We add smart control to electric garage doors across Newcastle upon Tyne and the North East. In most cases that means fitting a Wi-Fi module to the opener you already have, so an app on your phone can open the door, close it and show its status.
How we add phone control to your door
The job includes checking that your opener can take a module, choosing the right type, and fitting and wiring it to the motor. We then connect it to your home Wi-Fi so the app can reach the door. Your existing remotes and wall button stay as they are.
To get started, send the make and model from the motor label through the quote form at the top of this page, or by email to info@remotegaragedoor.co.uk. Tell us how well your phone holds a Wi-Fi signal in the garage, and add a photo of the motor if you can. We check compatibility from those details and send a written quote for the module and the fitting.
Because the app lets you close a door you cannot see, we check the photocells and obstacle detection before we finish. If they are not working properly, we will tell you that a repair should come first. If your Wi-Fi in the garage is too weak, we will say so before you spend anything.
What you can actually do from your phone
The most useful feature is often the simplest one. You drive off, or settle down in bed, and wonder if you shut the garage. With a smart opener you open the app, find out, and close the door if you need to.
Beyond that, the features vary by system. These are the ones you will commonly see.
- Opening or closing the door from anywhere with a connection
- Live door status, shown as open or closed
- Alerts when the door moves, on some systems
- An activity history showing when it was used, on some systems
- Voice assistant support, on some models
Who gets the most from it?
Families tend to like it, as you can let a teenager in without handing over a remote. It also helps if a relative or tradesperson needs something from the garage while you are at work. If you are always home and always use the same remote, you may not need it, and that is fine.
Will it work with your opener?
Many openers can take a smart module, but not all of them. Some modules are made for one specific opener, usually from the same maker. Others wire into a generic control input on the motor, which suits a wider range but is a more hands-on fit. Older openers can be the awkward ones, as they may lack a suitable input.
If your door is still manual, it needs a motor first, and our automation page explains that step. If you are buying a whole new door anyway, tell us at the outset and we can plan phone control as part of the job.
Is your Wi-Fi strong enough in the garage?
This is the check people skip, and a weak signal will undermine everything else. Garages tend to sit at the far edge of a home network, with brick walls in between and a steel door acting as a shield. The module sits by the motor, so that is where the signal counts.
There is an easy test. Stand under the motor with your phone on Wi-Fi only and mobile data turned off, then try to load a video. If it plays smoothly, you are probably fine. If it stutters or drops out, you may need a Wi-Fi extender or a change of router position first, since an app that only works some of the time soon becomes frustrating.
Closing a door you cannot see
Remote closing changes the safety picture, as nobody is standing there watching the door come down. Something could be in the opening without you knowing, so the safety sensors must be working properly. Our safety guide explains the checks to do from time to time, and if the door has started reversing for no reason, a repair comes first.
It also helps to agree a few house rules. Make sure everyone at home knows the door may move without anyone nearby, and keep children from playing around it, which is good advice for any of the remote-controlled garage doors we fit across the North East. Looking at the status before you press close is a good habit to build.
How secure is a connected garage door?
A smart opener is as safe as the account behind it, so treat the login like the one for your email. A few habits cover the main risks.
- Use a strong password that you do not use anywhere else.
- Turn on two-step login if the app offers it.
- Keep the app up to date.
- Remove people from shared access when they no longer need it.
If you sell your home, remove your account from the system before you leave. For the bigger picture on locks, handsets and the inner door to your house, see our guide on electric garage door security.
What happens if the Wi-Fi drops?
When the Wi-Fi drops you lose the app for a while, though the door itself still works. App control needs a connection, while your standard remotes and wall button carry on working without one. That is why we treat smart control as an addition and never as a replacement for a handset.
A change of broadband provider or router can also knock the module offline, as it will be looking for your old network. You will usually need to reconnect it in the app, so keep the setup instructions somewhere you can find them.
And in a power cut?
The module cannot help if the opener has no power. The door will not move until the supply returns, unless you have added battery backup, but you can still use the manual release from inside the garage.
What does smart control cost to add?
The module is usually the small part of the bill, at a typical 2026 UK guide figure of £30 to £60, which is not our price list. Any fitting and wiring comes on top, and that depends on your opener. Before you choose an app-based system, read the small print to see if any features need a paid subscription.
If you already own a working electric door, this is one of the cheapest upgrades you can make to it. Send us your opener's make and model through the quote form above, and we will let you know if a module will suit your setup.
