How to open your gate with your phone without a remote

You walk up to the gate and the remote is gone. Maybe the battery is flat, maybe a family member took it out with their car, maybe it slipped out of a pocket on holiday. Whatever the reason, you cannot get in — and a replacement for the original handset the installer gave you years ago is rarely cheap, when the model is even still in production. The good news is that opening an automatic gate without the remote is no longer a workaround: it is the modern default, and you have two clean paths to choose from.

The first path uses your smartphone as a gate opener: a small Bluetooth device sits near the gate motor and replicates the original remote's radio signal whenever an authorised phone sends the open command from the free 1Control app. You install nothing on the gate's control board, you do not need an electrician, and one device covers everyone in the house. This is the role of 1Control SOLO. The second path replaces the lost remote with a universal physical handset that copies the original signal and behaves like any traditional opener — no app, no Wi-Fi, no internet. This is the role of 1Control WHY.

This guide walks through both paths, explains how a smart gate opener actually works (Bluetooth versus Wi-Fi, fixed code versus rolling code, what 800+ remote model compatibility really means), compares the smart options against the cheap supermarket universals that fail on modern gates, and ends with a step-by-step setup procedure plus a decision table you can use to pick the right device for your case.

Open the gate without the original remote: four real options

Forget the "lock yourself out" stories: today there are four clean, legitimate ways to open an automatic gate when you do not have the original remote in hand.

1. Use your smartphone as the opener — install a small Bluetooth device near the gate (1Control SOLO), copy the original remote signal once, and from then on every authorised phone opens the gate.
2. Use a universal physical remote — copy the original signal into a 4-button handset (1Control WHY) that lives in your pocket or car like any traditional opener.
3. Open with a PIN, no app and no remote — install a smart keypad (1Control PAD) next to the gate so guests, cleaners or short-term renters open it just by typing a 6-digit code.
4. Add remote internet access — pair the Bluetooth device with a small Wi-Fi bridge (1Control LINK) so you can open from anywhere, talk to Alexa or Google Home, and use CarPlay or Android Auto from the dashboard.

The four options are not mutually exclusive. Many households run SOLO for daily app-based control and keep a WHY in the car as a backup; many businesses pair SOLO with LINK so the cleaner can be let in remotely. The right combination depends on who needs to open the gate, how often, and from where. Before any choice, two practical reminders: any of these solutions is meant to be installed on a gate, garage, up-and-over door or barrier you own or are authorised to operate; and none of them changes the safety rules of your existing automation — they only change how the open command is sent.

How to open an electric gate without the remote right now

The four options above are the permanent fix. If you are standing at the gate today with no remote, these are the ways in, from the quickest to the last resort:

1. Another authorised opener. A spare remote at home, a family member's handset, a neighbour on a shared gate, or the phone of someone who already opens it with an app. On a communal gate, the caretaker or the management company can open it for you.
2. A keypad or key switch on the post. Many installations have a key selector or a code keypad next to the gate that the owner rarely uses. Check the posts and the wall on both sides.
3. The intercom or telephone entry. In apartment buildings and gated developments, someone already inside can release the gate from their handset or phone.
4. The manual release. Every gate motor has a mechanical release so that the gate can be moved by hand during a power cut or a fault. It is the right tool for a blackout or a broken motor, not for daily use (see below).

Using the manual release (power cut or broken motor)

On swing-gate motors the release is usually a small lock on the motor arm or on the motor body, opened with a dedicated key (often triangular or personalised). On sliding-gate motors it is a lever or a small door on the motor housing, also locked with a key. Underground motors have a release lock on the hinge box at the bottom of the gate leaf. The procedure is the same everywhere:

1. If the motor is faulty, switch off the power to the automation first.
2. Insert the release key and turn it (or open the lever) to disengage the motor.
3. Move the gate by hand, slowly and without forcing it. A gate that resists usually has the electric lock still engaged or the release not fully open.
4. When you are done, close the gate, re-engage the release and lock it again: until you do, the motor turns without moving the gate and nothing will open it remotely.

