How to Play Steam Games on Oculus Quest 2
Meta's Oculus Quest 2 is an impressive VR headset, but its library of games can feel limited. If you've been wondering how to play Steam games on Oculus Quest 2, you've come to the right place.
Today, we're giving you a rundown of everything you need to know to access your Steam library on your Oculus Quest 2!
- 1: Can You Play Steam Games on Oculus Quest 2?
- 2: How to Play Steam Games on Oculus Quest 2?
- Way 1: Connect Oculus Quest 2 to Steam via Air Link
- Way 2: Connect Oculus Quest 2 with Steam via USB Cable
- Way 3: Play Steam VR Games on Oculus Quest 2 via Virtual Desktop
- 3: Bonus: Screen Mirror PC Screen to Meta Quest 2 via AirDroid Cast
- 4: Best Steam VR Games to Play on Oculus Quest 2
- 5: Troubleshooting Steam VR Not Working with Quest 2
- 6: Conclusion & FAQs about Steam VR Games with Oculus Quest 2
1. Can You Play Steam Games on Oculus Quest 2?
The good news is, yes, you can play your Steam games on Oculus Quest 2.
Oculus Quest 2 is a standalone VR headset which means technically, you don't need to connect to a PC for it to work. You can access Meta's own library of games & apps from your Quest 2 headset.
And Steam is a marketplace with one of the most extensive collections of PC games. Connecting Quest 2 to your Steam account gets you access to a wider variety of VR games to play. Plus, games you purchase on Steam are accessible to any PC VR headset.
Before you get started though, there are a few PC requirements:
Hardware | Recommended Specs |
---|---|
Processor | Intel i5-4590/AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or better |
GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti or greater/AMD RX 470 or greater |
RAM | 8GB RAM or greater |
Operating System | Windows 10 or Windows 11 |
USB Ports | 1x USB Port |
You also need the Oculus Desktop app and Steam VR installed on your PC. With that out of the way, here's a guide on how to use Oculus Quest 2 with Steam.
2. How to Play Steam Games on Oculus Quest 2?
Officially, there are two ways of using Oculus Quest 2 to Steam, but we've included a third option as well in case you need an alternative.
Way 1: Connect Oculus Quest 2 via Air Link
This is a great method if you were wondering how to connect Oculus Quest 2 to Steam wirelessly. With a stable and fast internet connection, Air Link takes the fuss out of the Quest 2 setup.
- Step 1.Open the Oculus Desktop app on your PC and leave it running.
- Step 2.Put on your Quest 2 Headset & press the Oculus button on the right-hand controller.
- Step 3.Move the cursor over the clock in the system menu & navigate to "Quick Settings".
- Step 4.Click on the Gear icon to access "Settings".
- Step 5.In the Settings menu, navigate to "System".
- Step 6.Scroll down and select "Quest Link" on the left-side menu.
- Step 7.Toggle the "Quest Link" option on.
- Step 8.Select the "Launch Quest Link" button.
- Step 9.Turn on the "Use Air Link" toggle.
- Step 10.Select your PC and click on the Pair button. And then verify the Pairing Code displayed on your VR headset and click "Confirm".
- Step 11.Put your headset back on and select Launch to start using your Quest 2 with Air Link.
- Step 12.Now launch the VR game you want to play in the Steam app and enjoy it.
It can be a little complicated to do at first, but once you've got that setup you can easily connect to the same PC using the Quest Link toggle in the Quick Settings menu.
Way 2: Connect Oculus Quest 2 via USB Cable
For a more straightforward setup, connecting via a USB cable is your best bet. Here's how to use Steam VR with Oculus Quest 2 with a USB cable:
- Step 1.Launch the Meta Quest app for PC and leave it running. Then turn on your Quest 2 VR headset.
- Step 2.Connect a USB cable between your computer and Quest 2 headset.
- Step 3.Press the Oculus button on the right-hand controller after putting on the Quest 2 headset.
- Step 4.Move the cursor over the clock in the system menu & navigate to Quick Settings. Click on the Gear icon to access "Settings".
- Step 5.In the Settings menu, navigate to "System".
- Step 6.Scroll down and select "Quest Link" on the left-side menu.
- Step 7.Toggle the "Quest Link" option to On, and then select the "Launch Quest Link" button.
- Step 8.Confirm that your PC is shown and says "Connected" underneath your PC's name and select "Launch".
- Step 9.You will see a pop-up to "Enable Quest Link", so select "Enable".
- Step 10.Once connected, launch the Steam app and play the VR games you like.
Way 3: Play Steam VR Games on Oculus Quest 2 via Virtual Desktop
The final method of how to get Steam VR on Oculus Quest 2 is by using Virtual Desktop.
