How to Connect Oculus Quest 2 to PC - Step by Step
Oculus Quest 2 has been a very successful product of Facebook even before the product got rebranded as Meta Quest 2. The VR headset got its first release back on 21st March 2019, and it has been a massive success for the company.
Many of us may want to level up the VR headset by casting Oculus Quest 2 to PC. How to connect Oculus Quest 2 to PC? Follow our ultimate guide below and get started.
- Part 1. System Requirements to connect Oculus Quest 2 to PC
- Part 2. How to Connect Oculus Quest 2 to PC via Cable?
- Part 3. How to Connect Oculus Quest 2 to PC via Air Link (Wirelessly)?
- Part 4. Bonus: Cast PC to Oculus Quest 2 via AirDroid Cast
- Part 5. How to Optimize Casting Experience for Oculus Quest?
- Part 6. Troubleshooting Oculus Quest 2 Not Connecting to PC
Part 1. System Requirements to Connect Oculus Quest 2 to PC
Although the charm of the headset intrigues people to try it a lot, not all PC users can have this experience. But fret not; there are still high chances that you will not be opted out.
Meta has, over the years, tried to make their headsets to produce high quality graphics while making it not very demanding on resources. Basically, that means, while it is true that Oculus Quest 2 is not going to work on all PC devices, any PC with some decent hardware will be enough to juice out the Oculus Quest 2 and users will not be required to go broke.
You can check the following Oculus Quest 2 & PC requirements:
Components | Recommended Specifications |
---|---|
CPU | Intel i5-4590/AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or greater |
RAM | 8 GB |
Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970/AMD Radeon 400 Series or better |
Video RAM | 3 GB |
Pixel Shaders | 5.1 |
Vertex Shaders | 5.1 |
OS | Windows 10 or 11 |
USB Ports | 1x USB port |
Oculus Link Cable | A high-quality USB 3 cable like the 16 FT USB 3.0 Type C Data Transfer & Charging Cable. |
WiFi | 8 Mbps or faster |
Also, make sure all the necessary drivers are installed and Windows is up to date.
Part 2. How to Connect Oculus Quest 2 to PC via Cable
One technique to connect your Oculus Quest 2 is using the traditional technique via a USB cable. Meta calls it "Oculus Quest Link Cable" or "Meta Quest Link". As mentioned in the requirements, this requires a decent USB cable transferring high speed data between PC and Quest VR. While it may sound like tying yourself up, it does come with some benefits. Like, you will have lower latency as the connection will be wired. This way, you can experience an immersive VR experience with all multimedia support.
Furthermore, you can also enjoy a longer playing experience as cable linked connection is not hard on battery performance. It might sound aged, but you will not be disappointed after experiencing the performance benefits that a wired connection holds up to this age. Additionally, if being tied up to your PC is your only concern, then you can search up for a longer USB cable to compensate for that.
How to cast Oculus Quest 2 to PC? Follow these steps:
- Step 1. Download and install the Oculus app for PC from the Oculus website under the Air Link and Link Cable section.
- Step 2. Open the Oculus app on PC and log in using the account associated with your Quest headset.
- Step 3. Connect your Oculus Quest 2 to your PC using the Quest Link or a USB cable.
- Step 4. In the Quest 2 PC app, go to the "Devices" tab.
- Step 5. Click on "Add Headset" if you don't already have one connected.
- Step 6. Select "Oculus Quest 2" as the headset.
- Step 7. Choose "Link (Cable)" as the connection method.
- Step 8. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the connection process.
Then your PC will be connected to Oculus Quest 2 headset, and you can cast the screen from your headset to your PC.
Part 3. How to Connect Oculus Quest 2 to PC Wireless
If the wired link is not convenient for you, Oculus Quest can also be connected to PC via wireless connection. Just like with the rest of wireless technologies, you get to enjoy the perk of convenience but it does come at the cost of performance. However, if you have a decent router with a good internet connection, you probably won't need to worry about it much.
Also, VR technology can be enjoyed to its fullest extent when you are free from all wires and are able to move freely since many VR games require lots of movement and wires can easily get in the way.
How to stream Oculus Quest 2 to PC via Air Link wirelessly? Follow these steps:
Note: Connect your VR headset and your PC to the same WiFi network.
- Step 1. Ensure that the Oculus app for PC is installed, open, and logged in to your Oculus account or Facebook account. You can download the Oculus PC app under the Air Link and Link Cable section on this page.