After a long power cut, some control units run the first movement slowly while they find the end positions again; let that cycle finish. If the gate still does not respond once power is back, the problem is not the remote: the electric gate not opening guide walks through the usual causes. And if your gate is not motorised at all, none of the options in this article apply as they are: they all send the same command as a remote, so the gate needs an automation (or, for a pedestrian gate, an electric lock that SOLO KIT can drive).

Open the gate with the smartphone app

The most common modern setup is to turn the smartphone you already carry into a gate opener. Searches for "gate opener app", "open gate with phone app" and "smart gate opener" all describe the same use case: tap a button on the phone, the gate opens. The trick is that the phone does not actually transmit the radio signal — that is impossible on standard iPhone or Android hardware, which has no 433-868 MHz transmitter. What does the work is a small device installed near the gate that holds the copied signal and fires it when an authorised phone sends the command.

That device is 1Control SOLO: a patented, Italian-made Bluetooth gate controller that copies the signal of 800+ remote models and pairs with the free 1Control app on iOS and Android. The phone talks to SOLO over Bluetooth Low Energy; SOLO talks to the gate's receiver via the original remote's exact radio signal. The original remote keeps working, so adding SOLO does not deactivate any opener you already have.

iPhone or Android: same experience

The 1Control app is identical on iOS and Android. Sign-up runs on your phone number with an SMS one-time code — no email, no password to remember, no recurring subscription. The app also runs on Apple Watch and Wear OS, so a wrist tap opens the gate while you are still in the car. Siri shortcuts open the gate by voice when the phone is within Bluetooth range of SOLO; Alexa, Google Home, Siri from anywhere and the CarPlay and Android Auto dashboard tiles require the optional LINK accessory described later (SOLO AUTO, the in-car version, works with CarPlay and Android Auto without LINK).

Setup in under 10 minutes, no electrician

Adding SOLO does not require any wiring on the gate's control board. The device runs on two type C alkaline batteries (typically 2+ years at 10 openings a day), mounts near the motor with the included bracket, and is rated IP66 for outdoor weather exposure. The first-time setup runs through the app: pair SOLO over Bluetooth, hold your original remote next to it, press the remote button, and the signal is recorded in seconds. From then on, any phone you authorise becomes another opener — no extra hardware, no per-user fee for the first 10 users (additional users can be added with a one-off in-app purchase).

You can verify your gate or garage automation upfront with the 1Control SOLO compatibility checker: pick the brand of your remote (FAAC, Nice, Came, BFT, Hörmann, Somfy, Beninca, Cardin, Sommer, Avidsen and many more) and the configurator confirms whether SOLO can copy that model. This step prevents the most common "cheap universal remote" failure mode — buying a cheap supermarket clone, finding out it only handles fixed code, and discovering your modern gate runs on rolling code.

Check whether SOLO supports your gate remote

Choose the brand and model you already use. If it is compatible, you can continue directly to the correct SOLO product page.

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Gate opener apps: what is actually on the app stores

Search the App Store or Google Play for "gate opener app", "open gate app" or "electric gate app" and you get dozens of results. They fall into three families, and only one of them works with the gate you already have, without touching it:

• Gate-manufacturer apps. The big motor brands publish their own apps, but each one needs that brand's Wi-Fi or Bluetooth module wired into the control board, and it only works on that brand's motors. Fine for a new installation, less so for an existing gate from another maker.
• Apps for GSM and Wi-Fi relay modules. They manage a box wired into the control unit: with a GSM module the app mostly composes the calls and SMS commands for you, with a Wi-Fi relay it needs a network that reaches the gate.
• Universal bridge apps. The app pairs with a small device that copies the radio signal of your existing remote, so it works across brands and needs no wiring. This is how the free 1Control app works with SOLO.

Is there a universal gate remote app that works with the phone alone?

