Updated October 2026
There are few things more frustrating than getting comfortable in bed and suddenly wondering whether you remembered to close the garage door.
For us, it was an especially common concern. With two kids constantly coming and going for bike rides, sports equipment, snacks from the garage refrigerator, and whatever else they were doing, our garage door seemed to be opening all day long. Closing it afterward wasn’t always top of mind.
I wanted a simple way to check the garage from my phone without having to walk downstairs. I also liked the idea of being able to check on things while we were traveling or open the door remotely if someone needed access to the house.
That’s what led me to the MyQ Smart Garage Control.
More than two and a half years later, it’s become one of the most useful smart-home products we’ve added. In fact, I liked the first one enough that I bought another sensor for our second garage door.
And while I originally purchased MyQ for the ability to monitor and remotely control the garage, the feature I appreciate most today is one I didn’t fully anticipate: automatic closing schedules.
Why We Bought MyQ
We have two garage doors: a main two-car garage door and a separate single-car door.
I started by adding MyQ to our main garage door, which gets the most use. At the time, our boys were younger, and remembering to close the garage wasn’t always a priority for them.
That left me wondering whether the garage was secure, especially at night.
I wanted to be able to check the door’s status from anywhere and close it without making another trip downstairs. I also wanted the peace of mind of knowing I could check it while we were out of town.
MyQ offered a relatively inexpensive way to add those features to our existing garage door opener without replacing the entire system.
The Best MyQ Feature: Automatic Closing Schedules
our garage doors are open or closed. Photo by Family Fun Money.
I thought remote opening and closing would be the biggest benefit. It turns out that scheduling is the feature I wouldn’t want to give up.
Here’s a familiar scenario at our house: I’ll close the garage door for the night, assuming we’re done going in and out. Then someone takes out the trash, grabs something from the garage, or heads outside for a few minutes.
The garage door gets opened again, and nobody remembers to close it.
Meanwhile, I’m upstairs thinking everything is secured.
With MyQ, I can schedule the main garage door to close automatically at designated times. I’ve actually set up multiple schedules throughout the evening in case someone opens the door after the first scheduled closing.
It’s a simple feature, but it solves the exact problem that prompted me to buy MyQ in the first place.
I still appreciate being able to open or close the garage remotely. If a family member needs access while we’re away, I can take care of it from my phone.
But knowing that we have a nightly closing routine in place is easily my favorite part of the system.
Of course, it’s still important to make sure the garage door and its safety features are functioning properly. I view the schedules as an extra safeguard, not a replacement for paying attention to the door.
How Reliable Has MyQ Been?
After more than two and a half years, I have very few complaints.
The system has worked exactly as I hoped from the beginning. I haven’t experienced ongoing connectivity problems, unreliable door status information, or trouble controlling our compatible main garage door.
Installation was straightforward, too.
I followed the step-by-step instructions in the MyQ app and had the original system working in less than 30 minutes. Connecting it to our Wi-Fi was simple, and I didn’t need professional installation.
Over the years, I’ve replaced the batteries in the door-mounted sensors a few times. That’s ordinary maintenance for a device we’ve used for several years, and it hasn’t changed my opinion of the product.
I’m also not someone who wants to spend hours building a complicated smart-home setup. I appreciate technology that does something useful without requiring constant attention.
MyQ has been exactly that kind of product.
The Mistake I Made Adding a Second Garage Door
Photo by Family Fun Money.
My experience with our main garage door was so positive that I decided to add MyQ to our second door.
Unfortunately, I was a little too eager.
I purchased an additional door sensor without first checking whether the opener on our single-car garage was compatible with MyQ’s remote-control features.
It wasn’t.
The older LiftMaster opener on that door wouldn’t pair in the way I needed for full remote operation.
As a result, I can see whether that garage door is open or closed in the app, but I can’t use MyQ to open or close it remotely.
It’s still useful. That garage door gets less traffic, and being able to check its status gives me much of what I wanted.
But I paid for an additional sensor expecting more functionality than I ultimately received.
My advice: Check your specific garage door opener’s compatibility before buying MyQ or adding another door. Don’t assume that because one opener works, another opener in the same garage will work the same way.
It’s an easy step I should have taken myself.
What I Like Most About MyQ
After several years of use, three things stand out.
Peace of mind. Whether I’m upstairs for the night or away from home, I can quickly check whether our garage doors are closed.
Automatic schedules. This is the standout feature for our family. It helps protect against the very real possibility that someone opens the garage after I think we’ve closed it for the evening.
Simplicity. Setup was easy, the app is straightforward, and the system hasn’t required much attention beyond occasional battery replacements.
What surprised me most is how frequently I use it. I expected MyQ to be a nice convenience. Instead, it’s become an important part of how we manage our home.
What Could Be Better?
My biggest frustration wasn’t really with MyQ itself. It was failing to research compatibility before buying the additional sensor.
That experience is also a reminder that not every garage door opener supports the same features.
You’ll also need a reliable Wi-Fi connection in your garage, and battery-powered sensors will require occasional maintenance.
I haven’t personally experienced the connectivity problems sometimes associated with smart-home products, so I can’t speak to how common those issues might be for other households.
And while MyQ offers features beyond the ones I use, I’m evaluating it based on my own experience with monitoring, remote access, and scheduling—not on integrations or services I haven’t tested.
Is MyQ Worth Buying?
The current Smart Garage Control has a different design from the older hardware I’ve been using. At approximately $65 for the main system, it’s still a purchase I’d seriously consider making again.
For our family, the ability to monitor and control the main garage door has been worth the cost. And the nightly closing schedules have made it even more useful than I expected.
If you’re constantly wondering whether you left the garage open, have kids going in and out throughout the day, or want an easy way to check your garage while traveling, I think MyQ is worth considering.
If you’re expecting extensive smart-home integrations or want to control multiple garage doors, I’d spend extra time confirming that your specific equipment supports the features you want before purchasing.
My Verdict After More Than 2.5 Years
I bought MyQ because I wanted to stop worrying about whether we’d left the garage open.
It delivered on that promise, and then some.
The installation was simple, the system has been reliable, and the automatic closing schedules have become an unexpectedly valuable part of our family’s nightly routine.
Would I buy it again? Absolutely.
Just make sure your garage door opener is compatible before you do. That’s one lesson I learned the hard way.
We’ve found that some of the best purchases are the ones that quietly make everyday family life easier. Our Portland Gear Cascade Backpack is another example.
Featured image courtesy of The Chamberlain Group LLC. This is not a sponsored review. I purchased the MyQ equipment myself, and these opinions are based on my family’s experience using it for more than two and a half years.
