The Oculus Quest 2 is possibly the best virtual reality headset you can buy right now – it’s self-contained, powerful, easy to use, and relatively affordable. Perhaps the only downside is that you need a Facebook account to use it.
Unlike some more expensive alternatives, you don’t need to be connected to a PC to play Oculus Quest 2 games, which means you can move around freely and take the headset with you wherever you go. But this portability has its drawbacks, the main one being that you won’t get the performance and graphics quality that you get with VR headsets running from a computer.
To fill this gap, there is the Oculus Link software. It runs on your Windows PC and streams games to your Oculus Quest 2 so you can access more advanced titles on the device. The platform allows you to play wirelessly over your Wi-Fi connection, but if you prefer a more stable experience you can connect your Oculus to your PC using a USB 3.0 cable. It’s your decision.
Started
First of all, you need to verify that your Windows computer meets the system requirements for Oculus Link. You need at least an Intel i5-4590 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X processor, 8 GB or more of RAM, and a supported graphics card. The platform supports most Nvidia and AMD GPUs, but not all.
[Related: Nvidia’s RTX 3050 graphics cards could be a big boon for cheap gaming laptops]
Once you’ve made sure you have the hardware you need, it’s time to download the Oculus app and install it on your Windows PC. It’s the same software whether you’re using a wired or wireless connection, and most of the setup process is the same too. All you have to do is plug the cable into the appropriate location if you want to use one.
It is also worth checking that you are using the latest version of the Oculus Quest 2 software for the best results. Select on the main user interface screen Quick settings, the settings, and over. If an update is available, you can install it.
Create the link
If you’ve already set up your Oculus Quest 2, we’ll assume you have a Facebook account that you used to register your device. Use these credentials to sign in to the Oculus app on your computer.
You will need to select a headset during the setup process. Choose the Quest 2 and follow the instructions. If you’ve already gone through the installation process in the app, you can set up your headset later by clicking. choose Add a headset of the equipment Screen.
To register your Oculus Quest 2, you need to connect it to your PC with a USB cable, whether you want to use it while playing or not. Oculus makes its own cable for this job for $ 79, but any high quality USB 3.0 cable will do. Just make sure you are using a USB 3.0 port on your PC.
You will see some messages on your headset: Click enable on Allow access to data and Activate on Activate the Oculus Link, and the setup process will take you to the main Oculus VR interface. To return to the Quest 2 user interface, select Deactivate the Oculus link from the main navigation bar. If you can’t see it, press the Oculus button on your controller.
play games
The Oculus Link setup process, when complete, will take you to the main Oculus interface so you can search for new games and play them on your headset. You can also search for and install games using the Oculus program on your computer.
To return to this user interface later, you can connect your Oculus Quest 2 to your computer, start the Oculus application in Windows, and then select Activate in your VR headset. Alternatively if you miss those Activate Prompt, you can choose Quick settings and then Oculus link.
Going wireless is easy, but at the time of writing this type of connection option is a little more experimental so you may notice a few bugs and some instability. Choose from inside Oculus Quest 2 Quick settings, the settings, Experimental functions, and activate Air connection. When you’re setting up things on your PC, open the Oculus software and select the settings and beta, and activate Air connection.
[Related: Best VR headsets: Bring your entertainment to life]
You should then be able to connect your devices by selecting Oculus Air-Link of the Quick settings Window in your Oculus Quest 2 headset. If you have connection problems, check the troubleshooting tips that appear on the screen.
Choose Oculus Air-Link via the main navigation bar to adjust the streaming quality or exit the user interface and return to the standard Oculus Quest 2 home screen.
Additional settings, including frame rates and whether your VR audio is played on your headset or on your computer, can be found by removing your Oculus Quest 2 from the equipment Screen in the Windows app.
Comments are closed.