Can I open my garage door using Apple HomePod’s voice control?

Yes, you can! You can open and close your garage door with your Apple HomePod’s voice control, and if you are in the house or garage, you can do it from your iPhone or Apple Watch. Here’s how.

Men with iPhone with Apple HomePod
Warning

Need help?

To help you identify a problem with your residential garage door opener or to fix a service call, contact us.

Here’s what LiftMaster accessories you’ll need

If you have a LiftMaster or Chamberlain brand door opener, made AFTER 1993, you can install accessories that will allow you to have a voice connection with your iPhone or Apple Watch.

Here are limiting years that correspond to the date of manufacture of your electric garage door opener so that everything works:

  • 1996 to 2005: Then your LiftMaster or Chamberlain door opener is equipped with the Security+ technology. It has a square ORANGE “learn” button that allows you to program your remotes.
  • 2006 to 2012: This means your door opener has Security+ technology and you can program your remotes. For these, the “learn” button is PURPLE and square.
  • 2013 to 2017: In this case, in addition to being equipped with Security+ 2.0, it also has MyQTM technology. Its “learn” button for programming your remotes is YELLOW and round.
  • After August 2017: Some LiftMaster and Chamberlain door openers also come equipped with Wi-Fi technology.

Not so sure about the date of manufacture? Then take a look on the metal housing of your door opener and you will find the names and logos of Security+, Security+ 2.0, MyQ and/or Wi-Fi.

Here’s how you go about connecting your door opener to your Apple HomeKit voice controls

Once again, depending on the date of manufacture of your LiftMaster or Chamberlain door opener, here are the accessories you’ll need to have to connect:

LiftMaster Chamberlain Openers
  • Since August 2017:
    • LiftMaster door openers with a model number followed by the letter W (8550W, 8500W, 8587W, 8360W and 8355W) come already equipped with Wi-Fi technology. For Chamberlain, some models in their offering also come with Wi-Fi technology.
    • If you want to check if your door opener or one that you are planning on buying provides for Wi-Fi technology, visit this website.
  • Once you have the correct equipment and it’s all hooked up, to start it working with the MyQ system, see these instructions
The 828LM Internet Gateway
The 828LM Internet Gateway
The 888LM MyQ Control Panel
The 888LM MyQ Control Panel
LiftMaster’s MyQ Home Bridge (819LMB)
LiftMaster’s MyQ Home Bridge (819LMB)

Here are the types of garage-related commands you can now use!

Now that everything is properly connected and operational, here is an overview of the voice commands you can give to Siri, the intelligent personal assistant of your Apple HomeKit:

  • Open and close the garage door in in Wi-Fi mode only, if you are in or near your home. However, if you have an Apple TV (version 4.0) or an iPad using IOS-8 (or a more recent model), you can operate your garage door from anywhere in the world, in Wi-Fi mode, and of course, with a 3G or LTE connection. That means you can say “Hey Siri, open the garage door” and “Hey Siri, close the garage door”.
  • Check the status of your garage door, in Wi-Fi mode, to be sure it is closed before going to bed or when you are away from home. You must be in or near the house to do this. But if you have an Apple TV (version 4.0) or an iPad using IOS-8 (or a more recent model), you can verify the status of your garage door from anywhere in the world, in Wi-Fi mode, and of course, with a 3G or LTE connection. Then you can say “Hey Siri, is the garage door closed?”
  • Control multiple HomeKit-enabled devices with just one command.
  • Use the “Home” app to control all your HomeKit-enabled accessories
Voice control with Apple HomePod
Voice control with Apple HomePod

And there’s more…

Using MyQ technology allows you to connect to other applications, such as:

  • Google Assistant: using Google Assistant on devices like Google Home allows you to check the status of your garage door and, if needed, close it.
  • With NEST: the MyQ app lets you quickly program control of home heating from Nest (in Home and Absent modes), or see what is happening in your house or garage with a Nest camera.
  • With IFTTT: connect your garage door opener to your favorite apps and devices with the assistance of IFTTT. For enhanced and customized control of your garage, link to IFTTT in the MyQ app.
  • XFINITY Home: feel safe by knowing that you are connected and protected with XFINITY Home, a platform of automated home security equipment. Set up rules to receive notifications of what’s going on at home in real time, like when the garage door is open.
  • Alarm.com: allows seamless monitoring of your MyQ-controlled door opener and its accessories to your security system giving you the ultimate in peace of mind.

For a great idea of what all the Garaga models look like, why not use our Design Centre.

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