Quick Links

If you have a newer Liftmaster or Chamberlain garage door opener, it's likely that it has MyQ capabilities, which allow you to open and close your garage door from the MyQ app. Her's how to add a MyQ shortcut to your phone's home screen foreven quicker access.

Related: How to Add Nest Thermostat Presets to Your Phone’s Home Screen

MyQ makes it really convenient to not only open and close your garage door from your phone, but to also check and make sure that you closed it after you left for work--that seems to be everyone's biggest worry about their garage door anyway.

However, the MyQ app is pretty barebones and doesn't come with a whole lot of features and integration. But with the help of another app, you can create shortcuts for opening and closing your garage door and put them right on your home screen or notification center for quick and easy access.

Setting Up the Shortcuts

To do this, you'll need to download the Wink app (iOS and Android). Wink is a line of smarthome products that are controlled through the Wink hub. However, we don't need the hub to make this work--only the app.

IMG_1839_stomped

Once you have the app downloaded and installed, open it up and tap on "Sign Up" to create a Wink account. Or if you already have on, select "Log In".

IMG_1730_stomped

After you log in or create an account, you'll be taken to the app's main screen. From here, tap on the "+" button.

IMG_1733_stomped

Scroll down and select "Garage Doors".

IMG_1734_stomped

Tap on "MyQ Garage Door".

IMG_1735_stomped

Tap "Next".

IMG_1736_stomped

Tap "Next" again.

IMG_1737_stomped

Select "I have an account" if you already have the MyQ app installed on your phone. If not, tap on "Get MyQ app".

IMG_1738_stomped

Tap on "Connect Now".

IMG_1739_stomped

Sign into your MyQ account and then tap "Authenticate".

IMG_1740_stomped

Tap "Done".

IMG_1741_stomped

Your MyQ garage door will now show up in the Wink app and you can now begin controlling it by swiping up to open it and swiping down to close it.

IMG_1743_stomped

Next, you'll need to create "Shortcuts" that will allow you to control your garage door from the home screen or notification center, tap on the menu button in the top-left corner.

IMG_1743_stomped

Tap on the "Shortcuts" tab at the bottom.

IMG_1744_stomped

Tap on the "+" button where it says "New Shortcut".

IMG_1745_stomped

On the next page, tap on "New Shortcut" and give it a custom name, like "Open Garage Door".

IMG_1746_stomped copy

Next, tap on "Make this Happen" under "Shortcut Action".

IMG_1748_stomped

Tap on "Garage Door".

IMG_1749_stomped

Tap on "Open" and then hit "Save".

IMG_1750_stomped

Hit "Done" in the top-right corner to save the shortcut.

IMG_1751_stomped

You'll now repeat this, but this time you'll create a shortcut for closing the garage door.

IMG_1753_stomped

When you're done, you'll have two shortcuts: one to open your garage door and one to close it.

IMG_1755_stomped

Adding the Shortcuts to Your Home Screen

We're done in the Wink app, so now it's time to add the shortcuts to your phone's home screen or notification center.

On Android

Simply tap and hold on the home screen. Then select "Widgets".

Screenshot_2016-04-08-11-12-18_stomped

Scroll all the way down and you'll find the Wink widgets. Tap and hold on one and then drag it onto your home screen.

Screenshot_2016-04-29-14-35-59_stomped

A new screen will appear where you'll drag and drop the shortcuts you want to use onto the widget. Tap on "Done" in the top-right corner when you're finished.

Screenshot_2016-04-29-14-36-13_stomped

After that, your MyQ shortcuts will appear on your Android device's home screen.

Screenshot_2016-04-29-14-36-33_stomped

On iPhone

You can't put widgets on your home screen, but you can put them in the notification center. Start by swiping down from the top of the screen to bring up the notification center and make sure you're on the "Today" tab.

IMG_2571_stomped

Scroll down and tap on "Edit" at the bottom.

IMG_2572_stomped

Scroll down and find "Wink Shortcuts" in the list. Tap on the green "+" button next to it.

IMG_1758_stomped

Scroll back up, and it will now appear with the other widgets you have enabled. You can hold down on the move icon to the right to change where you want the widget located. Its default location will be at the bottom. Tap on "Done" when you're good to go.

IMG_1759_stomped

From there, the Wink widget will be located in the notification center, and you can instantly control your MyQ garage door from right there without even opening up the MyQ app itself.

IMG_1760_stomped

It’s not quite as convenient as having the widget right on the home screen like on Android, but it’s the next best option in iOS.