How to play steamvr games (and other non-oculus apps) on the oculus rift

Chris Hoffman is Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. He’s written about technology for over a decade and was a PCWorld columnist for two years. Chris has written for The New York Times and Reader’s Digest, been interviewed as a technology expert on TV stations like Miami’s NBC 6, and had his work covered by news outlets like the BBC. Since 2011, Chris has written over 2,000 articles that have been read nearly one billion times—and that’s just here at How-To Geek. Read more.

The Oculus Rift is locked down by default, and will only run games and apps from Oculus’s own store. You’ll see an “Unknown Source” message on the Rift if you try to run something else. But change one setting, and you can use Valve’s SteamVR or any other Rift-enabled app or game.

Oculus says that apps from “unknown sources” haven’t been “reviewed by Oculus for security, comfort, content, or health and safety”, which is why they’re blocked. But you can quickly disable this restriction. It’s the same approach used by Android, and the option even goes by the same name.

How to Enable Apps and Games from Unknown Sources

You can change this setting in the Oculus application on your computer. First, open the Oculus application.

Click the gear menu icon at the top right corner of the window, and click “Settings”.

Click the “General” tab at the left side of the settings window.

Click the switch to the right of “Unknown Sources” to enable applications that haven’t been reviewed by Oculus.

You’ll see a warning message. Oculus warns that such applications can be a problem “for security, comfort, content, or health and safety”. That’s because this setting allows any application from any developer to access your Rift, assuming that application is running on your PC. Exercise normal caution when running VR applications, just as you would when running normal Windows desktop applications. For example, use an antivirus application and don’t download and run .exe files from sources you don’t trust.

Click the “Allow” button to continue.

A notification will appear at the bottom of the window, indicating apps from unknown sources will now function on your Rift.

You can now launch virtual reality applications and games from outside the store. For example, to launch SteamVR and set it up, open the Steam application on your computer and click the “VR” icon that appears at the top-right corner of your screen. This icon will appear when you have your Rift connected, just as it will appear if you have an HTC Vive connected. Steam will offer to automatically download and install the SteamVR software the first time you click this icon.

To launch another third-party application or game that supports the Rift, just launch that game and it should automatically detect the Rift and use it. Follow the application or game’s instructions for information on getting it to work with the Rift.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to add external applications to the Oculus Home interface that appears when you put on the Rift headset, so you can’t easily launch third-party applications from within virtual reality. Only applications and games you get from Oculus’s own store will appear in this interface. You’ll have to launch third-party applications from the Windows desktop.

You can play Steam games on the Quest 2 by linking your virtual reality headset to a computer.
You can access Steam VR games with a USB link cable or a wireless Air Link connection.
Your PC needs to meet the Quest 2’s minimum system requirements, and you’ll need to install the Quest desktop app.
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The Oculus Quest 2 (now branded simply as “Quest 2” under its parent company, Meta) is a versatile virtual reality headset. While it is a self-contained device that doesn’t require a wired connection to a computer to play the extensive library of Quest VR games, the Quest 2 also offers the option to connect to a computer so you can play Steam VR games, for example. There are two ways to play Steam games on the Quest 2 headset: with a USB link cable or wirelessly with Oculus’s Air Link software.

No matter which way you choose to connect, you’ll need a computer that meets the Quest 2’s minimum system requirements. You will need an Intel i5-4590 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or greater, 8GB RAM, Windows 10 or higher, and a compatible graphics card — generally, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070, GTX 1080, or a GTX 1650 Super or better. On the AMD side, you need to have an AMD 400 Series graphics card or better.

How to play Steam games on the Quest 2 with a cable

1. You’ll need a USB-C cable that’s long enough to reach from the Quest 2 headset to your computer. Look for a 15-foot cable for the best results, such as the Oculus Link Cable.

2. If you haven’t already, install the Quest 2 desktop app, as well as Steam.

3. Turn on your Quest 2 and connect it to your computer via the USB cable.

4. Start the Quest desktop app, click Devices in the navigation pane on the left, and click Add Headset. Choose Quest 2 and follow the instructions to set up the headset for connection to your computer.

5. When setup is complete, click Link (Cable) and click Continue.

6. In the Steam app, start Steam VR. You should now have access to your library of Steam VR games in your headset.

How to play Steam games on the Quest 2 wirelessly with Air Link

You don’t need a USB cable to play Steam VR games on the Quest 2; you can connect wirelessly with Oculus Air Link. The disadvantage is that you need a strong WiFi signal and performance may at times be unpredictable, but when it works well, you can play Steam VR games streamed from your computer without any connection cable.

1. If you haven’t already, install the Quest 2 desktop app, as well as Steam.

2. In the Quest app, click Settings in the pane on the left and then click Beta at the top.

3. Turn on Air Link by swiping the button to the right.

4. Put on your Quest 2 headset and press the Oculus button on the right controller so you see the home menu. Select Oculus Air Link.

In the Air Link pop-up, choose your computer if needed and select Launch. You should now have access to your library of Steam VR games in your headset.

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Watch all the porn you need—or just download VR porn games.

Posted on May 30, 2020 Updated on May 29, 2020, 4:24 pm CDT

Did you know the Oculus Quest is basically a powerful mobile device running a modified Android operating system? It’s true. Despite Facebook’s focus on creating a closed-garden Oculus storefront, the virtual reality headset actually supports a relatively easy sideloading system for installing third-party apps. And yes, that includes porn apps.

