It may be that you’ve lost power, the motor’s acting up, the remote control has vanished into thin air, your electric gate is experiencing some mechanical issues, or you need emergency access to your property; there are many reasons why you might have to open your electric gate manually.
The good news is that opening an electric gate manually is quite easy; usually, the most complicated part is locating and operating the manual release, and the rest is quite straightforward.
Here’s how you manually open an electric gate.
Step 1: Turn Off the Power
Safety first. If the opener still has electricity, cut it off:
- Flip the breaker, unplug the opener, or turn off the power switch if available.
Turning off the power prevents any accidental movement or electrical hazards while you're working on the system. This is the first step you should take.
Step 2: Find the Manual Release Mechanism
Almost every electric gate and/or garage door is designed with some kind of manual release. The purpose of the manual release is to let you disconnect the motor and detach the gate opening mechanism so the door or gate can move freely.
Once you successfully engage the manual release mechanism, you can proceed to open the gate manually.
The problem is, the manual release mechanism of a gate can be hard to find. There is no standard procedure for what a manual release system should look like, or where the manufacturer is supposed to install it, so it depends on whether you are working with a swing gate, sliding gate, or a garage door.
Opening a Swing Gate or Sliding Gate Manually
To open a swing gate manually, you need a basic understanding of how a swing gate opener works, or at least how to find the actuator. Follow these steps:
- Look for the manual release: it should be a lever, bolt, or a release knob on or near the actuator.
- Pull the lever or release the knob. It might take some effort to pull the lever or release the bolt. Usually, you have to pull in a control motion or turn the bolt in a counterclockwise direction.
- Push the gate open. The heavier the swing gate, you might have to push a little harder.
- Some swing gates use a pivot system—the opener fits over a metal post or pin, and you simply lift it off.
- Usually, the manual release for a gate, be it a single swing gate opener or, double swing gate opener, is located on or near the actuator.
How a Customer Operates Their Swing Electric Gate Manually
A customer has shared with us that they never installed the retaining bolt that came with the system. To open the gate manually, all they had to do was lift the opener off the pivot.
If it’s your gate and you’re comfortable with light mechanical work, this kind of setup is reliable and easy to operate manually. But this setup is not very common.
Opening a Sliding Gate Manually
The process of opening a sliding gate manually is similar to opening an electric gate manually; the only difference may be the position of the manual release function and how it is operated. Follow these steps
- Look for the manual release: it is usually located near the motor or mounted along the track.
- To activate the release mechanism, turn the key or pull the lever and disengage the motor.
- Slide the gate open, making sure the track is clean and free of dirt.
Manually Opening Garage Doors
Most garage doors have a red cord with a handle hanging from the rail in the middle. To disengage the motor sled from the door, simply pull it down and toward the motor.
Once released, the door should lift with one hand if the springs are in good condition. The manual release separates the door from the machine.
What to Do if You Cannot Locate the Manual Release
For some gates, especially sliding types or more secure heavy-weight gate openers, the manual release might not be easily visible or accessible.
Here are a few methods to open an electric gate manually when you cannot locate the manual release mechanism:
- Use a Wrench: Use an appropriate wrench to uncouple the arm or chain that drives the gate.
- Use Hex Keys: Many systems come with a hex key to manually disengage the clutch. If you lose it, a trip to the hardware store can save the day.
- Drill with a Hex Bit: If your opener can be turned manually with a hex key, a drill makes it faster and easier.
For apartment complexes or commercial settings, the electric gate systems are often locked down tight. Most of these systems are designed with emergency release mechanisms, but they’re not always user-friendly.
Here’s how you can open them manually:
- The chain, belt, or clutch is usually inside a protective cover.
- There may be a special crank handle stored nearby (or not).
- If you can't access the arm, disconnecting a belt or chain will usually free the gate to slide manually.
Step 3: Move the Gate Manually
Once the manual release mechanism is disengaged, the motor is out of the picture, and you can open the gate.
- Swing Gate? Push or pull it open by hand.
- Sliding Gate? Slide it along the track—it should move fairly easily if it's well-maintained.
- Garage Door? Once disconnected, it should lift smoothly thanks to the springs—if it’s heavy or jams, something may be off with the door or track.
Why You Need a Good Automatic Gate Opener
Most of the time, the difficulties in operating an electric gate manually are caused by power shortages, but sometimes, they stem from the quality of the gate opener.
A customer came to us seeking gate opener recommendations for their gate. We would later find out that he had to tape the hex bit to the inside of the gate housing so they’d never be without it in an emergency.
The gate opener simply could not operate efficiently for long: it was one issue after another.
This is one of the most telling signs that it is time to upgrade your gate opener system.
And he was in the right place.
Upgrade with A Reliable Gate Opener Brand
Here’s how you spot a reliable gate opener brand: it mainly deals in gate openers and has an established customer base.
Zumi deals in a variety of automatic gate openers, from solar models to electric gate openers, and with a steady client base around the world, the Zumi gate opener reviews are all positive.
Here’s what you get from a Zumi gate opener
Even if your home has heavy dual swing gates and you need a powerful and secure electric opener, Zumi gate openers have the muscle to handle large or commercial-grade gates while still operating smoothly and quietly.
How to Manually Open a Garage Door (From the Outside)
It is easy to understand why the manual release for a garage door has to be inside the garage rather than outside. However, if you have no way of entering the garage, you might have to find a way to engage the manual release system from the outside.
It does not always work, but here are some methods you could try:
i. Look for a Mechanical Key Release System
Some garage door openers come with a mechanical key release system. It installs through the door and connects to the manual release inside.
Insert the key, turn, pull the steel cable, and the door disconnects from the motor.
Then you can open the door manually.
ii. Install a Wireless Keypad Remote.
Alternatively, install a wireless keypad remote (usually around $40). These battery-powered units mount outside the door and let you open it with a code, assuming the power is still working.
If you live in an area with frequent outages, it may be worth upgrading to a garage door opener with a battery backup (typically around $220).
Gate Opener Troubleshooting (When Manually Opening an Electric Gate Fails)
If your electric gate or garage door is still stuck after you’ve pulled the release mechanism, here are some simple electric gate troubleshooting tips you could try:
- Double-check that it’s fully disconnected from the motor.
- Inspect the tracks for debris or damage.
- Listen for grinding or resistance—could indicate a broken spring or misaligned mechanism.
And remember: the emergency release is only useful if the door or gate is in good working condition. If the door itself is damaged, no amount of pulling will help.
Points to Remember
- Label and store tools (hex key, crank handle, etc.) somewhere easy to find.
- Consider adding a mechanical or keypad entry system.
- Practice using the manual release now so you’re not learning during an emergency.
Manually opening an electric gate or garage door doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little know-how—and maybe a wrench or hex key—you can safely disconnect the motor and move things by hand. And once you’ve done it once, you’ll know exactly what to do next time.
Here's a breakdown of how much a gate opener costs, and some affordable gate opener recommendations you can likely afford.
