HomeLink Garage Door Opener Programming

Although a HomeLink® in-car wireless control system is convenient, adding garage door opener control requires a different process than a regular remote. In this guide, we look at how to program a garage door opener to a car HomeLink system as well as to universal home remotes compatible with HomeLink and Car2u® systems. These instructions cover HomeLink programming for Genie and LiftMaster/Chamberlain/Sears door opener models in rolling code and fixed code designs.

HomeLink In-Car Remote Programming Instructions

Programming a Rolling Code Door Opener

To program a built-in-car HomeLink transmitter to a rolling code garage door opener, you should take the following steps. The Genie rolling code is called Intellicode® and the LiftMaster/Sears code is called Security Plus®.

1. Clear out anything previously programmed into the in-car system from the factory by holding down on the two outside buttons simultaneously until the in-car LED starts flashing rapidly. This may take up to a minute. (In most cases, the key should be on Auxiliary and the car door must be shut.)
2. Decide which button you want to set as your in-car garage door transmitter. Hold your transmitter up near the selected button, pressing both the garage door remote and the selected in-car transmitter button simultaneously. Hold down on the buttons until the in-car LED light flashes rapidly. This sets the in-car remote transmitter as your garage door opener's main transmitter - but you are not done. You now need to make this in-car transmitter your personal transmitter.
3. Go to the Learn button on your garage door opener. The button is usually next to the area where the floppy antenna is connected to the motor head. With Genie, it is most often behind the light lens, and an indicator light flashes red when pressed. With Sears or LiftMaster (Chamberlain), it is near or part of the terminal screw board and is a red, green or purple square button with a green, amber or purple indicator light. Press this Learn button momentarily. The indicator light will turn on and blink on a Genie opener or otherwise stay lit on a Sears/LiftMaster opener.
4. For Genie systems, go back to the in-car transmitter button you programmed and press this button three or four times - or until the door starts moving. This should set your in-car transmitter to your garage door opener. For LiftMaster, Sears or Linear Megacode, press and hold the in-car button you programmed until the garage opener light flashes. Your in-car HomeLink system is now programmed to operate your door.

Programming a Fixed Code Device (Majority of units made prior to 1996)

These devices have internal DIP switches located near the battery of your remote.

1. Clear out anything previously programmed into the in-car system from the factory by holding down on the two outside buttons simultaneously until the in-car LED starts flashing rapidly. This may take up to a minute. (In most cases, the key should be on Auxiliary and/or the car door must be shut.)
2. Press and hold the in-car button you want to use to operate your garage door while simultaneously pressing and holding the button to your handheld remote until the LED on the in-car remote flashes rapidly.
3. Test the in-car remote by pressing the button you chose to operate your door.
4. When the door operates, your in-car remote is programmed.

Universal Home Remote for HomeLink (UHR) or Car2u In-Car System

Programming a Rolling Code Garage Door Opener

If your in-car (UHR) remote has three LED lights - one above each button - you should follow the instructions below to program your rolling code garage door opener.

1. Press the outer two in-car (UHR) buttons simultaneously for two seconds and release. (In most cases, the key should be on auxiliary and/or the car door must be shut.)
2. Place the garage door opener into "Learn" mode by pressing the small square colored button, or the small round black button on a Genie opener, located behind the light bulb globe in the garage. This may require the use of a ladder; follow all safety precautions.
3. The LED on the garage door opener will go on immediately. For Genie openers, the LED will begin blinking.
4. Press and hold the button on the in-car (UHR) remote that you want to use for operating the garage door to activate it.
5. Watch for the garage door to activate.
6. When the garage door activates, release the button and then press the selected button again to lock in the program.
7. The programming of your rolling code garage door opener is now complete.

Programming a Fixed Code Device (Majority of units made prior to 1996)

Below is a chart detailing the typical layout on your handheld remote control under the battery cover based on the number of DIP switches (most remotes have 8-12 DIP switches).

Note: Genie, Linear, Multi-Code and Stanley openers have only two position switches - Up or Down.

1. Press all three in-car (UHR) buttons simultaneously and release. (In most cases, the key should be on Auxiliary and/or the car door must be shut.)
2. Enter your corresponding DIP switch settings into your in-car (UHR) by pressing and releasing the buttons corresponding to the settings you show on your handheld remote or the receiver, located on the ceiling of your garage, based on the above chart. For example: if the first switch is "Up," "+" or "On," press the left button. If the second switch is "Down," "-" or "Off," press the light button.
3. When you are done entering all the DIP switch settings, press all three in-car (UHR) buttons simultaneously and release.
4. Press and hold the button that you want to use for operation. Watch for the garage door to activate.
5. When the garage door activates release the button and depress again the selected button to lock in the program.
6. The programming of your fixed code device is now complete.