The Oculus Store offers some apps that can be used to look at porn with your Quest, but for the best options available, you’ll have to plug your VR headset into your computer and enable a few features. But it’s worth the effort if you’re dying for the latest in Oculus Quest porn. Here are our top app recommendations, from first- to third-party.

How to sideload porn apps with SideQuest

While certain Oculus Quest apps will let you access porn from your VR web browser or download videos straight to your computer, third-party apps cannot be natively installed. Instead, you’ll need to sideload Android application packages onto your Quest. Given that a number of dedicated porn apps exist for the Quest outside the Oculus Store, and that some official apps can even be tweaked via sideloading, it’s worth learning the process.

For the most accessible approach, check out SideQuest. This PC program lets you install and manage sideloaded apps on your Quest all through an easy-to-use GUI. The app also features its own store. For installation instructions, head over to SideQuest’s official guide.

Best Oculus Quest web browser for VR porn: Firefox Reality

Your Oculus Quest comes with its own web browser, but while Facebook’s VR arm says it doesn’t track any personally identifying data, it’s understandable if you’re skeptical. For your porn viewing habits, ditch the default browser and go with Firefox Reality instead.

Mozilla’s VR browser supports WebVR successor WebXR; both interfaces let VR porn fans stream 180 and 360-degree VR clips straight from their browser. Firefox Reality also offers users the ability to navigate the internet with just their headset, and the web browser provides enhanced data tracking protection to prevent ads from picking up on your mixed reality behavior. Best of all, Firefox Reality works with your Firefox account, so you can quickly access your porn bookmarks from your desktop or laptop. You can also use your voice in Firefox Reality to quickly search for material. Unlike most of the apps on this list, you can grab Firefox Reality straight from the Oculus Store.

The best VR porn apps for Oculus Quest

Best porn app for watching VR clips: Play’a

Playing videos from your Oculus Quest can be a little confusing, but Play’a makes watching VR porn a breeze. This third-party app lets users quickly and easily navigate to their VR videos, making it a perfect choice for anyone downloading VR porn from a subscription website. Play’a also uses a streamlined control system to let viewers quickly stop, start, and adjust their videos. Users can even initiate a panic mode, should the need arise. Best of all, Play’a loads quickly, so no need to wait around when you’re in the thick of a late-night porn browsing session. Grab Play’a via SideQuest.

Best VR porn game: Captain Hardcore

If you’re a PC VR fan, chances are you’re already familiar with Captain Hardcore. But did you know Captain Hardcore has an Oculus Quest port? Developer AntiZero successfully ported a stripped-down version of the game to Quest in February 2020. The Quest demo features realistic physics, paddles, butt plugs, and even dildos for penetration. Sadly, the hair and fluid physics that power the PC version haven’t made it to Quest yet, but AntiZero has expressed interest in bringing a more advanced port to Quest. Captain Hardcore’s Quest build is freely available from AntiZero’s Patreon, so try out the game for yourself or consider funding its development.

Best overall: Virtual Desktop

Virtual Desktop isn’t literally a VR porn app. It’s actually a VR software suite that lets users broadcast PC VR gameplay from their desktops and onto their Oculus Quest. While the app can be purchased from the Oculus Store, updating it with SideQuest lets users play Oculus and SteamVR games wirelessly on their Quest. Given how cumbersome USB-C cables can be, Virtual Desktop takes away some of the clutter and lets users play any PC VR porn games while lying down in bed. Be warned, you’ll need a fast internet connection and a VR-ready gaming computer to make the most out of Virtual Desktop, but an ethernet cable between your router and gaming PC should do the trick.

READ MORE:

Ana Valens

Ana Valens is a reporter specializing in online queer communities, marginalized identities, and adult content creation. She is a former Daily Dot staff writer. Her work has appeared at Vice, Vox, Truthout, Bitch Media, Kill Screen, Rolling Stone, and the Toast. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and spends her free time developing queer adult games.

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Sometimes you want to use test versions of apps and games on the Oculus Quest or Oculus Quest 2 or simply install APK files. How do you install this APK file on the Oculus Quest 2?

Note: Installing APK files on Oculus Quest 2 from sources that have not been approved or verified by Oculus may result in you installing malware (viruses, Trojans, etc.) or software that may even damage your device. You could also lose your guarantee and warranty. Check the source of your APK file very carefully. You go through the following instructions at your own risk.

We’ll go through the following steps to install APK files on your Oculus Quest (2)

Steps 1 through 6 actually only have to be done once. Once you have followed these steps, you only need to carry out step 7 to continue installing APK files on your Oculus Quest or Oculus Quest 2 in the future.

Install SideQuest
Register as an Oculus developer
Download and install the Oculus ADB driver
Install / open the Oculus app on your smartphone
Activate Oculus Quest 2 Developer Mode
Connect with USB cable and allow USB debugging
Install APK files on Oculus Quest 2

1. Install SideQuest

SideQuest is a platform where many free games or games are available in alpha versions or games that exist independently of the Oculus Quest Store. SideQuest is available as software for Windows, Mac OS, Linux and even for Android smartphones. You can use this software to install APK files. Download and install the software. You will need it for the next steps:

2. Register as an Oculus developer

This step is very simple (you don’t actually have to be an Oculus developer either.) Sign up as an Oculus developer.

You can either simply use your Facebook account here, or create a new Oculus account if you want.

