How To Clone A Remote Gate Opener (Quickly & Easily!)
Remote controls are supposed to make our lives easier. For the most part, they do accomplish that job. Being able to control various objects by just pressing a few buttons is undeniably convenient.
The problem is that some remote controls are very easy to lose. The controllers for garage doors and gates are often on the smaller side. Cloning those remote openers helps protect against the possibility of losing them.
Cloning will only work if you already have the appropriate devices including the right opener and remote controls. After obtaining the devices, you need to clear the codes on the cloning remote by pressing two buttons simultaneously. Next, press one button on the original remote and press the corresponding button on the other to complete the cloning process.
It’s worth taking the time to clone remote gate and door openers if you are prone to losing objects like them. Find out how to perform the cloning process correctly by continuing with the rest of this article.
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The Items You Will Need for Cloning
Cloning does not work with all garage door or remote gate openers. You cannot just start cloning whichever one you have and expect it to work. There are certain restrictions that limit which remote controls can be duplicated.
In this section, we’ll discuss the items you need for cloning. You should check if you have the items detailed below first before you proceed to attempt the cloning process.
Compatible Remote Controls
Homeowners should know that not all remote controls are suitable for cloning. You actually have to go out of your way to find the remote controls you’ll need for this undertaking.
The remote controls compatible with cloning are not super easy to find. It may take you a while to locate them and get them delivered to your home. They aren’t too expensive though and they’re ideal to use if you have multiple remote-controlled gates or garage doors.
Garage Door Opener or Gate with a Fixed Code
Whether or not you’ll be able to clone your remote controls will depend largely on what kind of opener you have. That’s because not all garage door openers or remote-controlled gates have fixed codes.
A fixed code is basically a static password that governs the operations of your garage door or gate. Because it’s fixed, that means it won’t change unless you did something to it. You need an opener that relies on a fixed code or else the cloning will not work. So, how can you tell if you have a remote opener that is compatible with cloning?
What you can do is inspect either the remote control or the opening device itself. If either one of those items features a label with the words “rolling code,” then the cloning will not be successful.
What Is a Rolling Code?
Since we touched on rolling codes already, it’s worth taking the time to discuss them in greater detail. Rolling or hopping codes are the opposite of the fixed passwords.
Rolling codes change every time they are used. They have been implemented for the purposes of improving home security. Hopping codes change every time you use the remote control. That makes them way harder to track.
It’s also worth mentioning here that you don’t have to constantly reprogram the remote control for openers that use rolling codes. The codes will change on their own so just use the remote control as you normally would. Thanks to rolling codes, potential burglars won’t be able to gain entry into your home as easily as they did before. Remote gates and garage door openers that use them can definitely improve your home security.
Newer remote gates and garage door openers often make use of rolling codes. If you are planning to use cloned remotes, make sure you account for that when choosing which product to purchase.
Cloning Your Remote Gate or Garage Door Opener
Now that we know more about the items needed for cloning, we can tackle the process itself. Follow the steps detailed below so you’re able to complete the process of cloning successfully.
Step 1: Prepare the Remote Control to Be Cloned
The remote control to be cloned has to be in good working condition before you start the process. Test it out on the garage door opener or gate and see if it’s issuing the right commands.
The original remote control not working properly is going to be a problem. Try to swap out the batteries first and see if that helps improve its performance. Hopefully, the original remote control you have is working just fine.
Step 2: Ensure the Area Is Conducive to Cloning the Remote Control
The success of the cloning process hinges on the two remote controls working at the same frequency. You need the two remote controls working at the same frequency for the cloning process.
To prevent outside interference, you need to remove wireless devices from the spot where you’ll clone the remote controls. That includes your smartphone as well. It’s also a good idea to perform the cloning in a spot far from any devices that send signals. The garage should be a good place for that.
Step 3: Clear the Remote Control Clone
You now have to clear the code that your remote control clone contains. Doing this is easy enough.
Simply press two buttons on the clone simultaneously. The LED will flicker to let you know you did this part correctly. If the LED still holds after pressing one of the buttons, that means you didn’t clear the code. Double-check if the code has been cleared by pressing one of the buttons. The LED will blink if there is no code present.
Step 4: Clone the Code
Grab the remote controls now. You should be holding one remote control in each hand. The goal now is to clone the codes on the original remote. To do that, press down on one of the buttons on the original remote. Follow that by pressing the corresponding button on the clone remote.
The two remote controls should also be very close and even in contact with one another for this to work. You’ll know that the cloning was successful if the LED on the clone remote flickers.
From there, you can just repeat the process with the other buttons. Just be careful not to get the buttons mixed up or else you may have trouble controlling the door or gate.
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Related Questions
Can You Change the Frequency of Your Remote Control?
Successful cloning relies on two remote controls operating at the same frequency. Because of that, you may be wondering if there’s a way to change the frequency of your remote control. Maybe doing so could even improve your home security.Unfortunately, there is no way to change the frequencies that your garage door and remote control work at. The radio frequencies those devices work at are set that way for a reason. They need to remain at that frequency because they could interfere with other devices otherwise.Interference could be annoying and even dangerous in some cases. The frequencies are even regulated in order to prevent people from changing them at will.Although changing the frequency of your remote control is out of the question, you can always use a new code. You can still improve your home security by regularly changing the code on your garage door opener. Go ahead and clone it after doing that as well so you always have a spare remote control available.
What Are Other Alternatives to Cloning a Garage Door Opener or Gate Remote Control?
Do you have a garage door opener that uses a rolling code instead of a fixed code? If you answered in the affirmative, cloning is probably not an option for you. That’s fine because you still have some alternatives.Purchasing a universal remote control is a good idea as it works well as a backup. You should also check if your garage door opener can be operated using an app. You may be able to ditch the remote controls entirely and just use your smartphone to control the garage door.
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Gary Evans is passionate about home improvement. He loves finding out how to make improvements in the easiest, most practical, and most affordable ways. Upgrading his home kitchen is one of his ongoing hobbies. Gary is also a long-time content creator and enjoys spending his free time tending to his hydroponic vegetable garden.
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