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ClearTech Garage Doors

How to Replace the Battery in a LiftMaster or Chamberlain Remote or Keypad

Most LiftMaster and Chamberlain remotes take one 3-volt CR2032 coin cell, positive side up, and open by prying the case apart with the visor clip. The wireless keypads take a 9-volt alkaline behind a sliding cover. Nothing needs reprogramming afterward.

Works for:
Remotes 890MAX, 891LM, 893LM, 893MAX, 895MAX, 950ESTD, 953ESTD, 950EV, 953EV, 956EV, 971LM, and the 371LM and 373LM; keypads 877MAX, 878MAX, 877LM, 377LM, 977LM, 940D, and 940EV, with notes for the older 740CB, 66LM, 940CB, 976LM, and 376LM.

Written by the ClearTech Garage Doors team in Winnipeg and checked against manufacturer documentation. Updated .

Before you start

  • A CR2032 coin cell for the remote (the 895MAX takes two; some take a CR2016, so check the old cell)
  • A 9-volt alkaline for the keypad
  • A flat-head screwdriver, and a small Phillips for the 895MAX

Step by step

  1. Step 1: Know the sign. A remote with a low battery has an LED that goes dim or stops flashing when you press the button. A keypad's lights go dim or stop flashing, and the myQ app can show a low-battery alert for the keypad.

  2. Step 2: Most remotes (891LM, 893LM, 893MAX, 950 and 953 series, 971LM, 371LM, 373LM): slide the visor clip off and use its edge to pry the case open in the middle, then at each side. The 890MAX and 956EV open with a flat-head screwdriver blade instead.

  3. Step 3: Lift out the old coin cell and fit the new one with the positive (+) side up, the marked side facing you. Snap the case together and press a button: the LED should light.

  4. Step 4: 895MAX: remove the two screws on the back, replace both cells positive side up, and refit the cover. Check which cell it takes before buying; the instruction sheet lists a CR2016 and the support site lists CR2032 depending on the version.

  5. Step 5: Keypads 877MAX, 878MAX, 877LM, 377LM, 977LM, 940D, 940EV: push a flat-head screwdriver into the oval cutout at the top of the cover, press firmly, and slide the cover down past the locking tabs. Swap in a new 9-volt alkaline, then slide the cover back up until it locks.

    740CB and 66LM keypads have a Phillips screw at the bottom to undo first. 940CB, 976LM, and 376LM release with a small Phillips pushed into the pin hole at the bottom while sliding the cover down.

  6. Step 6: Test. Press the remote with the door in sight, or enter your PIN on the keypad. Chamberlain's instructions don't call for any reprogramming. If it doesn't respond, the remote guide or keypad guide covers re-pairing.

Still not working? Here is what it usually is.

  • The LED lights but the opener doesn't respond. The wall control may be in lock mode, which blocks remotes while the keypad and wall button still work.
  • The LED doesn't light with a fresh cell. Check it's the right way up and the contacts are clean. A remote that's been dropped or sat in a wet cup holder may be done; a new 893MAX is inexpensive.
  • The keypad lights but won't open the door. The PIN may have been lost; re-enter it per the keypad guide.
  • Range is poor even with a new battery. Something near the opener is interfering, or the opener's antenna wire is tucked away. The remote guide lists the usual causes.

We diagnose the whole system, opener, door, sensors, and remotes, and tell you plainly whether it's a quick fix or time for a new unit.

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Common Questions

Which way does the coin cell go?

Positive side up, which is the flat side with the writing on it, facing you as you look into the open remote. Nearly every current LiftMaster and Chamberlain remote is the same; the 892LT and 894LT take AAA cells instead.

How long does a remote battery last?

LiftMaster says the cell in an 890MAX can last up to five years. Cold shortens it, so a remote that lives in the car in a Winnipeg winter may need one every couple of years.

Do I need to reprogram after changing the battery?

No. Chamberlain's battery instructions don't include a reprogramming step. Just test it.

Sources

This guide was checked against the following manufacturer and industry documents.

More LiftMaster / Chamberlain guides

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