3. Download and install the Oculus ADB driver

You only need to download these Oculus ADB drivers if you are using Windows. With Mac OS, Linux, and Android, you can skip this step.

Download (and install) the Oculus ADB driver

After you’ve downloaded the drivers, install them by extracting the zip file and then right-clicking on android_winusb.inf click and select “Install”.

Install the Oculus ADB driver Oculus ADB drivers have been installed

4. Install / open the Oculus app on the smartphone

Install the official Oculus app on your smartphone (Android, iOS). This is the app that you also need to set up the Oculus Quest 2. Open the app and log in with the account you used to log in as an Oculus developer earlier (step 2).

5. Activate Oculus Quest 2 Developer Mode

In the Oculus app on your smartphone, do the following steps to activate developer mode on your VR-Headset

Select your Occulus Quest 2 (will be connected via Bluetooth)
Click on “Settings” in the lower right corner
Choose “… More settings”
Select “Developer Mode”
Activate developer mode

1. Select VR glasses
2. Settings
3. “Further settings” 4. Select developer mode 5. Activate developer mode

6. Connect with USB cable and allow USB debugging

Start the program “SideQuest” on your computer. Connect your VR headset to your computer using a USB cable. You will get a question in the Oculus Quest if you want to allow USB debugging. Choose OK here.

Allow USB debugging

In SideQuest on your computer you should now see a green dot in the top left. This means that your VR headset is connected.

Oculus Quest VR headset is connected to SideQuest.

7. Install APK files on Oculus Quest 2

In the upper right corner of SideQuest you will find the button “Install APK file from folder on computer”. Click on this button.

Install APK files on Oculus Quest 2

Select the appropriate APK file. The app will then be installed on your Oculus Quest or Oculus Quest 2.

Why install an app that is not available in the Oculus Quest Store?

Only apps that have been verified or approved by Oculus are available in the Oculus Quest Store. Now there can also be apps that e.g. For example, they haven’t been released yet, are still in beta, or are experimental apps that will never be available in the Oculus Quest Store. Sometimes it is also possible that you want to use an older version because the latest version no longer works properly after an update.

Many free games and games in development are also available on SideQuest (alpha and beta phase). You can pre-play these games before they even land in the Quest Store.

What is “Sideloading”?

The process of installing apps from other sources is called “Sideloading”. This term describes exactly that: The installation of apps that have not yet been approved or verified by Oculus.

Basically, you can only install what is offered in the Oculus Quest Store on the Oculus Quest 2. But sometimes you only have an APK file to hand. This works with “Sideloading”.

More about Oculus Quest 2

Steam VR and Oculus Link performance issues
Sometimes the connection between Steam VR and Oculus Link just doesn’t want to work properly. Here are a few suggested solutions: Steam VR and Oculus Link performance issues

Oculus Quest 2

Resolution per eye

Density per eye ⓘ ⓘ Pixel Density relativized to 6 inch for better comparison

By Mary . Updated: January 7, 2022 . Reading Time: 13 minutes .

23 Best VR apps. Virtual reality for learning skills, socializing, work

Gone are the days where virtual reality apps (VR) are used only for gaming. Some of the best VR apps currently available focus on a wide range of genres and interests and diverse uses, including learning, training, entertainment and conducting business.

Virtual reality apps are increasingly emerging across a quickly evolving market and engaging different platforms. VR apps can add value to your life and skillset in several ways. Some allow you to experience the immersion of VR, others allow you to engage with others in virtual spaces, and others help you learn and practice an important skill.

Would you like to visit the Titanic just before it sinks? Practice lifesaving surgery without the risk of a catastrophic outcome? Or climb a mountain from your own living room? With VR apps, you can. Below, we give you a tour of the best VR apps of 2022 that are available for iOS, Android, Oculus, Playstation VR, HTC Vive, and other popular VR headsets.

VR Apps – Overview

The world of VR apps can be exciting and even overwhelming. Having some foundational information about the benefits, technology, and availability of virtual reality apps may help you get started or expand your use.

Purpose – VR apps take you away from the current moment and into a simulated environment for immersive experiences. Those apps are designed for VR in education, training, entertainment, design, engineering, and other purposes.

Benefits – Some of the greatest benefits of VR apps include the potential to save money, move beyond physical limitations and make learning more engaging. Some are free and some have a price. You can find VR apps for common headsets on specialized platforms.

Types – VR apps can also be categorized as non-immersive, semi-immersive and fully immersive, depending upon the level of simulation. Whether you are looking to have fun, meet friends, shake-up your workspace, conference with others, practice a skill or learn something new, check out the following list of different types of VR apps.

Best VR Apps 2022 – Top Picks

SideQuest VR	Steam VR	Oculus VR	VivePort VR
PC, Mac, Linux	Headsets, Windows	PC, VR Headsets	PC, Headsets
★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★
Read Review	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review

While there are many, many VR apps available on the market, this list provides a sample.

