Short answer
If your garage door is off track, stop using it. Do not press the button again, and unplug the opener if you can reach the plug from a step ladder. Do not lift it, push it back or pull the emergency release cord: the door is heavy and the springs and cables are under tension. Keep kids, pets and cars away and call a garage door company.
Safety first
A door that came off the track can fall. Nobody stands or walks under it, even if it looks stuck. Do not pull the emergency release cord: the door can drop all at once.
Garage door off track: what to do and what not to touch
1A clunk, and the door hangs crooked
One side sits lower and a roller has popped out of the track. A bump from a car or a broken cable can cause it.
Read all the steps
- A clunk, and the door hangs crooked. One side sits lower and a roller has popped out of the track. A bump from a car or a broken cable can cause it.
- Stop using the opener. Running it can bend the door and the track even more. Unplug the opener if you can reach the plug safely from a step ladder.
- Don’t lift it or pull the release cord. The door is heavy and may be held up by one side only. Pulling the red release handle can let it drop.
- Keep everyone away from the door. Kids, pets and cars stay out of the doorway, inside and outside. If the car is in the garage, leave it there for now.
- Call a garage door company. Say the door is off track and crooked. They bring the tools to take the tension off, set the rollers back and check the cables.
- Don’t force it: call a garage door company Especially if: the door is crooked, or a roller is out of the track.
Garage doors near you
Share your location and we will show the nearest ones with their phone number.
Or pick your city:
Why doors come off track
- A car or something heavy hit the door or the track.
- A lift cable broke or slipped off its drum, so one side dropped.
- Worn or broken rollers, or loose track brackets.
- The door kept running into something on the floor.
What not to do
- Do not hammer or pry the rollers back in while the door is up.
- Do not loosen the track bolts or the brackets at the bottom corners: the cables there hold the full tension.
- Do not drive in or out under a crooked door.
While you wait
- Take photos of the door, the track and any loose cable. They help the technician bring the right parts.
- If the door is stuck open, lock the door from the garage into the house.
- Ask for a written price before the work starts.
When to call a garage door technician
- The door is crooked, or a roller is out of the track.
- A cable is loose, hanging or off its drum.
- The track is bent or pulled away from the wall.
- The door is stuck open and you can’t secure the garage.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fix a garage door that came off track myself?
It is not safe. The door is heavy, and the springs and cables that hold it are under high tension. A technician takes the tension off before setting it back.
Can I use my garage door if it is off track?
No. Running the opener or lifting the door can bend it more or make it fall. Leave it where it is and call.
Why did my garage door come off the track?
Usually because something hit it, a cable broke, or the rollers and the track wore out. A good technician fixes the cause, not just the rollers.
Is a garage door off track an emergency?
It is urgent if the door is stuck open, hanging over the doorway or your car is trapped. Use the "24/7 emergencies" filter to find companies that answer now.
Should I pull the emergency release on a crooked garage door?
No. With the door off track, the release can let it drop all at once. Leave the cord alone and keep everyone clear.