How to fix common problems with Oculus Link on Oculus Quest

Since Oculus released the Oculus Link Beta for Oculus Quest final year, it has released (every bit of March 2022) xiv versions of the software, each with its unique fixes but likewise new breaking bugs. With each new update, Quest owners have struggled to find new solutions to recurring problems like black screens, frequent disconnects, or poor performance. This article should comprehend the most common (and frustrating) issues you may face up while setting up or using Oculus Link, and the latest solutions for how to gear up them.

Link cables suggested in this guide

Best option (when bachelor): Oculus Link Headset cable ($79 from Best Buy)
Oculus-approved USB three.0 cablevision: Anker Powerline USB-C to USB 3.0 Cablevision ($13 at Amazon)
Twice the data transfer, one-half the length: GodSpin USB-C to USB-C Cable (6.vi anxiety) ($30 at Amazon)

Unable to connect Oculus Quest to your PC?

One of the biggest hurdles for many users is simply forcing their PC to acknowledge that the Oculus Quest is connected via USB. Information technology should acknowledge the connection instantly; if it doesn't, one of many issues could be the crusade. And then nosotros recommend starting with this exhaustive checklist:

Disconnect the Link cable at both ends.
Make sure that you are using either the official Oculus Link cable or the recommended third-party Anker USB iii.0 cable, and not your charging cablevision.
Navigate the PC Oculus app to Settings > General > OS version.
In the Oculus app, navigate to Library > Updates and install the latest dev updates.
If yous have the Public Examination Channel beta enabled, disable it. Note that PTC support varies based on the latest software patches and may be supported in the futurity.
On your Quest, navigate your menu to Settings > Encounter all > About > Version.
If necessary, Update your Quest Os to the latest version. It must be 11.00 or higher.
Make sure that your Quest software and your PC software have matching version numbers, or else they may not be compatible.
Power wheel your Oculus Quest (plough information technology off and on again).
Reboot the Oculus Software by navigating the card to Settings > Beta > Restart Oculus.
Reconnect the Link cable.

You should hopefully see a prompt on the PC software to Add Quest as a device, also as a pop-up to Enable Link to your connected headset. If you don't see these prompts or have whatever other problems, attempt the following:

Log off and on to the PC Oculus software.
Endeavor searching your Oculus Quest settings for the "Enable Link" option.
If you see a screen asking you to Allow access to data, cull the Deny choice.

Your Quest connects, then speedily crashes?

Many users consummate the higher up steps without result, and even successfully connect their Quest to their PC—only for the plan to crash, sometimes after only a few seconds. This trouble can exist attributed to multiple unlike sources but is virtually probable related to your computer's hardware.

Go to your PC or laptop'south About folio and look upwardly the specs for your GPU, CPU, Memory, operating system, and USB ports.
Cheque this support folio for a list of PC requirements and Supported GPUs for Oculus Link Beta.
Compare your calculator specs against the minimum requirements. If your device is a laptop, it'south less likely to have the ability necessary to be PCVR-gear up.
If your GPU isn't listed in Oculus' table or is listed as "Not currently supported," your device may yet work just is more probable to accept performance issues until Oculus adds back up.

Your Link-enabled games perform poorly?

You've finally managed to become Oculus Link to work, simply maybe yous're unhappy with the performance of your PC VR games. Considering we've run some graphically intensive games via Oculus Link, whatever problems probable can't be attributed to the Quest hardware. Rather, it may advise problems with your PC power, the current software build, or the link cable.

Offset by checking the Oculus Link compatibility page for the latest list of minimum VR requirements and supported GPUs. If you've used your PC to power an Oculus Rift Southward, it's very plausible that it should handle Oculus Link demands just as easily.

Next, attempt plugging your Oculus Link into a different USB 3.0 slot. Your issues may come from a "weak" USB port being unable to handle transferring that much data for long periods. If you're plugged into a front USB port, swap to a dorsum port—which tends to accept more power—and see if operation improves. If not, open Windows Device Manager on your PC and check your USB power saver settings; disable any power saving if necessary.

For annihilation beyond that, you're going to want to try and maximize your VR performance generally. For that, run into this guide for more than information.

Your headset sound or mic aren't working?

Issues with the Quest headphones and mic while using Oculus Link have been a dime a dozen during the beta, and each version of the software has its ain quirks. The latest OS version as of publication (14.0) recently reenabled access to the mic for conversation while playing via Link, too equally added audio settings to the Quest Dash, then nosotros (again) recommend upgrading to the latest OS for the most pain-costless experience.

If, subsequently the latest update, you find that your Quest doesn't output any audio, or your PC Oculus software doesn't recognize the Quest headphones equally an audio device, yous're not lonely. Many users ran into this problem recently, and the Oculus Quest subreddit posted the post-obit steps every bit a solution (keep in mind that nosotros haven't faced this problem, so nosotros haven't tested the solution ourselves):

On your PC, press Windows Key + R to open your Run dialogue box.
Type mmsys.cpl then hit OK.
Curl through the Sound carte du jour to notice "Oculus Virtual Audio Device."
Correct-click "Oculus Virtual Audio Device" and select Properties.
In the "General" tab, rename the device to "Headphones." Click OK.
In the "Recording" tab, find the Microphone icon that lists the "Oculus Virtual Audio Device."
Right-click the icon and click Properties.
Under the "General" tab, rename the device to "Headset Microphone." Click OK.
Within your general Windows options, set the Oculus headphones and microphone as your "Default" sound devices.
Reboot your PC.

Defaulting to the incorrect pinnacle?

When y'all're playing select VR games, you'll notice that you're mode taller than you actually are. For example, when nosotros tested out Arizona Sunshine, the device pegged us at xv anxiety, and our field-of-view was sticking out of the roof. To gear up this, you lot'll accept to disconnect your headset and then reconnect it to your PC and relaunch the game. We tried using in-game scale options, but they didn't work.

None of the in a higher place?

With each new beta update, Oculus tries to gear up the to a higher place issues, just inevitably finds new means to reintroduce the same issues—and even new ones. With each new update, we'll endeavor to stay apprised of the latest Link bugs and continue this guide updated with new solutions.

If you lot encounter a problems we don't depict to a higher place, let usa know, and we'll try to notice a solution and add information technology to the list. In the concurrently, we also propose sending a support ticket to Oculus directly.

Our summit equipment picks

Maybe you've been waiting for the official Oculus Link cablevision to come back in stock, or perhaps the cable you bought hasn't given you the functioning you lot expected. Either way, these cables offer an array of reliable, tested options for successful PCVR-to-Quest data transfer.

Oculus Link Headset Cable

Oculus Link Headset cablevision ($79 from Best Buy)

Best long-lengthed cord

Oculus has dealt with manufacturing shortages for its official Link cablevision, and it rarely goes on sale one land at a fourth dimension, only to chop-chop sell out again. If you tin go your easily on it, it provides the best three.0 USB pick because its 16-foot length ensures you can however movement around without disconnecting from the PC, which restless Quest users volition prefer.

Anker Powerline USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable

Anker Powerline USB-C to USB iii.0 Cablevision ($thirteen at Amazon)

All-time affordable entry point

Since the official Oculus Link cablevision has been sold out on and off for months, trust the 1 third-party USB cable that Oculus officially recommends. For a much lower base of operations price, you just get 10 anxiety instead of sixteen, just a comparable 5Gbps data transfer speed. Considering the much cheaper price signal, information technology's a fair trade-off for more sedentary gamers.

GodSpin USB-C to USB-C Cable

GodSpin USB-C to USB-C Cablevision ($xxx at Amazon)

Better than 3.0

This USB-C to USB-C cable supports 20Gbps transfer speeds, 5A/ 20V power, and USB 3.i and USB 3.2. At only 6.6 feet, you're much more likely to unplug for room-tracking titles, but for seated experiences, yous'll have unparalleled graphical performance. Just keep in mind that y'all may also need an adaptor for your figurer if it doesn't support USB 3.1 or three.two.

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