I tried adding games to steam as nonsteam vr games and then launching them from inside steamvr but that doesn’t seem to … Play any game in VR with VRidge technology! The Oculus Quest 2 is capable, but there are many games it can’t play. You’ll only see this icon if you have a VR headset connected to your PC. Doing this is really simple. #5. And now, thanks to the DRM they implemented, games from their store can be easily pirated, to boot. steamdb is a great resource to know what games need a parameter included in .exe It is not hard to crack steamvr games. Android TV apps are listed at the bottom of the app list in the Oculus TV app. Once you are done, you can head over to our list of the top 5 VR games for Oculus Quest in 2019. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. In otherwords, when i dont have a headset plugged in, the headtracking gets reassigned to mouse. Games launch just fine from the virtual desktop dashboard, but the vd dashboard does not detect pirated games and i cannot figure out how to add them. fallout 4 and fallout 4 vr are very similar. Free VR Games. Your SteamVR games that support Rift will now work in your headset. Community Hub. But I don’t really care about launching from home, I just want something quicker than having to open steam, right-click pcars2 on my list and select oculus vr mode. Shooting & Slice Action Position Tracking (Move / Evasion) Vs Giant Boss Battle (Kraken) 2

Since the update which added support for the Oculus store, I can’t use Virtual Desktop for VR games/apps.
I don’t have Oculus Rift or Link cable, so the Oculus software won’t let me to install a device. The SteamVR client stopped recognize the Virtual Desktop Headset/Controllers.

Couldn’t find how to configure the Oculus software with no hardware.

Any tips how to setup Virtual Desktop to work with SteamVR?

Thanks for the reply. Maybe it was like that in the past(I also remembered something similar), but it doesn’t work now.
If I select skip, it doesn’t add the device. It shows that I have Quest and Touch but they are not connected. I can’t add the Rift or the Rift S.

But I did manage to run SteamVR games again, had to quit the SteamVR in desktop, and re-launch it from the button in Virtual Desktop on the Quest.

I can confirm the same thing. SteamVR does not think there is a headset connected. Seems like VD is just plain broken.

Did you install the version from SideQuest? Did you launch SteamVR from the button in Virtual Desktop?

The store version doesn’t have the VR streaming feature (Oculus didn’t want it on their store). You have to install the version from SideQuest (a program that lets you install apps not approved on the oculus store). This is explained in the 2nd question in the FAQ:

You probably have software on your computer blocking connections, this isn’t normal

I am having the same problem as @De-Panther. I have sideloaded VD on the Quest. Running Version 1.12.1 on both Oculus Quest and PC. The Quest connects with the PC flawlessly but SteamVR doesn’t recognize the headset (anymore). I do not even get the “Launch Steam VR” button in VD anymore. I have reinstalled both SteamVR and VD several times and disabled all firewalls. This drives me nuts!

Ryzen 3900X
Geforce 1080GTX latest Driver (445.75)
32GB RAM

Same happens on my laptop btw. both machines used to work.

You can create the WFH setup of your dreams if you strap an Oculus Quest 2 to your face.

Think of the Oculus Quest 2 and you naturally think gaming: flying through virtual reality worlds, shooting down virtual reality enemies, and so on. But Oculus has been updating its software recently and new features suggest it’s keen to help you get some work done, too—even if we’re still in the early stages of that potential being realized.

The main appeal of a virtual reality environment for work is that you can set up as many screens as you like, of whatever size you like. You can at last get the triple 32-inch monitor setup of your dreams, and your VR desk will always be clean. You’ve got a number of options for setting this up on your Oculus Quest 2, and we’ll take you through them here.

Add a Keyboard and Mouse

There’s an ideal hardware setup for the Oculus Quest 2 when it comes to working, and that’s to buy and install the $60 Logitech K830 keyboard, which has an integrated trackpad. Right now, it’s the only keyboard that you’ll actually be able to see in front of you in full, glorious VR, though we’re expecting more keyboards and more software options to arrive in the future.

You can actually add any keyboard and mouse combination you like right now, though the feature is still marked as “experimental” inside the Oculus Quest 2 settings. Open up Settings via the apps list, then choose Experimental Features. Click Pair and then Pair a new device, put your mouse or keyboard into pairing mode, and you should be able to link the two.

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You’ll see there are also Bluetooth mouse and trackpad and Tracked Keyboard settings, if you happen to have the Logitech K830 (or some other compatible device, once we see more of them). There’s also a Bring Your Desk Into VR option: select Add/Remove next to this and you can tell the headset where your desk is. When you get close to it, you can use this as an alternative to your standard playing area, so you’ll see your controllers sitting on the desk, for example.

The fact that this is all labeled as experimental, and only one keyboard is currently supported, tells you that it’s early days. We should see plenty of improvements in the future, and no doubt plenty of tweaks to the settings and options we’ve mentioned so far. Facebook is apparently working on a pass-through window to see any keyboard, though it’s not here yet.

Work With Apps

Unless you’re using the Logitech K830 or are a very gifted typist, you’re probably going to want to see your keyboard. You can do this by replacing the virtual background behind your apps with the pass-through view from the cameras on the Quest 2. Open Quick Settings (from the left of the home menu), then select the Pass-through Home option.

The obvious place to start to get some work done is the built-in browser—it’s at the top of the main apps panel—which can get to you Google Docs, Outlook on the web, or wherever you need to be. Select the three dots up in the top right of the browser interface and you can change the size of the window you’re looking at; above the browser is a + (plus) button for opening up adjacent windows.

For perhaps an even better option, give Firefox Reality a try. It’s more flexible and versatile than the bundled browser, and it can also open up multiple windows side by side for that really immersive feel (you can surround yourself with web apps, if you want). Unfortunately, for the time being at least, Firefox Reality doesn’t support the VR desk or pass-through background features.

The productivity apps you’ll find in the Oculus Quest 2 library at the moment are mostly related to virtual meetings and graphic design, and we’ll have to wait for the productivity features that we’ve mentioned to be fully integrated and supported before office and messaging apps start showing up. That definitely seems to be the way Facebook wants to go in the future, though, as this demo video shows.

