How to Play Steam Games on the Oculus Quest 2

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Posted by Admin January 18, 2023

TheOculus Quest 2remains a great and trustworthy Virtual Reality headset capable of a lot. The standalone VR system can effortlessly run games and experiences without the inconvenience of any cords or base stations. However, did you know that the Quest 2 can even run SteamVR games exactly like the Rift? And before you start worrying, it doesn t involve any sideloading or workarounds. If you haveset up your Oculus Quest 2, and are looking to run SteamVR games on your headset, you re at the right place. This detailed guide will tell you how to go about connecting your Quest 2 to PC to easily run SteamVR games. So without further ado, power up your headphones, and let s dive in.

Play SteamVR Games on the Oculus Quest 2

This tutorial to playing SteamVR games on the Oculus Quest 2 has been separated depending on the many sorts of connections you can utilize. Depending on if you choose the wired or wireless method, use the table below to jump to the needed section.

Things You Need for SteamVR on Oculus Quest 2

While the process to run SteamVR games on the Quest 2 is basic enough, there are a handful of requirements that you should know about. Make sure to read over them all before starting because some of them are quite crucial.

1. A VR Ready PC

It goes without saying that a sizable amount of graphical and processing power is needed to run virtual reality games and applications. This requirement can be greater depending on the kinds of games you intend to play. There are prerequisites for TheOculusapp, the program that enables PC gaming on your Quest 2. To see if your system is compatible, visit Facebook’s official Quest 2 compatibility page. Also keep in mind that these needs might adjust as time goes on.

2. Oculus App

The Oculus Quest 2 and Facebook’s proprietary VR software suite work together without any issues. The program, called TitledOculus, is what will get your PC version of Quest 2 up and running. Therefore, the Oculus app is the way to go if you want to play SteamVR games on your Quest 2. Oculus Link is available for download and installation. As the headset will use your Facebook account to log you in, be sure to do so. It is also necessary for gamers looking for a wifi option to download this.

Users of the Oculus Quest 2 will require a cable in order to connect their VR system to the PC for Steam. If you have the cash, the official Oculus Link Cable ($79) is your best bet. With your set on and linked to the PC, you may move around with ease because to the quick and long transmission cord. If it is too pricey for you, you can simply get an Oculus Quest 2 cable that is compatible and offers high data and video transfer. Additionally, make sure the cable you do get is adequate in length (15 feet or more) so you won’t feel constrained when playing. Many excellent cables are available online.

4. Installing SteamVR on PC

Last but not least, we will require SteamVR (Free) itself to bring about change. The Steam Store has the SteamVR software, which is simple to find and not too big. After downloading it, just let it install before continuing to read. It will be necessary at a later stage in the procedure. Additionally, confirm that any VR games you have purchased have been installed and are functioning properly.

How to Set up Quest 2 for SteamVR Games (Wired)

We’ll start by attaching the Oculus Quest 2 to our PC using wires. Make sure the Oculus Quest 2 is plugged into your computer with the included cable and that the Oculus software is open before we start. Once finished, proceed with the following.

1. As soon as your headset is connected, you will be inundated with requests for permissions.

Give them all your permission and select the request to enable Oculus Link.

2. The add a device menu on the Oculus Software on your PC will appear. Click Continue after clicking the Link (Cable).

3. Just click Continue as our headset is already plugged in.

4. In the subsequent stage, you can examine your cable connection. You can skip this step and click Continue if your connection is strong enough to be made through the Oculus Link cable or another reliable one. If not, do so by clicking Test Connection.

5. You’re finished! To proceed, only click the Close button.

Allowing SteamVR on the Oculus Quest 2

Put on your headphones right away. Your Quest 2 headset has Oculus Link installed and is prepared for SteamVR. Even better, if you choose, you may use the headset itself to access your desktop after first perusing the store.

We are almost set to start the Quest 2 now that it is prepared. To enable SteamVR to connect to the Oculus Quest 2, we must do one further action. To do that, take the following actions:

1. On the left taskbar of the Oculus software on your PC, click Settings.

2. Select the Generaltab from the menu that comes after that.

3. To enable it, click the Unknown Sources toggle.

4. To make your choice official, click the Allow option on the next confirmation screen.

Running SteamVR

When it is run, your SteamVR will now be permitted through the gates. Let’s get started by doing it now.

