How one can setup and use your Oculus Quest 2

If you’re one of the lucky people who grabbed an Oculus Quest 2 VR headset this holiday season, we welcome you to Metaverse! The Oculus Quest 2 is a game jump that game consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X cannot achieve. Using this headset allows you to physically move around in simulated environments, grab virtual objects and be part of a scene instead of watching action unfold on a distant screen.

Unlike previous VR headsets, everything you need to get started is built right into the device. You no longer need a powerful gaming PC, tracking stations or even headphones to record virtual images and sounds.

If you happen to have a powerful rig, you can purchase an Oculus Link cable to play PCVR games that are too powerful to run on the Quest 2’s mobile chip. This gives the Quest 2 the versatility of the Nintendo Switch, letting you play powerful titles like GOTY Half Life: Alyx while plugged in at home, or untie yourself to play less demanding games like Beat Saber on the go.

Until the end of January, Oculus Quest 2 users who connect their Quest to their gaming PC with an Oculus Link cable can unlock the platform-exclusive action-adventure title Asgard’s Wrath for free. Before diving headfirst into the new Oculus Quest games, you need to configure your device and play area.

Follow our Oculus Quest 2 guide below to escape the confines of your living room and explore vibrant virtual worlds in minutes.

Download the Oculus app

Oculus iOS app

(Image credit: Oculus)

Before you unpack your new Oculus Quest 2, it is best to download the Oculus app for iOS or Android. You need to sign in with a Facebook account. If you’ve managed to get this far without selling your data, kudos to you. Unfortunately, if you want to use your Oculus device, you’ll need to create a Facebook account.

Make sure your mobile device has Bluetooth turned on so that you can continue working seamlessly in the future. You no longer need your phone after the initial setup. However, it comes in handy for notifications, buying apps to go, and social functions. When your soul sells to Facebook and your app is ready to go, it’s time to unbox!

Extract Quest 2 and peripherals

How to set up and use Oculus Quest 2: Quest 2 Unboxing

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Simply pull the marked tab on the plastic outer seal and the Quest 2 box will appear. Take the protective cover and slowly wiggle out of the box, making an up and down motion. If you slowly lift the lid to add excitement, you’ll find your sleek new white Oculus 2 headset, two controllers, a charger and a glasses spacer with some paperwork in a compact box.

To set up and use Oculus Quest 2: Open the Quest box

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Next, you’ll want to grab the controllers and remove the pull-tab on each to turn them on. Slide the headset over your eyes and press and hold the power button on the right side of the device until you see a large white O. After Quest 2 boots up, press a trigger on each controller. This will automatically pair them with the headset.

You will now see both controllers in your Quest 2. Pretty cool right? Using the controller in your dominant hand as a pointer, select your language and connect to your local Wi-Fi network so your Quest 2 can perform updates. Since your headset is only half charged, prop it on a stable surface and plug it in for some juice. Put your feet up and grab some refreshment – you deserve a break after all this hard work.

Oculus Quest 2 Setup: Customizing Your Fit

How to set up and use your Oculus Quest 2: Quest 2 Page Customizations

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To get the most out of your Quest 2, you need a tailored fit with the correct lens distance to maximize comfort and avoid blurring. Slide open the headset and grasp the two symmetrical side straps that are opposite each other in the lower part of the strap. As you slide these, the grip around the sides of your head is loosened or tightened.

How to set up and use Oculus Quest 2: Top Strap Oculus Quest 2

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With the correct fit on the head, slide your digits up to the top strap. Tighten or loosen this band to distribute pressure from the headset to the top of the head. When you are happy with the tightness of your face, the last thing you need to do is adjust the lens IPD, which is the distance between each eye.

How to set up and use your Oculus Quest 2: Quest 2 IPD Customization

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If you physically move each lens with your thumbs, you can switch between distances of 58mm, 63mm and 68mm. Adjust this setting to find the option that gives you the clearest picture and sharpest text for you. If you’ve adjusted your fit for comfort and razor-sharp images, you can now use the supplied glasses spacer if necessary. Otherwise, it’s time to dive in.

Oculus Quest 2 Setup: Create Your Virtual Play Area

It’s time to create the protective boundary for your Oculus Quest 2 play area. You will be greeted by a colorless view of the real space around you. This is known as passthrough and connects the real world with virtual elements. This is where you use your controller to draw your margin lines. This virtual barrier prevents you from running into walls or breaking your TV during an intense game.

When playing VR in multiple rooms around the house, you’ll be delighted to know that those limits remain. This way you can go in and out of boundaries without having to redraw your space every time. When you leave an area to see a floating, pristine space, the line between futuristic and eerie is drawn.

For security reasons, Oculus prevents you from recording while setting up your boundary. This official video from the company shows the entire process in action.

If you have dangerous obstacles such as furniture nearby, your Guardian system will mark them in red. With the space open, lower your controller to the floor and press the trigger button to adjust the floor height. Press the confirmation button and use the trigger on your controller to draw the virtual boundary that defines your play area.

Now you can safely run around mindlessly and really lose yourself in VR. If you get too close to your limit, a red barrier will overlap your game world to show you your distance from the edge. When this step is complete, click OK to really step into a whole new world.

Oculus Quest 2 setup: Navigate the virtual world

Welcome to your Oculus home environment. There are several locations you can customize this dashboard area, from a seaside retreat to a cyberpunk apartment.

In this virtual environment, the universal menu floats in front of you. This clear interface with six symbols leads you to every function with three clicks. You can access friends, your content library, sharing, notifications, and settings. We’ll dive into each section to explain what they contain.

How to Set Up and Use Your Oculus Quest 2 :: Quest 2 Home Environment

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From the left side of the menu bar, you can quickly access the time, date, WiFi signal strength and battery status of your peripheral devices. The first tab you come across leads to your profile settings. From customizing the avatar to bio-information, this is the place to express yourself and adjust the privacy settings.

The second from the left is a square symbol made up of nine points. You will spend most of your time here as this is your apps area. This is where you have purchased content and buttons that lead to the Oculus Store and the web browser. You can sort and filter apps by name, installation date and / or size.

As you go, things get more social. The MySpace-like buddy icon is your friends area. Here you can create parties, chat with friends, and view activities. Oculus also shows suggested friends here.

Next to the Friends section is the Notifications tab, denoted by a bell icon. Downloads, invitations and event reminders are displayed here. If you allow notifications on your phone, those notifications will also be forwarded to your mobile device.

A square arrow continues to the Notifications section. For content creators or party hosts, this is the Sharing tab. You can have the ad cast on your phone or Chromecast, live stream directly on Facebook, and record moments worth highlighting.

The menu is closed by a setting wheel. Here you can customize your experience with advanced options like memory management, your personal virtual environment, and display options.

Oculus Quest 2 setup: time to explore

After you understand the basics, it’s time for you to start exploring the wonders of virtual reality. The wow factor makes for a great experience to share with loved ones over the holidays.

Keep in mind that motion sickness can occur when wearing a virtual reality headset such as the Oculus Quest 2. If so, just remove the headset and take at least an hour off. Pushing through motion sickness is a great way to disconnect from virtual reality for good.

How to set up and use Oculus Quest 2: Quest 2 in action

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There are many solo experiences in the Quest Store. Once you have your bearings, we recommend checking out the burgeoning online scene in multiplayer titles. This is an exciting place reminiscent of the early days of online gaming.

Standing next to teammates around the world while interacting in a shared virtual environment takes the VR experience to a new level.

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