No, and an app that claims otherwise will not open your gate. Gate remotes are radio transmitters on 433 or 868 MHz (older ones on 27-40 MHz), and no iPhone or Android phone has a transmitter on those frequencies. Some Android phones have an infrared blaster, but that is for TVs and air conditioners: gate receivers do not listen to infrared. "Gate clicker" or "universal gate remote" apps without hardware are either remote-control apps for a specific device or simply do not work. Every real "open gate with phone app" setup has a piece of hardware at the gate side; the only question is whether it is wired into the control board or, like SOLO, copies the remote and needs no wiring.

Gate opener app for Android and iPhone

The 1Control app is the same on both platforms. On Android it is on Google Play, runs on Wear OS smartwatches and shows up in Android Auto (with LINK). On iPhone it adds Apple Watch, Siri shortcuts and CarPlay (with LINK). On either one, the app only ever shows the gates each person has been given access to.

Bluetooth gate openers: local control without internet

"Bluetooth gate opener" is the right phrase for what SOLO does day to day. Bluetooth Low Energy is the protocol that lets the smartphone and SOLO talk to each other directly, without any router, Wi-Fi network or internet connection in between. For a gate parked at the end of a long driveway, in a basement garage, or on a property where the Wi-Fi simply does not reach, this is a critical feature: the open command does not depend on a network being online.

Three points matter when comparing a Bluetooth gate opener to a Wi-Fi-only one:

• Speed and reliability. Bluetooth LE pairing is local and near-instant: the open command travels phone → SOLO → gate in under a second. A Wi-Fi-only opener has to round-trip through the cloud (phone → mobile network → cloud server → home router → device → gate), which adds latency and a single point of failure if the cloud is down.
• Privacy. A Bluetooth-only opener never sends your gate activity to a cloud. The open events are local. SOLO does record an access log inside the app, but it is stored against your account, not sold or sliced for analytics.
• Range and positioning. Phone-to-SOLO range is typically 15-20 metres in the open, less through reinforced concrete. SOLO is designed to be mounted close to the motor, so the signal reaches you wherever you usually open the gate from (the road, the driveway, the car). If the phone cannot reach SOLO from the road, the fix is positioning: move SOLO towards the point you open from (it can sit up to 30-40 metres from the motor), or keep it in the car.

SOLO comes in four variants tuned to different households and gate counts. The mini-table below summarises the differences so you can pick the right one without digging through the spec sheet.

If you are unsure which variant fits, start from the 1Control SOLO product page: the configurator helps pick by user count and automation count, and bundles with WHY or LINK are visible at checkout.

Wi-Fi gate openers: when you actually need one

"Wi-Fi gate opener" usually means one of two different things — and conflating them is the reason many buyers end up with the wrong product. The first meaning is "an opener I can trigger from anywhere over the internet". The second meaning is "an opener that uses Wi-Fi as its local radio". They sound the same, but the right hardware is not the same.

For the first meaning, the answer with 1Control is to keep SOLO as the device that talks to the gate, and add 1Control LINK as a small Wi-Fi bridge that connects SOLO to your home network. LINK plugs into a USB-C power supply inside the house (or in any sheltered indoor spot within Bluetooth range of SOLO), pairs to your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and from then on the 1Control app can send open commands from anywhere with a data connection — across town, on holiday, from a different country. This is the right architecture for letting in a courier, a cleaner or a guest while you are out, or for adding voice assistants and dashboard integrations.

For the second meaning — a "Wi-Fi-only gate opener" with no Bluetooth at all — the trade-offs are usually worse. A Wi-Fi-only opener installed at the gate needs Wi-Fi coverage to actually reach the gate, often a separate power supply, and breaks immediately if the home router is down. The Bluetooth-plus-LINK architecture keeps the gate side battery-powered and offline-capable, with the Wi-Fi part safely indoors near the router.