Work From Your Computer

There’s another option here, which is to have whatever’s happening on your Windows or macOS computer beamed over to a VR space that you access through your Oculus Quest 2. Your hardware setup stays pretty much exactly as it already is, but you can access it (from the same room or the other side of the world) through your virtual reality headset. You get to play around with multiple displays and more.

You’ve got a few choices to pick from. Immersed is one of the most impressive, and i t’s free if you stick to two virtual monitors, with plenty more options (like a shared whiteboard and customizable workspaces) available for $15 per month and up. You need a desktop client on your laptop or desktop, and the app on your Oculus Quest 2, and then you’re ready to mirror whatever’s on your computer in a VR space.

Virtual Desktop runs along similar lines, and is also available for Windows and macOS. Yo u only get one screen to work with at a time, but you can resize and position it however you like, and choose from a wide variety of scenarios and backgrounds. Both the apps for your computer and your Oculus Quest 2 are simple to set up and use, and Virtual Desktop will set you back $20.

Finally there’s vSpatial , which packs in a whole host of features to help you collaborate with others, including screen sharing, chat functions, and plenty more. Like the other two tools, you need to run one program on your headset and one program on your computer to start the remote desktop access on your local wifi network, and you can take it from there. You can get started with vSpatial for free, with features like group meetings and remote access over the internet costing from $10 a month.

Oculus Link lets you tether your headset to your PC, but there’s still a way to keep the entire experience wireless.

on September 29, 2021 at 6:42AM PDT

If you’re looking at getting a VR headset this holidsy there’s no question that you should be considering an Oculus Quest 2, one of the best VR headsets of 2021. Facebook’s latest iteration on the wireless headset brings with it some big improvements, including a higher refresh rate, high resolution, and, most importantly, a lower starting price. There really aren’t any drawbacks to getting this over the original Quest.

That’s a big deal when you consider how malleable the Quest 2 really is, especially if you have a powerful PC to supplement its on-the-go library of games with more graphically-demanding ones. Since the first Quest, you’ve been able to hook up the headset to a PC and play games designed for the (now discontinued) Oculus Rift, as well as any SteamVR titles. Oculus has even made it easier by relaxing the requirements of the cable you use, so that even the charging cable that comes in the box can be used. If your PC is powerful enough, you are ready to dive into the vast library of Oculus Rift games without needing any extra hardware.

But if you’ve been enjoying the freedom of true wireless VR that the Quest offers, it’s difficult to go back to being tethered. With the right setup and a little patience, however, you can replicate this with PC-based titles, too, using Oculus’ own solution or the tried-and-tested Virtual Desktop.

Air Link, Oculus’s native solution to wireless streaming, launched earlier this year for the Quest 2, offering a seamless way to have your PC connect to your headset and stream games without the fuss of any cables. It is still housed in the headset’s experimental features suite, which means you will need to do some fiddling to get it working. Once you have the Oculus PC App downloaded, open the Settings menu and navigate to the Beta tab. You can activate Air Link functionality here, which will then use your PC’s connection to beam content over Wi-Fi. On your Quest 2, head over to the Settings menu, select experimental features, and activate Air Link. Find your PC under the list of available PCs and pair the two. After that, you can simply launch Air Link from the quick action menu.

Virtual Desktop is an alternative that also doesn’t require an Oculus Quest 2 (it works just as well on the original Quest) and allows you to stream the contents of your desktop to the Oculus Quest using your Wi-Fi network, much like how remote play works on the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5. The app is optimized with VR in mind, meaning with the right setup you can achieve the low latency required to not make you immediately motion sick when you start moving around.

The initial setup used to involve sideloading apps onto your Quest, but it’s since been streamlined significantly. Now you can just purchase Virtual Desktop on your Oculus Quest, download the associated PC app, and link the two. It still costs $20, but it’s a worthwhile investment for the freedom it will give you when playing immersive VR titles.

For both Air Link and Virtual Desktop, your router is an important part of the entire chain, and for the best results it will need to support a 5GHz band to ensure the strongest connection to the headset. If you can keep this frequency exclusively open for the Quest, too, that will help your experience.

I used Virtual Desktop and my original Oculus Quest to play through the entirety of Half-Life: Alyx after spending hours trying to get Oculus Link to reliably work without success. After the initial hurdle of setting up, getting back into games was a breeze, and the overall experience was incredibly strong. Not only were visuals crisp, but the latency was not noticeable, even when I was getting involved in frantic firefights or having to yank a head crab from my face. Best of all: no wires to trip over ever.

It’s not a solution that will work for everyone, and Oculus Link certainly offers a great visual experience with its wired connection, but nothing really beats the feeling of not worrying about a cable to trip over. It’s worth a shot for a potentially transformative way to play PC VR games.

Save game progress and achievements separately for each user

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

What to Know

Enable multi-user accounts on your Quest 2, and add at least one secondary account. Log into the Quest 2 using your admin account.
Select Settings (gear icon) >Accounts > toggle on App Sharing.
You can add up to three secondary accounts, which can play games owned by the admin.

This article explains how to share Meta (Oculus) Quest 2 apps between multiple accounts on the same headset allowing each person to have their own game progress and achievements.

How to Enable App Sharing on Quest 2

App sharing is a feature that allows the admin account on a Quest 2 to share Meta/Oculus Quest games and apps with secondary accounts. Each additional user that logs in using their own Facebook account gains access to the admin account’s purchased games and apps when this feature is enabled, but games purchased by those additional accounts are not shared.

