How to Connect Quest 2 to PC

How to Connect Quest 2 to PC

Posted on: 29 Mar 2023

The Meta Quest 2 has an ever-growing roster of games available for it via the official Quest Store. Then you have the ability to play App Lab games or sideload on Quest 2 as well. However, that can be increased further by one simple method, connect your Quest 2 to a PC. There are several ways to do this, below XR Source shows you how.

VR Workout

How to Connect Quest 2 to your PC

So you want to play awesome PC games like Half-Life: Alyx on your Meta Quest 2? The only way you can do this is by connecting your headset to a VR-Ready PC. This can be done either wired or wirelessly, each having its own pros and cons.

Assuming you do have a decent PC to hand, the first thing you’ll need to do is double-check the specifications. The easiest way is to head on over to the Meta Quest Link minimum requirements page. Regularly updated, make sure you check the section on supported GPUs as not all NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards are supported.

Note: These will only be the minimum PC specs needed to get going. Each game will have its own system requirements, so double-check them before making any purchases.

Additionally, if you’re going for the wireless method, you’ll need a decent router. Your PC will need to be connected via an Ethernet Cable whilst Quest 2 connects over Wi-Fi via the 5 GHz band (AC or AX).

Furthermore, ensure you’ve already got Steam VR installed so you can begin gaming straight away!

Cable

Let’s start with the original, cabled method. Back in the original Oculus Quest era, the headset came with a decent, Link-compatible USB-C to USB-A lead. Alas, that’s not the case with Quest 2, so you can buy the official Meta Link Cable for £89.99 GBP which is 5 metres (16 feet) long. This is a USB-C to C cable so make sure your PC has the correct port or you’ll need an adapter.

Or you can go for a third-party cable which will be cheaper (usually USB-C to A. Make sure it’s at least 3 metres (10 feet) long for comfortable gaming and is USB 3.0 compliant – otherwise, it won’t work.

Note: Ideally, you want a link cable that’ll go directly from the headset to the graphics card to ensure a strong, stable connection. These tend to be USB-C to C cables for modern GPUs.

Meta Quest Link

  1. Download the Quest Link PC app.
  2. Install the desktop app on your PC.
  3. Turn on your Quest 2.
  4. Connect your headset to your PC via the USB 3.0 compatible cable.
  5. Then you can choose one of the following options:
    • ‘Add a new headset’ in the PC app.
    • Put the Quest 2 on, select Quick Settings>Quest Link.
  6. Press the toggle button to enable access to Quest Link.
Connect Quest 2 to PC-2
Universal Menu – Quick Settings
Connect Quest 2 to PC - 3

And there you go, that’s Quest Link all set up. Now you can jump on Steam and start playing PC VR games.

The Quest Link PC App also allows for further Quest 2 adjustment. You can swap the default 72Hz refresh rate to 80Hz, 90Hz or 120Hz for compatible games.

Air Link

If you don’t want to be hampered by cables then there’s Meta’s official wireless option, Air Link. Streaming VR games wirelessly comes with its own set of problems but it has got better over the years.

Bear in mind that ensuring a reliable, stable connection can be affected by a number of variables including your router, PC specifications, hardware location and more.

As previously mentioned, your PC will need to be connected via an Ethernet Cable whilst Quest 2 connects over Wi-Fi via the 5 GHz band (AC or AX) before getting started.

The process is then very similar to the cable connection.

  1. Download the Quest Link PC app.
  2. Install the desktop app on your PC.
  3. Make sure your Quest 2 is on and charged.
  4. Put the Quest 2 on, select Quick Settings>Quest Link.
  5. Press the Use Air Link toggle button to enable access.
  6. Then select your PC and press Pair.
  7. A pairing code will then appear. Take your headset off and check the code matches the one on your PC app.
  8. Click confirm then put the Quest 2 back on to launch Air Link

Note: Air Link can be turned off by going back to Quick Settings>Quest Link and pressing the Air Link toggle.

Connect Quest 2 to PC - 4

Virtual Desktop

Finally, there is a third-party option, Virtual Desktop. Originally designed for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and other PC VR headsets, the software helped you use your computer in VR. Then, way before Air Link even existed, Virtual Desktop allowed Quest owners to connect wirelessly to their computers.

Used by the VR community for years, some have found that if Air Link doesn’t work Virtual Desktop does and vice-versa. So it’s worth experimenting between the two to find a reliable wireless option that fits.

  1. Purchase and install Virtual Desktop for Quest 2.
  2. Download the free Virtual Desktop Streamer app for your PC and install it.
  3. With the PC app open, put the Quest 2 on and launch the VR app to connect.

And there you have it, all the steps needed to connect Quest 2 to PC. Hope that helps. Or do you need to learn how to cast Quest 2 to a TV?

Author: Peter Graham

Previously editor of XR news site VRFocus and founder and editor of Web3 publication GMW3, Peter has worked in the tech and video game industry for over 10 years. His expertise covers a critical understanding and reporting of the XR industry, video games reviews and commentary.