Chamberlain removes API access from new and existing garage door openers

2026-05-15T18:35:51Z

Nfriedly: /* Background */ Linked first mention of Chamberlain to Chamberlain_Group wiki page

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Chamberlain Group
|StartDate=2023-11
|EndDate=2024-03
|Status=Active
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Cloud, Privacy, Ownership
|Description=Chamberlain Group removed third party API access to new and existing garage door openers (forcing cloud connection and data collection).
}}
"If companies can modify internet-connected products and charge subscriptions after people have already purchased them, what does it mean to own anything anymore?" - Brian X. Chen, The New York Times<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Brian X. |date=2025-12-04 |title=Why One Man Is Fighting for Our Right to Control Our Garage Door Openers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/technology/personaltech/why-one-man-is-fighting-for-our-right-to-control-our-garage-door-openers.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/u5ukv |archive-date=2026-02-02 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

==Background==
Prior to locking down third party support, [[Chamberlain Group|Chamberlain]] shipped myQ-enabled garage door openers that supported third party control via a cloud only API; many consumers utilized this API to integrate their garage door opener with other platforms like Home Assistant. With the myQ app, the range of integrations you're allowed to use is limited.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-10 |title=Terms of Use for MyQ Services and Products |url=https://www.myq.com/terms-of-use |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214171153/https://www.myq.com/terms-of-use |archive-date=2025-12-14 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=MyQ}}</ref>

Chamberlain requires subscriptions for some of these features, such as opening your garage door from your car<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tesla In-Vehicle Garage Control with myQ |url=https://www.myq.com/auto/tesla |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214171048/https://www.myq.com/auto/tesla |archive-date=2025-12-14 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=myQ}}</ref>. In addition to this, they have targeted ads on the myQ app, collect your personal data, share your data with their affiliates, and get payments from their partners. Removal of API access has since broken any third party ways to get around this<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schoutsen |first=Paulus |date=2023-11-06 |title=Removal of MyQ integration |url=https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2023/11/06/removal-of-myq-integration/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251225182624/https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2023/11/06/removal-of-myq-integration/ |archive-date=2025-12-25 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Home Assistant}}</ref>, meaning you must use their myQ system if you want any of their promised cloud features.

==Removal of API access==
In late 2023, [[Chamberlain Group|Chamberlain]] removed third party API access of their garage door openers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-25 |title=A Message About our Decision to Prevent Unauthorized Usage of myQ |url=https://chamberlaingroup.com/press/a-message-about-our-decision-to-prevent-unauthorized-usage-of-myq |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251226235138/https://chamberlaingroup.com/press/a-message-about-our-decision-to-prevent-unauthorized-usage-of-myq |archive-date=2025-12-26 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Chamberlain Group}}</ref> Their official reason was that third party applications were creating a DDoS-like strain on their servers. However, this is likely not the real reason behind the removal, because this strain can be mitigated by enabling local access. There was also a sudden increase in data collection and ads on the myQ app after this happened.

Since the removal of this API access, the myQ app has been required to use or set up smart features on supported Chamberlain garage door openers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EEA-Privacy-Policy-Final--English-US (Chamberlain Group Privacy Policy) |url=https://embed.widencdn.net/pdf/plus/cgi/070f7xbci8/EEA-Privacy-Policy-Final--English-US.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241201185827/https://embed.widencdn.net/pdf/plus/cgi/070f7xbci8/EEA-Privacy-Policy-Final--English-US.pdf |archive-date=1 Dec 2024|access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref>

==Consumer response==

Chamberlain has been met with severe backlash over this change due to consumers losing API access that may have influenced their purchase decision. However, this inspired some to create aftermarket solutions that restore a similar level of control or better to their garage door opener.<ref name=":2" />

==Fixes for existing garage door openers==
Thankfully, there are options available that bring back local control to existing Chamberlain garage openers and bypass the need for the myQ app. One example is ratgdo<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Wieland |first=Paul |title=About - ratgdo |url=https://ratcloud.llc/pages/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213022055/https://ratcloud.llc/pages/about |archive-date=2025-12-13 |access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref>, a microcontroller developed by Paul Wieland, that takes back control of your garage door opener; it does so by connecting directly to the garage door opener's dry contacts, allowing the ratgdo to then offer its own connection via ESPHome. There are also other options made by companies such as Meross that achieve similar goals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meross Smart Garage Door Opener Remote Control - MSG100 |url=https://www.meross.com/en-gc/smart-garage-door-opener/garage-door-opener-remote-control/29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222213625/https://www.meross.com/en-gc/smart-garage-door-opener/garage-door-opener-remote-control/29 |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Meross}}</ref>

However, it is important to note that these devices currently do not work on Chamberlain's new Security+ 3.0 platform. This is due to a physical hardware change resulting in no data being transmitted over wires, only power, and instead relying fully on wireless protocols for communication.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Tuohy |first=Jennifer Pattison |date=2025-12-05 |title=Chamberlain blocks smart home integrations with its garage door openers — again |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/839294/chamberlain-myq-garage-door-opener-update-blocks-aftermarket-controllers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104071254/https://www.theverge.com/tech/839294/chamberlain-myq-garage-door-opener-update-blocks-aftermarket-controllers |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=The Verge}}</ref>

You can read the New York Times article<ref name=":0" /> for more info on the troubles faced with Chamberlain garage door openers, as well as The Verge article<ref name=":1" /> for Chamberlain's continued push against local control with Security+ 3.0.
==References==
<references />

[[Category:2023 incidents]]
[[Category:Retroactively amended purchase]]

[[Category:Chamberlain Group]]
[[Category:Digital restrictions]]
[[Category:API restrictions]]
[[Category:Home automation]]

Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Chamberlain removes API access from new and existing garage door openers