Voice assistants, CarPlay and Android Auto

Once LINK is installed, the SOLO ecosystem adds:

• Amazon Alexa — "Alexa, open the gate" with a voice PIN if you want the extra security layer.
• Google Home — same flow, integrated through the 1Control Action.
• Apple Siri shortcuts — Siri can trigger an open command from anywhere, not just within Bluetooth range.
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto — gate, garage and barrier tiles right on the dashboard.
• Multi-device hub — one LINK can control up to 5 SOLO/DORY/LOCO devices in the same property (typical 25 m Bluetooth range).

Apple HomeKit and IFTTT are not supported; Home Assistant and Matter compatibility is in development, with no release date yet. The LINK product page lists the current integrations.

Opening from the car without a remote

Many cars have a built-in garage and gate opener: a programmable transmitter in the rear-view mirror or the overhead console (often branded HomeLink) that learns the signal of your remote, so the buttons in the car replace the handset. Whether it can learn a rolling-code remote depends on the car and on the gate's receiver, and some receivers need the car transmitter to be enrolled like a new remote. If your car does not have one, or it cannot learn your remote, there are two 1Control routes: the 1Control tile in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with SOLO and LINK, or SOLO AUTO, the version that lives in the car, controls up to 6 automations and works with CarPlay and Android Auto without LINK (it does not support LINK features).

How to open a gate with a phone call

"Open the gate with a phone call" describes two different systems, and neither of them is an app.

• A GSM gate opener is a module with its own SIM card, wired into the gate's control board. You call its number, it recognises your caller ID, rejects the call (so it costs nothing) and opens the gate. It works from any phone, including a basic handset, from any distance, but you have to buy and keep alive a dedicated SIM, manage the list of numbers (often by SMS) and have the module wired in. The full picture, running costs included, is in the GSM gate opener guide.
• Telephone entry and intercom systems work the other way round: the visitor calls you from the panel at the gate, your phone rings, and you release the gate by pressing a key (often 9) or a button in the intercom app. This belongs to the building's entry system, not something you add on your own.

Compared with the phone call, the smartphone app trades "any phone" for features: no SIM to maintain, no wiring, per-person time windows and an access log. If the people who need to open do not have smartphones, the GSM module or a PAD keypad with a personal code is the better fit.

How to open an apartment gate from your phone

On the communal gate of an apartment building, the control board belongs to the building, so a GSM module or any wired device needs the management company's approval. Copying your own remote into SOLO is different: SOLO sends the same signal as the remote you already have and does not touch the installation. On some receivers, though, a new transmitter has to be enrolled on the control board, which again goes through whoever manages the gate. The communal gate remote control guide covers who can do what, and the access control guide for small apartment buildings covers the building-wide solutions.

Smart vs traditional gate openers

"Smart gate opener" is a marketing umbrella that covers very different products: aftermarket smart relays, OEM Wi-Fi modules sold by gate brands, smartphone-app openers like SOLO, and replacement smart receivers. They look similar in a search result but they are not interchangeable. The table below lays out the trade-offs across the four most common categories.

The gate-controller market is fragmented because gate motors are: dozens of brands (FAAC, Nice, Came, BFT, Hörmann, Somfy, Beninca, Cardin, Sommer, Avidsen and counting), most of which sell their own branded remotes and Wi-Fi accessories that only work on their own automations. SOLO sits at a different layer: instead of replacing the receiver, it copies the radio signal that the receiver already trusts. That is why one SOLO can serve a multi-brand setup — driveway gate from one brand, garage from another, courtyard barrier from a third.

Universal remote: the no-app alternative

The smartphone path is not for everyone. Older relatives, kids who do not have a phone yet, second drivers of the family car, motorbike riders who do not want to fish a phone out of a pocket in the rain — for all these cases, what is actually needed is just another remote. A physical handset that copies the original signal and works exactly like the opener you have always used. That is the role of the universal gate remote.