App sharing is an experimental feature, which means it may be changed or removed at any time. If you don’t have the multi-user feature on your Quest, it may not be enabled yet.

Here’s how you can enable app sharing on your Quest 2:

If you aren’t already using the admin account, select the universal menu’s user icon to switch.

Select Settings (gear icon) from the main navigation bar.

Select Accounts from the Settings sidebar.

The Accounts option is not available if you haven’t yet enabled multi-user accounts. If you don’t see Accounts in the sidebar, make sure you’ve turned on the multi-user account feature.

Select the App Sharing toggle to turn on the app sharing feature.

When the feature is enabled, the toggle will be blue. Secondary accounts on your Quest 2 will now be able to access your apps and games, have their own game saves and progress, and achievements.

How Does App Sharing Work on Meta (Oculus) Quest 2?

The app sharing feature allows the admin account on a Quest 2 to share purchased apps with others on the same headset. The admin account is the one you used to perform the initial setup, and you can add secondary accounts through the multi-user account feature.

When the app sharing feature is on, secondary accounts can access most of the admin account’s apps. Some apps don’t support this feature and require an additional purchase, but you can share most apps using this method.

Can You Play Multiplayer with Meta (Oculus) Quest 2 App Sharing?

Playing multiplayer games with the app sharing feature is complicated because you can’t play the same game with the same account on multiple Quest 2 headsets after activating the multi-user account feature. It is possible to play multiplayer games with this feature in most cases, but some apps don’t support it.

Here’s how to play multiplayer games with the Quest 2 app sharing feature:

Purchase a game with the admin account on the first Quest 2.

Add a secondary account to the first headset, and then use the new account to play the game.

The account can be the admin of the second headset or added as a secondary account. As it owns the game, it doesn’t matter whether it’s secondary or primary.

Download and install the game on the second headset.

Play the game on the second headset using the admin account from the first headset.

If the app supports it, you can now play together.

Limitations of App Sharing on Meta (Oculus) Quest 2

When you enable app sharing, it disables an old feature. Before Meta introduced the multi-user feature and app sharing, it was possible to log into multiple headsets at once with a single account and play the same game on both headsets, concurrently with the same account. For example, you could buy a game on one headset, log into a different headset with the same account, and play the same game on both headsets with the same account at the same time.

If you enable app sharing, you can no longer use one account on two headsets to play the same game simultaneously. For two people to play a game you have purchased on two headsets simultaneously, they need to log into different accounts. Doing this works for both single-player games and multiplayer games, but only if you follow the multiplayer games’ procedure in the previous section.

Additionally, you can only enable app sharing on a single Quest 2. You can still use your Meta or Facebook account as the admin account on multiple headsets, but you can only enable the app sharing feature on a single headset.

The last notable limitation is the admin account can share apps with secondary accounts, but secondary accounts can’t share their apps. So if a secondary account purchases an app, only the secondary account can use that app.

You can, however, log in to one Meta (Oculus) Quest 2 as a secondary account and then use the same Oculus or Facebook account to set up a different Quest 2 as the admin user. Any games you purchased as a secondary account will be available on your new Quest 2, and you can even share them with secondary accounts on that headset if you enable app sharing.

Steam is without a doubt the most popular gaming platform on PC, with the largest game catalogue and user base. It also has a quite large VR gaming library. You clearly want to be able to enjoy the games offered by the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset without needing to utilise your computer if you have one. However, you might wish to try out some of your Steam-based VR games. This is especially true if you already possess a copy of a game on Steam and don’t want to pay for it again. Thankfully, you don’t have to stick to certified Oculus titles if you want to play Steam VR games on your Quest 2.

To play Steam VR games with your Quest 2 headset, there are two options: using a cable or going wireless. You’ll get the optimum performance and stability if you use the official five-meter Oculus connection cable. Nonetheless, it costs $80, which is a lot for a USB cable. Other cables will work, but make sure they’re USB 2.0 or better, and that they have a USB Type-C connection. If required, you obtain an adapter for your PC.

For the wireless version, you’ll need to buy “Virtual Desktop” from the Oculus Store, not the Steam version. This programme will set you back $20 and may or may not function well for you. Users report varying levels of performance, thus your mileage may vary depending on your configuration.

Whatever connection option you choose, you’ll need a computer capable of running VR games, as well as Steam and Steam VR installed. The Steam shop has a free version of Steam VR. You’ll also need to have the Oculus software on your PC.

Connect your Quest 2 headset to your PC using your connection cord once the aforementioned programme is loaded. The Oculus app should detect your headset as a Quest 2 once it’s connected and run a brief performance test on your connection. This test ensures that the data transfer rate between the devices is fast enough for a VR experience. Unless you’ve linked it through a sluggish adapter, the official Oculus connection cord will pass this without a hitch. Third-party wires might not be appropriate.

When the performance test is finished, put the Quest 2 headset on. If a window appears in the headset asking you to “Allow access to data,” select “Deny,” as granting this permission may result in disconnection difficulties. To connect, select “Enable” on the following window. If it doesn’t appear, click the Oculus button on the right controller and select “Oculus Link” from the “Connections” menu to enter the settings.

There will now be a new Oculus link homeroom. To access the Steam VR home, go to the home screen and select “Steam VR.” Steam VR games may now be launched directly from the Steam VR home. To access the Steam games list, press the “Menu” button on the left controller.

