Learn button color compatibility
If you cannot find an opener model number, the learn button is often the next-best compatibility identifier for Chamberlain, LiftMaster and many Craftsman openers. Do not apply this color chart to unrelated brands.
Color-to-protocol cross-reference
The color is useful because it points to a receiver generation. The counts below come from XEKOV’s current verified records, not from a claim that every historical opener is indexed.
| Learn button | Radio family | Verified opener records | Current compatible accessories | Accessory examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White learn button | Security+ 3.0 | 11 | 12 | CH361, CH363, CH382 |
| Yellow learn button | Security+ 2.0 | 32 | 15 | CH361, CH363, CH382 |
| Purple or brown learn button | Security+ 315 MHz | 0 | 15 | CH361, CH363, CH382 |
| Red or orange learn button | Security+ 390 MHz | 0 | 15 | CH361, CH363, CH382 |
| Green learn button | Billion Code 390 MHz | 0 | 9 | CHU62, CHU48, G953EV-P2 |
What each color means
White learn button
Security+ 3.0. Current Chamberlain-family generation. Use accessories that explicitly list white-button / Security+ 3.0 compatibility; Security+ 2.0-only accessories are not interchangeable.
Yellow learn button
Security+ 2.0. Common Chamberlain-family rolling-code generation introduced before the current white-button Security+ 3.0 family. Many current multi-generation remotes still support it.
Purple or brown learn button
Security+ 315 MHz. Legacy Chamberlain-family Security+ 315 MHz generation.
Red or orange learn button
Security+ 390 MHz. Legacy Chamberlain-family Security+ 390 MHz generation.
Green learn button
Billion Code 390 MHz. Older Chamberlain-family billion-code generation. Confirm accessory coverage before purchase.
Easy mistakes that change the answer
- Reading the wall-control button instead of the opener-head learn button.
- Treating purple/brown or red/orange as exact colors rather than family labels used across production variations.
- Assuming a replaced receiver board still matches the opener’s original model-year radio generation.
- Applying Chamberlain/LiftMaster/Craftsman color logic to Genie or another manufacturer.
Before you buy
- Confirm the brand printed on the opener head, not only the door.
- Confirm the learn-button color in normal light; purple/brown and red/orange are easy to misread.
- If the opener predates 1993 or lacks working photoelectric safety sensors, manufacturer compatibility rules may differ and the system may not meet current safety requirements.
- Check product exceptions. Some Craftsman series are explicitly excluded from otherwise broad accessory compatibility.
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