December 01, 2025

Auto-close garage when forgotten

Never worry about leaving your garage door open again. This automation automatically closes the garage when it’s left open and nobody’s home, then sends you a photo confirmation for peace of mind.

Use cases

Security scenarios

Forgot to close - Auto-closes after you drive away
Kids left it open - Closes automatically when family leaves
Running late - Don't worry about going back to check
Package protection - Keep deliveries safe from theft

Peace of mind

Photo confirmation - See that it actually closed
Weather protection - Keep rain and snow out
Energy savings - Don't heat or cool the outdoors
Pest prevention - Keep animals out of garage

Products needed

Essential equipment

Smart garage door controller

Popular brands: Chamberlain myQ, Tailwind iQ3, Meross, Ratgdo
Must support remote open/close and status reporting

Presence detection

Options: Phone GPS/geofencing, smart home presence sensors, Life360
Must accurately detect when all family members have left

Optional enhancements

Garage camera

Brands: Wyze, Blink, Ring, Arlo, Reolink
Provides photo/video confirmation of garage status

Motion sensor in garage

Prevents closing if someone is still in the garage working

💡 Safety first

Ensure your garage door has working safety sensors (photo-eyes)
Always send a warning notification before auto-closing
Add a motion sensor to detect if someone is in the garage
Consider a short delay to allow for cancellation

Basic automation setup

IF garage door is open AND nobody is home (all phones away) AND garage door has been open for 5+ minutes AND no motion in garage for 2 minutes THEN send notification "Closing garage in 2 minutes" WAIT 2 minutes THEN close garage door THEN take camera snapshot THEN send notification with photo "Garage closed"

Triggers

Home mode changes to "Away" (last person left)
OR garage door open for 5 minutes while nobody home

Conditions

Presence: All family members away from home
Garage status: Garage door is currently open
Motion: No motion detected in garage for 2+ minutes
Safety: No obstruction detected by door sensors

Actions

Send warning notification: "Garage still open. Closing in 2 minutes."
Wait 2 minutes (allows manual cancellation)
Close garage door
Wait 30 seconds for door to fully close
Take snapshot from garage camera
Send confirmation notification with photo

Platform-specific examples

Home Assistant

Trigger Zone.home person count = 0 for 5 minutes

Condition cover.garage_door is open AND no motion for 2 min

Action Notify, delay, close cover, snapshot, notify with image

Tip: Use actionable notification with "Cancel" button during warning delay

SmartThings

IF Everyone leaves (location mode: Away)

AND Garage door is open

THEN Notify, wait 2 min, close garage, send confirmation

Note: Use Smart Home Monitor for additional security integration

Hubitat

Trigger Mode changes to Away

Condition Garage door is open

Action Send notification, delay 2 min, close door

Setup: Use Rule Machine for complex logic with delays

Apple HomeKit

When Last person leaves home

Condition Garage door is open

Do Close garage door, send notification

Note: Use Shortcuts app for delays and photo capture

Alexa

When Location: Everyone leaves

Condition Garage door sensor reports open

Action Wait 2 min, close garage, send notification

Google Home

Starter Everyone leaves home

Condition Garage door is open (if supported)

Action Close garage via connected controller

Note: May need Home Assistant or IFTTT for full automation

Advanced features

Photo confirmation

Visual verification that garage is actually closed:

Take snapshot after door closes
Include timestamp on image
Show "before and after" comparison
Store images for security records

Cancellation option

Allow manual override:

Actionable notification with "Cancel" button
2-minute delay before closing
Voice command to cancel: "Don't close garage"
Manual override if you're coming right back

Context-aware behavior

Smarter decision making:

Quick trips: Wait longer if you just left (might return)
Work hours: Close immediately on weekday mornings
Weather: Close immediately if rain is starting
Time of day: Shorter delay at night for security

Common issues and solutions

Door closes when someone's in garage

Problem: Presence detection missed someone still in the garage.

Solutions:

Add motion sensor in garage as safety condition
Require no motion for 5+ minutes before closing
Add longer delay before auto-close (5-10 minutes)
Use multiple presence detection methods

False "away" detection

Problem: System thinks everyone left when someone is still home.

Solutions:

Use multiple presence methods (GPS + WiFi + Bluetooth)
Increase geofence radius to reduce false departures
Add delay before declaring "away" (5-10 minutes)
Track all family members' phones

Door won't close remotely

Problem: Automation triggers but garage door doesn't close.

Solutions:

Check safety sensors (photo-eyes) aren't blocked
Verify smart controller is online and connected
Test manual close from app first
Check for obstruction in door path
Verify garage door opener is powered on

Photo notification not arriving

Problem: Door closes but no photo confirmation received.

Solutions:

Verify camera is online and accessible
Check notification permissions on phone
Add delay between door close and snapshot (30 seconds)
Verify camera snapshot service is configured correctly

Best practices

Setting up auto-close safely

Always verify garage door safety sensors work properly
Add motion sensor in garage as backup safety check
Include warning notification before closing
Add 2+ minute delay for cancellation opportunity
Send confirmation with photo after closing
Test automation thoroughly before relying on it

Safety warnings

Never bypass safety sensors - They prevent injury and damage
Add motion detection - Prevent closing on people or pets
Include delays - Allow time to cancel if needed
Test regularly - Ensure automation works when needed
Inform family - Everyone should know about auto-close feature

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