- Or you can go to the Meta Quest casting page on the browser: https://www.oculus.com/casting/ to log in.
- Step 2. When you are on the "Select A Connection Method" page, select Air Link (Wireless), and click Continue.
- Step 3. On your Oculus Quest 2 headset, open the Quick Settings menu by clicking on the system clock in the menu bar.
- Step 4. In the Quick Settings menu, select "Quest Link".
- Step 5. Toggle to turn on "Use Air Link".
- Step 6. Now select your PC and click "Pair". Then you will see a code displayed.
- Step 7. Now go to your PC and verify the code, then click "Confirm".
- Step 8. Then you will be told that the pairing code is confirmed, and you can click Close.
- Step 9. You can put on your Oculus Quest 2 headset and head to Quick Settings > Quest Link.
- Step 10. Select your PC again and click Launch.
It's all done. You are now connected to PC and can stream your media to the Meta Quest headset.
Part 4. Bonus: Cast Win/Mac to Oculus Quest 2 via AirDroid Cast
Apart from casting the gameplay from your Oculus Quest 2 to PC, you can also share media from your PC screen to your Oculus Quest 2 VR headset. One of those techniques is by using an app like AirDroid Cast.
AirDroid Cast enables screen mirroring across various devices, so you will find it amazing to screen mirror your PC or mobile phone to your Oculus Quest 2. to do so, you will need to open the web browser on your Oculus Quest 2 VR headset.
- Step 1. Download and install AirDroid Cast on your Windows PC or Mac, launch the app, and click Cast to.
- Step 2. On your Oculus Quest 2 headset, go to the browser and type: webcast.airdroid.com. Then a QR code or a cast code will show up.
- Step 3. Enter the cast code on your computer, and start broadcasting by accepting the request.
Your PC screen will be cast to your headset. Now enjoy the PC screen on your headset.
Part 5. How to Optimize the Casting Experience for Oculus Quest?
How to play PC games on Oculus Quest 2 with the best possible experience? Something can be optimized by following these steps:
1. Connect to the same WiFi
It is a common practice to check both your PC and Quest 2 headset are properly connected to the same WiFi network.
2. Adjust PC settings to the best
Another thing you can do is adjust your PC's display settings. Often unsupported aspect ratio can lead to no display at all. Similarly, a refresh rate can also cause display issues. So to optimize your experience make sure you have selected the correct display settings, including resolution, refresh rate, aspect ratio etc.
3. Download the latest USB driver
If your PC is connected to your Oculus Quest headset by a USB cable, the USB driver in your PC is crucial because the driver determines whether the connection succeeds or not. So to ensure a great casting experience, it is always recommended to update the USB driver by going to Device Manager and find your USB device to update it to the latest version.
Part 6. Troubleshooting Oculus Quest 2 Not Connecting to PC
There can be situations when you think you have done everything right, yet the thing is not working out for you. This can happen due to several reasons. Let's go through some of the most common ones.
Make Sure to Meet the Requirements
Before smashing your head against the wall, make sure you match the minimum requirements mentioned above. Not having the minimum supported hardware or software can lead to a poor experience, or in some cases, your headset might not work at all.
Update Oculus Software
Meta keeps pushing updates for the Oculus headset, not only to fix bugs but also to optimize user experience. Hence, it is always recommended to have the latest patch updated for your VR headset. You can follow this guide to update your Oculus Quest 2 software.
- Put on the headset and open the "Settings" menu.
- Select "See All" and then hit "About".
- If an update is available, it will be shown and you can start the update.
- Select System, then select Software Update from the left menu.
- If there's an update available, you'll see an "Update Now" button, which you can click to start the update.
Update Device Drivers
Another thing you can try is updating your device drivers. To do so, you can follow these steps.
- Open up "Device Manager" on your PC by searching for it on the search bar.
- Once opened find your Oculus Quest 2 in the devices list.
- Right click on it and select "Update Driver."
- Now the update driver wizard will be launched.
- Click on "Search automatically for updated driver software".
This will automatically install the latest driver for your headset.
Final Words
Meta's Oculus Quest 2 is hands down one of the best VR headsets on the market which also dominates the PC gaming industry. Connecting Oculus Quest 2 to PC is also a no-brainer. Meanwhile, you can even screen mirror from PC to Oculus Quest 2 using AirDroid Cast, so as to share videos, photos, and files.
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