Depending on the age of your opener there are several different ways to adjust the sensitivity. The sensitivity is a function on all brands of openers that you adjust the strength the opener uses to open or close garage door. This is a safety function that stops the opener if it feels to much pressure if the door closes on an object, person or pet. This also works as a safety feature when opening the door. If the door is having a hard time opening the door the opener will stop so not to damage the door or opener.

There are three different ways to adjust sensitivity on an opener. First is a Genie opener made before 98 will have a big bolt with a nut that stick about 2-3 inches out of the back of unit.

increase pressure

To increase pressure on these units you have to first open door all the way up. Than you find a wrench that fits the nut on the end of screw that sticks out the back of unit. You will turn the nut clockwise until u see the door come up as far as it can then you will see the nut start to actually turn without the door moving anymore. When the nut is turning and the door is not moving then you are increasing the sensitivity.

common form of sensitivity

The most common form of sensitivity adjustment on most all brands are two small plastic screws usually white, blue, yellow or black in color. They will also have a slot for a screwdriver to adjust. Do not confuse these adjustment screws with the limit adjustment screws. The limit adjustment screws are always bigger in size than sensitivity screws and are almost always white in color. Each screw will have 2 arrows up and down so you can adjust the sensitivity independently. Or sometimes the will say the words up or down. Warning never turn the down sensitivity all the way to max. This makes the door more dangerous because it will gave max pressure and not reverse when it hits an object. If you have to max out the up pressure than there is a problem with the door.

On openers made within last 5 years or so adjust the sensitivity automatically when the limits are set. This is done just by pushing adjustment buttons up or down. Every brand is a little different so contact manufactures and they can walk you threw process.