Virtual Desktop offers a wireless connection similar to Air Link, and it is an excellent alternative for those unable to use Air Link due to compatibility issues. Keep in mind that Virtual Desktop is a paid app available for $19.99 on the Oculus app store.
Follow these steps to set it up:
- Step 1.Download and install the Virtual Desktop Streamer app on your PC and keep it running.
- Step 2.Install the Virtual Desktop app on your Oculus Quest 2 and open it.
- Step 3.Note your "Oculus Username" from the app on your Oculus Quest 2 headset.
- Step 4.Open the Virtual Desktop Streamer app on your PC and enter your Oculus Username exactly as displayed on your Quest 2 headset.
- Step 5.The monitor icon will turn Orange when it's ready to connect to your Quest 2 headset.
- Step 6.Your Quest 2 headset should now be streaming your PC's desktop!
Remember that both your computer and Quest 2 headset need to be on the same 5GHz WiFi network, and your computer should be connected to a router with an Ethernet cable for this method to work.
And that's the final method of how to play Steam VR games on Oculus Quest 2. After connecting with one of the methods, simply open the Steam VR app in your Steam library and start playing!
3. Bonus: Screen Mirror PC Screen to Meta Quest 2 via AirDroid Cast
AirDroid Cast is another great method how to get Steam on Oculus Quest 2 connected. AirDroid Cast is a screen mirroring software that allows you to easily share your screen across different devices.
Key Features:
- AirDroid Cast supports both local and remote connectivity.
- AirDroid Cast supports audio sharing so you'll be able to hear your device's audio on the Quest 2. You can also speak and listen directly while screen sharing with two-way audio!
- AirDroid Cast isn't limited by platform, and is available through a web client, iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS. You can share your screen freely on any supported platform!
Here's how to get it set up on your Oculus Quest 2:
- Step 1.Download & install AirDroid Cast on your Mac/PC. You can download by clicking the button below or navigating to the official website.
- Step 2.Launch the app and select "Cast to".
- Step 3.Put on your Quest 2 headset and open your web browser, and go to this site: webcast.airdroid.com. Take note of the Cast Code under the QR code.
- Step 4.Enter the displayed Cast Code on your PC and accept the request on your headset.
Now you can view your PC screen on your Oculus Quest 2 VR headset.
4. Best Steam VR Games to Play on Oculus Quest 2
Before we get into games to try after connecting Oculus Quest 2 to Steam, note that VR games are distinct from regular PC games, as they are optimized and designed specifically for the VR platform, offering more immersion and unique gameplay styles.
An easy way to know if a game supports VR on Steam is by checking the 'VR Titles' category or looking for a tag like below:
That said, here's a list of VR games to try on Steam!
- Beat Saber - Rhythm Game
- Half-Life: Alyx - Story-Driven FPS
- Star Wars: Squadron - Sci-Fi Flight Battler
- Skyrim VR - Open World RPG
- Subnautica - Open World Survival
- F1 23 - Racing Simulator
5. Troubleshooting Steam VR Not Working with Quest 2
If you faced any issues with connecting the Oculus Quest 2 to Steam or similar, here are some potential fixes
Disable Your Firewall/AntiVirus
Some apps/security features may stop Quest 2 from connecting to Steam VR. If so, we'd recommend turning off apps like antiviruses, VPNs, and the Firewall to see if that fixes the problem.
Here's how you can disable your Firewall:
1. Go to "Settings" on your PC.
2. Go to "Privacy & Security".
3. Select "Windows Security".
4. Select "Firewall & network protection".
5. Select "Private Network" if you're on your home WiFi.
6. Disable "Microsoft Defender Firewall".
Now try connecting your Quest 2 to Steam VR.
If that fixed the problem, go back to the Settings and reenable your Firewall. In the "Firewall & Network Protection" menu, select "Allow an app through Firewall" and allow access to Steam VR.
Update Steam & Windows
Another reason why Steam VR is not working with Quest 2 is simply because of updates.
Open the Steam Client & Windows updates and check if there are any pending updates. Pending Windows updates can cause software issues, impacting Steam VR due to driver and process updates it requires to run.
Reinstall Steam VR
A simple way to fix issues with Steam VR is to reinstall the app. Navigate to your Steam library and find Steam VR, right click and select “Uninstall”. Then reinstall the app and try connecting your Quest 2 headset.
6. Conclusion
And with that, we've reached the end of our guide on how to play Steam games on the Meta Quest 2. It's a known issue that Air Link doesn't work for everyone, like those who don't meet the requirements or have an incompatible GPU/CPU.
For them, we recommend using a third-party app like AirDroid Cast to handle your wireless connectivity needs. AirDroid Cast is a one-stop solution that can do a lot more than other apps, so try it out if you need an alternate solution for your Quest 2 VR headset!
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