1Control WHY is a 4-button universal remote built in Italy that copies fixed-code and rolling-code remotes in the 433-868 MHz band, supporting 800+ models. Each of its four buttons can store a different opener, so a single WHY can replace four separate remotes — typical case: driveway gate + pedestrian gate + garage door + courtyard barrier, all in one pocket-sized handset that runs on a CR2032 coin cell (widely available, replaceable in seconds).

The reason WHY is worth more than the cheap universals on the supermarket shelf is the rolling-code support. Cheap universals only copy fixed code, which is what gates installed up to the early 2010s used. Anything installed in the last 10-15 years is almost certainly rolling code — KeeLoq, AES, brand-specific dynamic protocols — which a fixed-code universal cannot reproduce. WHY handles both. That is also why WHY is a sensible physical backup even for households that already use SOLO: keep one in the glove box, and a flat phone battery never becomes a locked-out gate.

If you only need a physical replacement for a lost or out-of-production remote, WHY is usually the most pragmatic choice. If you want digital sharing, time windows and access logs, the smartphone path with SOLO is the right one. Many 1Control customers buy both: SOLO as the daily driver, WHY in the car for the rare day the phone is dead.

PAD: open the gate with a PIN, no app and no remote

There is a third path that the smartphone-vs-handset debate often misses: a smart keypad. 1Control PAD is a battery-powered, weatherproof keypad that mounts near the gate, garage, up-and-over door or barrier and opens the automation when an authorised person enters a 6-digit PIN. Just like SOLO, PAD copies the original remote signal — no wiring to the control board, no electrician, no internet at the gate. Unlike SOLO, the person opening does not need a smartphone at all.

Three use cases make PAD the right tool out of the box. First, short-term rentals and B&Bs: the guest receives a code, self-checks in, and the code expires automatically on the checkout day — no key handoff, no app install, no in-person meeting. Second, cleaners, gardeners and recurring contractors: each person gets a personal PIN with time windows ("Tuesdays 9-12 only") and the admin sees who came in and when, against the same access log used by SOLO. Third, older relatives, kids and one-off guests who struggle with apps or simply do not want them: six digits stay easier than unlocking a phone.

PAD supports up to 1000 distinct PINs with the same time-window controls as the app shares, manages itself from the admin's 1Control app in minutes, and works alongside SOLO/DORY/LOCO in the same account and same audit log. It is the pragmatic answer whenever distributing the app to every visitor is the wrong shape of solution.

Sensors and accessories for smart gate setups

Once the basic open-the-gate-with-the-phone problem is solved, a typical smart gate setup grows around three accessory categories — and "sensor gate" search traffic shows that buyers actively look for the pieces that make the system more than a one-trick remote replacement.

• External antenna for LINK — a waterproof cable antenna (5, 10, 15 or 20 m) that brings LINK's Bluetooth closer to a SOLO mounted far from the house, in a basement or behind thick walls. The same antenna also carries LINK's Wi-Fi, so check that the Wi-Fi signal reaches the point where you place it (or connect LINK by Ethernet).
• Open/closed sensor — 1Control Sensor SOLO, a wireless, battery-powered magnetic sensor (IP67) that sticks to the gate or garage door with the supplied adhesive. Paired with SOLO and a second-generation LINK, it shows in the app whether the gate is open or closed and sends a notification when it moves. Useful for "did I leave the gate open last night?" peace of mind.
• Multi-device LINK hub — one LINK can act as the bridge for up to 5 SOLO/DORY/LOCO devices in the same property, so you can manage a driveway gate, a front door smart lock, and a bike-shed padlock all from the same app and same internet bridge.

For property managers, the sensor side is often more interesting than the remote replacement side. Knowing when the gate was opened, by whom, and whether it is currently closed is what turns a smart opener into a basic access-control system. SOLO's access log gives the first half of that out of the box; gate-position sensors close the loop.

