Find out how to enable and use Air Link on Oculus Quest 2. Want to play PC VR content wirelessly on Oculus Quest 2 using Air Link? The following describes everything you need to do so and how to connect.
Oculus Quest 2 is a fantastic standalone headset from Facebook. The Oculus Quest store has a bunch of its own content, but one of the key features of the Quest platform is the ability to also play PC VR content by connecting the headset to a VR-enabled computer.
Facebook’s official method, Oculus Link, was launched in late 2019 as a wired PC connection to play PC VR games on Quest. However, with the latest v28 software update, Air Link allows PC VR content to be played on Quest over Wi-Fi. Here’s how it works.
What you need
VR-Ready PC.
As with a regular wired connection, in addition to the Oculus Quest headset for Air Link, you’ll need a VR-ready PC.
Check out the Oculus Link compatibility page on Facebook to see if your PC meets the minimum requirements to work with Oculus Link. Although the information was written for a wired connection, it’s still a great tool for assessing whether your PC is ready for a VR connection via Air Link.
Depending on the game, PC performance requirements may also vary – some PC VR games require more powerful hardware than others – so be sure to check the game’s system requirements as well.
Software
Download the official Oculus PC app, which is a program that runs Oculus Link and allows you to play PC VR games on your headset. You need to run the latest version, v28, for Air Link to work.
In addition, your Quest 2 also requires system software version 28. The update has already begun, but like all Quest software updates, it is a step-by-step process. This means that not everyone will receive the update at the same time, and headsets will gradually get access to the software update. You can find out what version of software Quest is running and check for updates by going to the Settings menu and going to About.
Wi-Fi Router
As with Virtual Desktop, Air Link requires a good Wi-Fi router with a stable intranet connection to work reliably. Oculus recommends using a 5 GHz network running on AC or AX routers. It is also recommended that the PC running the games connect directly to the router via ethernet cable rather than Wi-Fi.
Installation process
- Enabling Air Link on your PC
- Every time you want to connect via Air Link, you will first need to enable it in the Oculus PC app.
- Go to Settings, then to the Beta tab. At the bottom you should see a switch for Air Link. By turning it on, the app will use the Air Link wireless connection instead of the regular wired connection. This switch will automatically turn off after 24 hours, so if 24 hours or more have passed between game sessions, you will have to turn it on again.
Enabling Air Link in Quest / Pairing your Quest
You also need to enable Air Link on Quest, as this feature is still experimental and has not yet been released in the official version. To do this, go to your Quest’s Settings menu, then go to Experimental Features. This is where you should be able to enable Air Link. If you don’t have this option, try reloading the headset again. Still no? Then Facebook may not have enabled Air Link on your device yet, even if you have v28. You’ll need to wait a while (really, it’s impossible to tell how long) and check again.
and have done all of the above, then you should already be up and running and compliant. Click “Continue”.
Launch Air Link
Launch Air Link from the “Quick Actions” menu in the Quest settings. Make sure Air Link is still enabled in the PC App settings (it will shut off automatically after 24 hours) and that your Quest is connected to the same network. If this is the first time you are using Air Link, you will be asked to pair your Quest with your computer. A list of all computers on the same network as your headset that are running the Oculus v28 PC App and have the Air Link setup enabled in Beta. Select your PC and your computer will be paired and ready for use.
The process for using Air Link for PC VR games should be exactly the same as using a PC VR headset or Oculus Link wired connection.
Performance
Debugging tool options
Performance issues? If you’re sure your network is set up correctly, try other options. Reddit users have noted that settings in the Oculus Debug Tool for Oculus Link can affect Air Link latency and performance, even though this setting is only for wired connections.
If you have changed the Oculus Link bitrate in the debug tool, you will need to set it to 0 to get optimal Air Link performance. The Oculus debugging tool can be found in the “Program Files\Oculus\Support\oculus-diagnostics\” directory.
Once you have opened the debugging tool, find the “Encode Bitrate (Mbps)” setting under Oculus Link and make sure the value is set to 0 to ensure optimal Air Link performance.
Bit-rate setting.
Oculus Dash also has a new setting that allows you to adjust the bitrate of Oculus Link when using Air Link, which can significantly improve performance.
The setting is on the “Air Link” panel in Oculus Dash and allows you to choose between dynamic and static bitrate.
Bitrate is the amount of data sent over Air Link in Quest – a higher bitrate will mean higher quality, but it can increase latency and cause interruptions.
This setting will have to be adjusted on a case-by-case basis – the upper limit of the bitrate will be determined by your PC’s specifications and capabilities.
Dynamic bitrate automatically selects how your hardware will work best at a particular moment in time – if you don’t know what you’re doing and don’t want to mess with anything, use this option.
Static bitrate will allow you to set a consistent level of quality, but may affect performance. When a static bitrate is required, use the slider to find the setting that will give you the best quality without sacrificing performance. If the level is too high and Air Link hangs for 10 seconds, the setting will automatically change to the default.