white-button accessories from Chamberlain and LiftMaster pair via BLE and then communicate by encrypted radio. They cost roughly the same as older accessories. Budget $35-60 per remote for a new white-button compatible remote from LiftMaster or Chamberlain.

The myQ app works fully with Security+ 3.0 for open, close, monitor, and scheduling. For most households, the smartphone replaces the need for multiple remotes. The app is free for basic features.

Amazon Key in-garage delivery is supported for Amazon Prime members with Security+ 3.0 openers. Drivers get single-use temporary access. The door closes automatically after delivery.

Wired contact-closure relay kits are the workaround for smart home users. A dry-contact relay wired directly to the wall-button terminals bypasses the wireless protocol entirely. A Shelly 1 mini or Sonoff MINIR2 costs about $15 and connects to Home Assistant or other platforms over your home Wi-Fi. It physically bridges the same wires the wall button uses. There is no pairing with the opener's radio or BLE. The setup is two wires from the relay to the opener terminal block, which runs the same circuit as the wall button.

The trade-off with a wired relay is basic open/close only. You lose obstruction sensor reporting, light control, and the motion-sensing features that ratgdo exposes on Security+ 2.0 openers. Add a separate door-position sensor ($10-$15) for accurate state tracking. The sensor pairs with most smart home platforms and reports open or closed status so automations and voice responses stay accurate. The relay plus a door sensor covers the most common use cases even without deep protocol integration.

Feature	Security+ 2.0 (yellow)	Security+ 3.0 (white)
Pairing method	RF rolling code	Encrypted BLE
Old remote compatibility	Full (same generation)	None
Universal remotes	Yes (most)	No
ratgdo / blaQ (wireless)	Yes	No (as of 2026)
Home Assistant (wired relay)	Yes	Yes (wired only)
myQ app	Yes	Yes
HomeLink	Yes (two-step process)	Special procedure required
Amazon Key	Yes	Yes

Why Chamberlain changed the protocol and how to choose

The move to BLE-based pairing is not arbitrary. Rolling-code RF systems like Security+ 2.0 are vulnerable to the RollJam attack, demonstrated by researcher Samy Kamkar in 2015. A RollJam device jams the opener's RF signal while capturing the rolling code the remote sends. When you press again, it captures a second code and replays the first to open your door. It holds the second code for later. Security+ 3.0 addresses this with bidirectional encrypted Bluetooth for initial pairing and encrypted subsequent radio. The design also lets Chamberlain audit which devices are paired, which supports the Amazon Key security model.

The trade-off is that all open-source local-control work built around Security+ 2.0 is now locked out. That is a real loss for the home automation community, and it explains the frustration in forum threads.

If you do not use Home Assistant, Hubitat, or other third-party automation platforms, Security+ 3.0 is a capable opener. The BLE pairing is fast, the myQ app is reliable, and Amazon Key works well. If you want smart home integration without cloud dependency, ask your installer to run two wires from the wall button terminals to where you plan to mount a relay device. That adds about 15 minutes to the installation and resolves the compatibility problem before it starts.

If local wireless smart control matters and you want ratgdo-style full integration, a Security+ 2.0 opener (yellow button) paired with ratgdo or Konnected blaQ is the better choice today. That setup gives full local MQTT or HomeKit control with no cloud dependency. As of mid-2026, it remains the strongest option for privacy-focused smart home users.

When buying a new opener and smart home features matter, confirm the learn button color before ordering. Retail inventory is a mix right now as the transition continues. Ask the seller specifically about the learn button color. A dealer who installs a white-button opener when you needed a yellow-button model may be able to source older stock. It is worth asking before the install.

One practical note on the wired relay installation: mount the relay controller near the opener head unit rather than at the wall button. The wall button wire runs from the opener head to the wall, so you can tap it at either end. Mounting the relay at the opener end keeps the wiring clean and lets you access the screw terminals without opening wall panels. A short run of 18-gauge two-conductor bell wire from the relay to the opener terminal block is all you need for most installations. This approach works with any opener brand or generation, including Security+ 3.0, because it uses the same wired circuit the wall button uses. No protocol compatibility is required.

G Brothers can help you choose the right opener for your setup, whether you want full smart home integration or a straightforward upgrade. We serve Denver and the Front Range with same-day service and free estimates.