If you wish to connect wirelessly, you should do everything you can to ensure that your connection is as strong as possible. Ideally, use an ethernet connection to connect your computer to the router, and then make sure your headset is linked to the 5 GHz Wi-Fi network. Because signal quality is decreased by distance and especially walls, the closer your headset is to the router, the better the connection will be. You’ll also need the gear and software listed above, sans the connection cord.

To connect wirelessly, put on your Quest 2 headset, then go to the Oculus store and buy and install the “Virtual Desktop” software.

Remove the headset and sign into the Oculus app on your PC while it instals, then install the Virtual Desktop streamer software. When the installation is finished, open the app. After that, click “Save” and input your Oculus username. You may also wish to customise the settings on the right to suit your needs.

Install and start the Virtual Desktop Streamer software on your PC, then enter your Oculus login and password. Put the headset back on and start the Virtual Desktop app while the streamer app is running on your PC. From the list of possible connections, choose your computer.

Once you’re connected, click the menu button on the left controller to access the Virtual Desktop menu. To launch the Steam home, click “Start Steam VR” from the left menu. Alternatively, you may use the “Games” option to start a specific Steam game.

For your Quest 2 VR headset, the Oculus shop has a wide selection of titles. You could already have several VR games in your Steam collection if you have a strong gaming PC. It’s understandable that you don’t want to have to pay for them again in order to play. You can connect your Quest 2 headset to your computer by following the instructions in this guide. You may now play your Steam games with a link cable or wirelessly, whichever you want.

Oculus store means you are giving money to facebook. Outside of the rift.

So brave and strong.. I am all about giving my VR money to Facebook because they are pushing VR and besides Half Life there is nothing that is better on the Steam store. Stop making things about some fake moral stand because you saw someone else write it. I would bet my paycheck that you actively use Facebook.

You’d be wrong on all counts. Let me show you boneworks

Get this on oculus, unfortunately i find the game runs like crap for my rift s and runs perfectly with my vive. I am not sure why

Whats the point of buying on Oculus when most PC gamers use steam?

Get this on oculus, unfortunately i find the game runs like crap for my rift s and runs perfectly with my vive. I am not sure why

Whats the point of buying on Oculus when most PC gamers use steam?

You can get a link cable for the Quest and it acts just like a Rift. Then you have the ability to go mobile or play steam games. But if you play games on steam. use the STEAM VR tool because games are wonky without it .

It’s bad enough that you give money to facebook when you buy an Oculus HMD. I’m not going to give them money directly via their store.

I have the option of both. I could careless what they do with their money. Oculus store just had a sale where you could get vr bundles. sometimes steam does this. I’ll play both markets while your limited to one.

Plus I can go wireless and take my system to a friends house without needing an expensive PC rig to follow.. (Which i do have anyway)

Suppose to be for the flexibility of you not where the companies money is routed. I mean you think buying a rift from oculus is really sticking it to them? They careless they got your money either way.

Honestly if the Quest wasn’t a self sufficient platform of it’s own I wouldn’t be buying from the Oculus Store as much, but the ability to have games installed into a wireless headset without running off a third party device is pretty epic. I am glad I got the quest instead of the rift, much better deal.

Steam is usually cheaper then oculus store, and sometimes you can get steam games from third party’s. The oculus store can be more expensive at times but I see some great sales as well from them .

Games like Path of the Warrior or the Climb arn’t on steam store.

Everyone has the option of using both. I honestly have no reason to buy from Facebook. Besides the fact that I don’t want to.

Plus I can go wireless and take my system to a friends house without needing an expensive PC rig to follow.. (Which i do have anyway)

You can hook any VR setup to a gaming laptop and play that anywhere. There’s even backpack VR setups being sold. That is not a unique feature.I’d rather not be limited to cell phone graphics. That feels like going backwards especially since the new HP Reverb G2 has two 2160 x 2160 per-eye displays with inside tracking like occulus devices do, and Field of View of 114 degrees for $600 with controllers.

The screen door problem are supposed to be fixed in the HP HMD.

I haven’t used the quest, so I wouldn’t know how it compares to the Rift, Index, etc.

You can use a second hand market to avoid paying money to facebook to buy occulus equipment. They can only register sales from distributors like bestbuy as sales. One thing they don’t get is your personal information or CC. Facebook is a data mining company and they can only mine what you give them. They don’t own all of VR, so they don’t get get money from things like OSVR, WMR, or other VR makers.

Games like Path of the Warrior or the Climb arn’t on steam store.

So you’ve just bought yourself an Oculus Quest. Hello, wireless VR with head and hand-tracking!

You’re probably going to download a bunch of games (we highly recommend Beat Saber, Sports Scramble, and SuperHot VR to get you started). But there’s a whole lot more to do in VR on the Quest beyond slicing rhythm cubes and dodging bullets in slow-motion.

With the right app, you can do stuff your parents could only dream of doing, like running your Windows PC (all of it) in virtual space, or painting in 3D, or watching movies with friends that live on the opposite side of the world on a massive theater-sized screen.

Before you strap on the Quest and grab its controllers, check out these 11 non-gaming apps we’ve tried out. Oculus is promising more to come, but for now these are the ones we think every Quest owner should check out first.

1. Apollo 11

Space geeks will get a real kick out of Apollo 11. The VR app recreates the historic mission to the moon from launch to landing.