1. Launch Steam on your computer.

2. To launch SteamVR, simply click the smallVRicon that has shown on the home page. As an alternative, you can access your game collection and begin it there.

Running a Game on SteamVR in Oculus Quest 2

Put on your headset once more, and before you know it, you’ll be having the time of your life at a charming cottage beside a forest. Welcome to the SteamVR universe. You can wander the cottage and take a look around before moving right on to a game. Despite having a distinct user interface, the Steam Library functions in the same way as on your PC.

Even though SteamVR’s interface is extremely simple to comprehend, we will show you how to launch a game in order to help you get accustomed to it. To do this, adhere to the procedures below:

1. With your controller pointed at the SteamVR home’s right side wall, select Browse Steam.

2. Depending on your desire, choose Store or Library from the following menu that appears.

Now, simply click Play to start the game after browsing the Store or your game library. When finished, click Quit to leave SteamVR and return to your home screen by tapping the Oculus Button.

That’s all, then! You just discovered how to set up SteamVR on an Oculus Quest 2! Simple, wasn’t it? You can now purchase SteamVR games and play them on your Quest 2 headset with ease. Just make sure the two devices are connected. Don’t worry if you’re one of the users looking for a wireless technique; we’ve got you covered in more ways than one. Go on reading.

1. An AC or AX Router with 5GHz Network

Be aware that since wireless connectivity is involved, the wireless technique won’t be as dependable as the cable one before we start. Thankfully, Facebook offers its free Air Linkservice so that users may remotely play SteamVR games. But before you start, you still need to fulfill a few more conditions. Keep the following in mind:

2. A Fully Charged Oculus Quest 2

Having a quick Internet connection is essential since content will be wirelessly sent from the PC to the Oculus Quest 2. Make that your router has a 5GHz band selection and complies with the most recent speed regulations. For the best connection possible, you must also need an Ethernet cable to link the router to your PC.

Users gain from the wired option since the headset continuously charges itself while providing a lag-free experience. However, if you choose wireless, the Quest 2 will operate on its own battery and has a limited battery life. To get the greatest experience while using your Oculus Quest 2 to play wireless SteamVR games, make sure it is fully charged.

Keeping the aforementioned in mind, let’s start by configuring the wireless method.

Facebook Air Link must be enabled separately on your PC and the Quest 2 because it is currently considered an experimental function. PC will be our first topic. To do this, adhere to the procedures below:

1. On the left taskbar of the Oculus software on your PC, click Settings.

2. On the next menu that appears, click on theBetatab.

3. From the list that appears, toggle onAir Linkby clicking on it once.

And you re done. Now let s move on to the Oculus Quest 2.

1. From the main menu, tap onQuick Settings.

2. Tap on theSettingsoption on the top right.

3. From the next menu underExperimental Features, toggle onAir Linkand acknowledge any notice.

Your PC and headset are now ready for Facebook Air Link. Let s begin by turning the feature on.

Now let s begin by making one final pairing and launching Facebook Air Link on the Quest 2. Follow the steps below to do so:

1. From the main menu, open tap theQuick Settingsbutton.

2. From the next menu that appears, tap onOculus Air Link.

3. Click on your computer s name and then click on thePairbutton.

4. Once done, click on theLaunchbutton to start Air Link on your Quest 2.

And you re there. You ll find yourself on the Oculus Link page with a console around you. While you can browse this area, if you want to run SteamVR, simply put down your headset and follow theRunning SteamVRsection above. As mentioned before, you may encounter lag if your connection is unstable. However, in our experience, the experience remains a good one with games running well. Depending on what kind of user you are, you may use Air Link or the wired method.

While Facebook Air Link is a good solution to playing SteamVR games wirelessly, that isn t to say there aren t alternatives. A famous third-party app calledVirtual Desktopworks in the same way as Air Link. Virtual Desktop allows users to basically stream their PC onto the Quest 2 to control from there. Users can also launch their SteamVR or other VR games by using Virtual Desktop.

Enjoy SteamVR Games on Your Oculus Quest 2

However, do be aware that Virtual Desktop is a paid software and requires users to download both a PC client and an Oculus Quest 2 one. Like Air Link, the performance in VD will vary depending on your network and hardware configurations. However, if you want to still try it out, sit tight because we have a complete guide for virtual desktop on the way.