Sharing access with family, staff and guests

This is the feature that physical remotes simply cannot match. With a traditional opener, every additional person needs an additional handset: ordered, programmed onto the control board, paid for, handed over, and — if the relationship ends — physically retrieved or invalidated through the control unit. With SOLO and the 1Control app, the unit of access is a phone number on a list. Add it, set the rules, revoke it. No hardware moves.

For each person you authorise, the app lets you configure:

• Permanent or time-bounded access — give the gardener access only during June, the cleaner only on Tuesdays and Fridays, the courier only between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Per-automation permissions — let the building manager open the courtyard barrier without giving them access to your private garage.
• Instant remote revocation — fired contractor, lost phone, ended rental: tap revoke in the app and access disappears immediately.
• Audit log — see who opened which automation, when, from which phone.

For B&B owners, short-term rental hosts, small offices and retail businesses, this changes how access is run end-to-end. The gate stops being a thing where you keep handing out and chasing back physical copies, and becomes something you operate like a digital service — without changing anything on the gate motor itself.

Compatibility: will it work on my gate?

The honest answer for any gate-opener product is "almost always, but check first". For SOLO and WHY the supported list covers 800+ remote models in the 433-868 MHz band, including all the major brands — FAAC, Nice, Came, BFT, Hörmann, Somfy, Beninca, Cardin, Sommer, Avidsen — and both fixed-code and rolling-code chips (HCS, MM53200, PT2262, SC2260, EV1527 on the fixed-code side; KeeLoq, AES and brand-specific dynamic protocols on the rolling-code side). With their 433 MHz antenna, SOLO and WHY also copy remotes on lower frequencies down to about 300 MHz: the 280-320 MHz models marked as compatible in the checker are supported.

Three special cases are worth knowing before you buy:

• Hörmann BiSecur (HS-BS, HSE and the other BiSecur handsets) — fully supported: on the phone side through the dedicated SOLO BS version, and also by WHY and PAD. The compatibility checker sends you to the right version automatically.
• Quartz remotes (27, 30 and 40 MHz) — the old crystal-controlled handsets below 50 MHz are outside the 433-868 MHz family. The physical replacement is 1Control QZERO, a 4-button universal built for quartz remotes; the WHY/QZERO checker tells you which one you need.
• A remote that cannot be copied — if your model is missing from the checker, or the checker says so explicitly, the answer is SOLO + KIT. KIT is a small universal receiver wired to the start (step-by-step) contact of the control unit, with its own remote that SOLO copies. It works on practically any automation, whatever the brand or the remote, and your existing remotes keep working. The wiring is simple, but if you are not comfortable with it, an electrician will do it in minutes.

The pragmatic check before any purchase is the compatibility configurator: pick your remote brand and model, and the page tells you whether SOLO supports it. Same logic applies to WHY through the WHY compatibility page. This 30-second check saves the disappointment of buying a generic universal and discovering it cannot reach your gate.

Made in Italy, patented, privacy-first

Three positioning points often get lost in the smart-gate noise but matter for buyers who care about more than the lowest price tag.

Made in Italy and patented. SOLO, WHY, DORY and PAD are designed and built in Italy under 1Control patents. Hardware service, replacement parts and warranty handling stay inside the EU, which avoids the long-tail support gap that often comes with cheap imported gate gadgets sold under three different brand names on the same online marketplace.

Device-first, no-cloud-by-default. SOLO works fully offline over Bluetooth: the app on your phone talks to the device near the gate without going through any cloud. Cloud features are opt-in via LINK. This is the opposite of the architecture used by many "smart" gate openers that require cloud connectivity even for the local open command — meaning a cloud outage can lock you out of your own driveway. SOLO has no such failure mode.

One app for the whole 1Control ecosystem. The same 1Control app manages SOLO (gates), DORY (front-door smart lock), LOCO (smart padlock), PAD (PIN keypad) and LINK (Wi-Fi bridge). User management, sharing rules, access logs and notifications are unified — so adding a smart lock later does not mean installing yet another app.

How much does a smart gate opener cost?

Pricing varies by region and by promotional bundle, so the live figures live on each product page. Every 1Control device is a one-off purchase, with no subscription on any variant — SOLO standard, EVO, MINI and AUTO, plus WHY and LINK. The 1Control app is free on iOS and Android, the first 10 SOLO users are included, additional users and extra SOLO MINI automations are one-off in-app purchases. There is no monthly subscription on any 1Control product — features paid once stay paid.

The hidden costs that smart gate openers usually avoid are worth flagging too: no electrician (Bluetooth, no wires on the control board), no separate Wi-Fi module purchase (LINK plays that role optionally), no mandatory cloud subscription, no per-user fee for normal household sizes, no replacement of the original remote. The total cost of "make the gate open from my phone" usually lands at the SOLO price plus a few minutes of setup.

Step by step: turn your phone into a gate opener

1. Check your remote. Open the compatibility checker, pick the brand and the model of the remote you use today. The result tells you whether you need SOLO, SOLO BS (Hörmann BiSecur) or SOLO + KIT.
2. Pick the variant. SOLO MINI for one gate and up to 2 users, SOLO for a family with up to 4 automations, SOLO EVO for many users, SOLO AUTO if the device should stay in the car.
3. Install the free 1Control app on iPhone or Android and register with your phone number: you receive a one-time code by SMS, no email and no password.
4. Connect to SOLO over Bluetooth with the device's PIN. Whoever connects with the PIN becomes an administrator, so keep it for the people who manage the gate.
5. Copy the remote with the gate closed, standing within a few metres of it. Use an original remote with a good battery (not a universal copy), hold it against SOLO and keep the button pressed until the app tells you to release it.
6. Test the copy with the check button at the end of the procedure. If the gate does not move, some control units need the new transmitter to be enrolled like a new remote; if the original remote stops responding after the copy, pressing it about 15 times resynchronises it.
7. Mount SOLO with the bracket near the automation, where the phone can reach it from the road (Bluetooth typically 15-20 metres, less through concrete).
8. Share access to family, staff and guests from the app: shares are free, with dates, days and time slots.
9. Add LINK later if you want to open from anywhere, by voice or from the car dashboard.

Which option fits your case

Frequently asked questions

Can I open my gate with my phone without a remote control?

Yes — install a small Bluetooth device like 1Control SOLO near the gate motor, copy the original remote signal once with the free 1Control app, and from then on every authorised phone opens the gate. SOLO talks to the gate using the same radio signal as the original remote, so the gate's control board does not have to be touched. The original remote keeps working too.

Does 1Control SOLO need Wi-Fi to work?

No. SOLO talks to the smartphone over Bluetooth Low Energy and to the gate over the original remote's radio frequency — neither uses Wi-Fi. The gate side is fully offline. Wi-Fi only enters the picture if you add the optional LINK accessory, which acts as a bridge so you can open the gate from anywhere over the internet, talk to Alexa or Google Home, and use CarPlay or Android Auto.

Will SOLO work with my old gate remote?

Almost certainly yes. SOLO supports 800+ remote models on the 433-868 MHz band, including all major brands (FAAC, Nice, Came, BFT, Hörmann, Somfy, Beninca, Cardin, Sommer, Avidsen) and both fixed-code and rolling-code chips. Hörmann BiSecur remotes are supported by the dedicated SOLO BS version. If your remote cannot be copied, SOLO + KIT (a receiver wired to the control unit) works on practically any automation. The compatibility configurator on the SOLO product page tells you in 30 seconds whether your specific model is supported.

What happens to my gate access if my phone battery dies?

Two backups. First, the original remote keeps working — copying it onto SOLO does not deactivate it. Second, many SOLO users keep a 1Control WHY universal remote in the car as a physical backup, exactly for the dead-battery scenario. WHY is a 4-button handset that copies the same 800+ remote models and runs on a CR2032 coin cell, so it never depends on the phone.

