My garage remote died a while back, so I rebuilt the opener using an ESP32, a relay module, and HomeSpan (an open-source HomeKit Accessory Protocol implementation).
No vendor cloud, no subscriptions, no locked-down “smart” hardware. Just a simple, local, secure garage controller that works perfectly with HomeKit.
Wrote up the full build + wiring + firmware details here:
https://lumley.io/blogs/smart-garage/
How I Turned My Broken Garage Remote Into a HomeKit Garage Door for Under $22
A few weeks ago, my garage remote died. Completely. No LED, no click, no signs of life even after replacing the battery. Normally, this would be annoying enough, but my house relies heavily on HomeKit. Lights, blinds, cameras, fans - everything responds to Siri… except the garage. And now, even the dumb remote wasn’t working. But instead of buying a $90 replacement remote or a $250 HomeKit-enabled garage opener, I had a different thought: