How to use Oculus Quest 2 to play PC PC games wirelessly

One of the best features of the Oculus Quest 2 is that it can be manually connected via USB to your gaming computer to play more demanding VR games that you would not otherwise be able to use on the headset. This is great if you want a way to play games like Half-life: Alyx, but the obvious downside is that you are now physically tied to a computer – so much for the wireless freedom that the Quest 2 advertises.

Fortunately, developers have figured out all the seemingly impossible: how to execute system-intensive titles on your computer and stream the visual input to your VR device while syncing all your movements over Wi-Fi. It offers you the best of both worlds: lets you play the games you want without being connected to your computer by a cable.

It’s not as simple as installing an app through the Oculus Store; there are several steps involved. I’m going to guide you through the steps needed to make this happen on your Quest 2 virtual reality headset. The same steps probably work on the first Quest iteration, but I only have the latest model here to test.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Get a connecting cable

While this is a way to experience VR without wires, you need a wire to get started. Oculus sells an expensive 16-foot cable for about $ 80, but it’s designed for people who really want to use the Quest 2 in wired mode. There are other, cheaper alternatives, such as Anker’s 10-foot USB-C to USB Type-A 3.0 cable, which cost about $ 20 and do the job.

Many USB cables that come with modern Android phones are likely to work as well. And the cable does not have to be long – we only do simple data transfer here. Unfortunately, the USB-C cable that Oculus included with every Quest 2 did not work for this process when I tried it. It is simply to charge the headset.

Oculus Link Cable

This is the official Oculus Link cable. It costs $ 80 and is hard to get in stock. You do not need this particular model to complete this tutorial!

Enable developer settings

To upload files to your Quest 2, you need a developer account. Luckily, it’s easy to do, but it’s a strange process meant to be used by real developers.

  • Go to this page and log in to your Facebook account in your browser of choice. Just make sure you sign in to your Quest 2 on the same Facebook account you signed in to.

  • The next part of the process is to name your ‘organization’. You can call it whatever you want. You can find a direct link to this page here in case you get lost.
  • With these two steps out of the way, open your Oculus mobile app (iOS or Android) and sign in with the same Facebook account. Then navigate to the “Settings” window by clicking on it in the bottom right corner of the app window.
  • On the next page, click on “Oculus Quest 2” right below your name, and some more options will expand from within. Click “More settings”
  • Once there, tap “Developer Mode” and turn it on

Click here to see more options, including “More settings” that include the developer mode switch.

Install the Quest 2 driver for your computer

The next few steps provide the path for you to download software to the Quest 2 headset, which is usually reserved for developers. If you are using a Windows computer, you need to install ADB drivers to have your computer write to the headset; according to the Oculus website, macOS and Linux systems do not need a driver.

  • Download the software linked here provided by Oculus. (Just tick the box that you agree to the terms of the license – you can read it if you want – and click “Download”.)

  • After downloading, remove the contents of the directory. Then right-click on the item named “android_winusb.inf” and select “Install”.

Oculus ADB driver

Install this driver to get this process started.

Purchase the Virtual Desktop App for Quest

With the Virtual Desktop app, you can access your computer through the lens of a VR headset. You can use it for games, as we are going to do, but you can also watch movies that you have stored on your computer in different virtual environments. There is a Quest-specific version of the app that you can buy here for $ 20. (Make sure it is compatible with Quest below the buy button.)

After purchasing it, install it on the headset. We will return to this app shortly, but for now a few other steps.

Virtual desktop

Virtual desktop runs on Quest 2.

Connect Quest 2 to your computer

Connect your Quest 2 via its USB-C port on the side and the fastest available USB port on your computer. If you have done everything correctly up to this point, you will see a message in the headset asking if you want to allow USB debugging. Allow it.

Download and install SideQuest on your computer

SideQuest is a free app and store window for experiences that can be placed on your headset. For the purposes of this tutorial, you are only going to use it to apply a necessary patch to the Virtual Desktop app that I just suggested you buy and install on your Quest 2 headset.

  • Go here to find the right installer for your operating system (I use the Windows 10 version for this tutorial) and download it

  • Once installed, run SideQuest
  • At this point, your headset should appear with a green bubble in the upper left corner of the SideQuest app on your computer. If it is not paired, note the question on the screen of your headset. It may be waiting for you to give your computer access and customize the Quest 2 file system.

Sidequest app

The green light indicates that your headset is connected.

Download the Virtual Desktop VR patch for Quest 2

Type ‘virtual desktop’ in the search bar inside the SideQuest. The result you are looking for is called ‘Virtual Desktop VR Patch’. This is the key to tricking your computer into thinking your Quest 2 is a wired headphone.

  • While your Quest 2 is connected to your computer, press the “Install to Headset” button in SideQuest, just below the search bar in the app. The process should be pretty funny and only take a few seconds.

Sidequest

Install this required Virtual Desktop patch on your Quest 2 headset.

Download Virtual Desktop Streamer

There is another free program to download: Virtual Desktop Streamer. This app is made by the same people who streamed the Virtual Desktop app you purchased on Quest 2. Easily stream computer content to your headset via Wi-Fi.

  • After downloading and installing this app, you will need to enter your Oculus username in the Streamer window
  • If you do not know it on top of your head, you can find it by opening the Oculus app on your phone, going to “Settings” and then tapping on the area that shows your name and email address. The name that will appear next to your avatar is your username.

Oculus app

Struggling to find your Oculus username? Tap your full name in the Settings menu to see this view above.

  • After entering, press “Save”
  • This is the last step! But remember that it’s crucial that the Virtual Desktop Streamer app is open so that your headset can communicate with your computer.

Virtual desktop streamer

Here’s what the Virtual Desktop Streamer app looks like. It’s very simple.

Open Virtual Desktop on your Quest 2

If each step is done correctly, your computer will appear in the list of available devices to connect to your Quest 2 from the Virtual Desktop app.

After you connect, the option button (the equivalent of the left side of the Oculus Touch controller of the Oculus button) is mapped to open the Virtual Desktop top menu, as shown in the image below. Click on “Games” to click on every game installed on your computer. You can easily start up any of them, and your computer can handle all the hard work.

Virtual desktop

All the VR-ready games installed on your computer will appear on Virtual Desktop.

If you are not satisfied with the visual fidelity in each game, you are free to adjust some settings that affect the delay, the refresh rate and more. Note that you will probably get a clearer, smoother image if your computer is powerful and your internet connection is fast. Given the dependency on your Wi-Fi network, your wireless router also plays a big role in delivering a smooth experience.

Streaming VR via Wi-Fi is definitely not a perfect solution. I have a Wi-Fi 6 router and a relatively fast internet (235 Mbps down, 19 Mbps up), and I still occasionally experience a place of laughter and slightly blurry image. Although with enough customization to the Virtual Desktop app (to turn off Wi-Fi on rarely used tech items, it never hurts), I think you’ll do well.

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