Can I open the gate from anywhere in the world?

Yes, with the LINK accessory. SOLO alone gives you Bluetooth opening within ~15-20 metres of the gate. Add LINK indoors near your router, and SOLO becomes reachable through the 1Control app from anywhere with a data connection. This is the right setup for letting in a courier or a cleaner remotely.

Can I share access without giving out my password?

Yes. The 1Control app lets you authorise other people by phone number. They install the free 1Control app, sign up with their own number, and you grant them access from your account. You never share a password. You can configure permanent or time-bounded access, restrict to specific automations, and revoke access instantly.

Does it work with rolling-code remotes?

Yes. Both SOLO and WHY copy rolling-code remotes (KeeLoq, AES and brand-specific dynamic protocols) as well as fixed-code remotes. This is the main reason 1Control products work with the vast majority of gates installed in the past 10-15 years, where cheap supermarket universals — limited to fixed code — typically fail.

How long do the batteries last?

SOLO runs on two type C alkaline batteries that typically last more than 2 years at 10 openings a day. WHY runs on a CR2032 coin cell that lasts years. The 1Control app shows battery status for SOLO so you can plan replacement before it runs out, and the gate's original remote always remains as a backup.

Is the 1Control app free?

Yes. The 1Control app is free on iOS and Android, runs on Apple Watch and Wear OS, and integrates with Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa, CarPlay and Android Auto (Alexa, Google and the car dashboards through the LINK accessory). There is no subscription. The first 10 users on a SOLO are included; additional users can be added with a one-off in-app purchase.

Can I use voice assistants like Alexa or Google Home?

Yes, with the LINK accessory. LINK bridges SOLO to your home Wi-Fi or Ethernet, which enables voice commands through Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Apple Siri from anywhere, plus dashboard tiles in CarPlay and Android Auto. Without LINK, SOLO opens over Bluetooth from a paired phone or smartwatch, and a Siri shortcut works when the iPhone is within Bluetooth range of SOLO.

How do you open an electric gate without the remote?

Right now: use another authorised remote or phone, a keypad or key switch if the gate has one, the intercom, or, during a power cut or a fault, the motor's manual release key. As a permanent fix, copy your remote into a Bluetooth device like 1Control SOLO and open from your phone, or into a universal remote like 1Control WHY. Neither touches the control board.

How do I open a gate with a phone call?

You need a GSM gate opener: a module with its own SIM card wired into the control board. You call its number, it recognises your caller ID, rejects the call and opens the gate, so the call is free. You have to keep the SIM active and manage the list of authorised numbers. With an app like 1Control there is no SIM: you open with a tap from the phone.

Is there an app that turns my phone into a gate remote by itself?

No. Gate remotes transmit on 433 or 868 MHz radio frequencies and no smartphone has a transmitter on those bands; infrared blasters on some Android phones do not work with gates either. Every gate opener app works with a device at the gate side: 1Control SOLO copies your existing remote and receives the command from the phone over Bluetooth.

Can I open my apartment building's gate from my phone?

Often yes. Copying your own remote into 1Control SOLO does not touch the building's installation, because SOLO sends the same signal as your remote. Some receivers need the new transmitter to be enrolled on the control board, and any wired device such as a GSM module needs the building management's approval.

Pick your path

Three clean defaults work for almost everyone. If you want the most flexible setup — multi-user sharing, time windows, instant revocation, voice assistants, dashboard integration, remote opening from anywhere — start with SOLO, and add LINK the day you actually need remote internet access. If you only want a physical replacement for a lost remote, or a backup that does not depend on a smartphone, start with WHY. If your scenario is "people who do not have the app need to open" — B&B guests, cleaners, occasional visitors — add PAD, the smart keypad with a 6-digit PIN. Many households end up running more than one: SOLO as the daily driver, WHY in the glove box, PAD on the gate post for guests. Either way, opening the gate without the original remote is no longer a workaround — it is the modern default.