Developer Immersive VR Education worked its butt off to simulate what the feeling of leaving Earth through the eyes of astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. Though, the interactive parts aren’t very deep, Apollo 11 is an excellent example of how VR can bring us to places we’d normally not be able to visit.

2. Bigscreen Beta

On the surface, Bigscreen Beta is a hassle-free way to stream your Windows PC to a screen in VR. But using Bigscreen Beta by yourself to run your PC on a larger screen defeats the point of the VR app, which is to enjoy content with other people.

You can easily create a theater-sized VR room and invite friends to watch movies or TV shows together or join one of the many public virtual movie theaters that already exist; I watched I Am Legend for about 30 minutes with strangers and it didn’t feel weird at all.

The app’s cross-platform so you’ll likely meet people who are on Oculus and HTC Vive headsets. Just don’t spend too much time oohing and ahhing or you will probably get yelled at by somebody like I did.

3. Nature Treks VR

Nature Treks is arguably one of the most relaxing VR experiences in my opinion. Once loaded up, the VR app lets you visit nine locations such as an island beach, grassy meadow, or savannah. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can even go into space and watch as planets orbit the sun.

The actual locations themselves are small (you won’t be able to go beyond certain boundaries in the distance), but even so the atmospheric music and calm environments are enough to quickly put you at ease unless you’re the kind of person who hates nature.

4. Ocean Rift

Billed as a “VR aquatic safari park,” Ocean Rift is an enjoyable exploration of Earth’s oceans. The VR experience gives you an up-close look at 12 different underwater habitats and the creatures that live in them. Ever wanted to see a shark up close but never had the guts to do it IRL? No problem, Ocean Rift is the perfect way to do it without a) getting wet and b) being put in harm’s way.

Sure, you can always visit an aquarium to see dolphins and turtles, but can you see a whale or dinosaur? Not a chance. However, with Ocean Rift, the admission price is less than most movie tickets.

5. Rec Room

You probably already know this, but VR can be a very isolating experience and most games on Quest so far are single-player. With Rec Room, you can meet up and “hang” with friends in a number of user-created rooms in VR, kind of like a virtual forum.

Unlike most VR games, you don’t need to really do anything inside of Rec Room. While I mostly went in to chat with peeps (the app supports multiple platforms and anyone with an Oculus VR headset, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, or Windows Mixed Reality headset can join in), there are a handful of multiplayer games like dodgeball and paintball you can play in. One thing worth noting: About 25 percent of player-created rooms available on other VR headsets won’t be accessible at launch; future updates will reportedly add them in.

The graphics sure aren’t anything to write home about, but what you give up in visuals, you gain in gameplay and a sense of community.

6. SKYBOX VR Video Player

YouTube VR (see below) is a great way to watch VR content uploaded online, but if you want to view large, high-resolution videos, you’re going to want to use SKYBOX VR Video Player. It’s sorta like VLC Player, but for VR headsets.

With SKYBOX, you can view videos locally or stream them from a connected PC. The app supports a ton of video formats such H.265, VP9, WEBM, and Blu-ray, and can automatically detect them so there’s no need to do any extra encoding for playback. I played a legally ripped Blu-ray copy of Interstellar in 4K and it was a more cinematic experience than watching it on my 46-inch HDTV.

7. Sling TV

If you subscribe to Sling TV for your TV programming, there’s good news: You can watch all of its content on a virtual 180-inch display on the Quest, too.

The Sling TV app for Oculus Quest is identical to the one on Oculus Go and comes with a basic point-and-click interface. Navigating around channels is a no-frills VR experience, but it gets the job done.

8. Tilt Brush

Tilt Brush was one of the breakout non-game apps on the original Oculus Rift and HTC Vive and it’s even more immersive without a cable literally holding you back from painting in 3D space.

On the Quest, painting in 3D virtual space is just as fun and simple. Whether you’re doing a quick doodle with brushes like fire or stars, or drawing something more complex, Tilt Brush has enough depth to keep you entertained for hours. Nothing beats walking around a 3D painting.

9. Virtual Desktop

The name tells you everything you need to know about Virtual Desktop: You can use your computer in VR. Basically, instead of a computer monitor, you get a virtual screen for your Windows PC (8.1 or 10 works) almost as if you were interfacing with computers in Minority Report.

It’s a barebones app that does one thing, but it actually works and it’s really sweet to be able to do all your computing in the virtual space. The Oculus Touch controllers can even be used to replace gestures for things like pinch-to-zoom.

10. VRChat

Remember Second Life or PlayStation Home, where people from over the world could create virtual avatars and just chill in digital space? VRChat is like that, but way bigger.

Less of a game and more of a whole bunch of VR communities, VRChat lets you explore a crazy amount of community-created virtual rooms and mingle. The controls take some getting used to and the visuals can be primitive if you’re looking for more realism, but once you get to know a few buddies, things can get wild (in good and bad ways). Follow the rules and you’ll be alright!

11. YouTube VR

Slicing and dicing rhythm blocks in Beat Saber is hella fun and all, but for those times you want to just sit back and watch videos by your favorite video creators, there’s YouTube VR.

The app, which is beefed up version of the one released for Oculus Go, has over 1 million “VR videos” that let you look around in 360-degrees. Not all of them have depth, though. If VR videos aren’t your cup of tea, you can also watch any regular YouTube video in 2D on a big VR screen, which is still neat.

Related Video: We played Oculus Quest games and mayhem ensued