Oculus Quest 2 Air Link Not Working? (No Panic, Easy Fix)

Meta Oculus Quest 2 Air Link not working? Well, this guide covers everything you need to know!

The Air Link feature is an impressive (still experimental) feature, allowing wireless connection from the headset to a gaming computer.

However, many people report problems with the Air Link on their setup, so we’ve prepared this short guide to help you resolve your linking issue.

Quick Fix: When Oculus Quest Air Link is not working, check the necessary PC requirements and setup specifications. If everything is compatible, verify that your devices are on the same network.

Let’s unwrap everything chronologically!

Why Does the Oculus Air Link Quest 2 Not Working?

There are many reasons why the Air Link would not work on your Oculus Quest 2, most of which are related to compatibility and requirements.

So, let’s take a thorough look at all the requirements and all of the hardware specifications your computer must be prepared with!

Oculus Quest Air Link PC Requirements!
Graphics Card	Check Meta Oculus-Supported GPUs.
Processor (CPU)	AMD Ryzen 5 1500X / Intel i5-4590 or greater
Memory (RAM)	Minimum of 8 GB RAM on the computer
Operating System	Windows 10 or 11 (updated)
USB Ports	1 x USB port (2.0 or 3.0)

Oculus Quest Air Link Set Requirements!
Oculus Quest 2 VR headset	A charged and working Oculus Quest 2
Ethernet-connected computer	PC connected via Ethernet cable to the router, modem, or access point (no WiFi).
Close proximity to the router	You must stay within 20 feet of the WiFi router for an optimal Quest 2 connection.
5 GHz WiFi network frequency	Dual-band router with an enabled 5 GHz frequency thread.
Quest 2 Build V28 or later	The firmware of your Oculus Quest 2 must be up to date for Air Link to work.

How to Fix When Oculus Quest 2 Air Link Not Working?

Tip: Follow the instructions chronologically!

1. Setup Oculus Air Link *Correctly*

When experiencing issues with the Oculus Quest 2 Air Link feature, the first and most crucial step is double-checking whether the setup is correctly established.

The procedure consists of three general steps we’ll review in-depth to ensure the Air Link setup is intact.

Step #1 – Setting Up the Oculus Desktop App

You must have downloaded and installed the latest version of the Oculus Desktop App, which is available for Windows computers.

So, when you land on the official Meta website, go down and click on the big blue “DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE” button to acquire the “OculusSetup.exe.”

When you start the installation, you only need to follow the prompts until the software is installed and sign into your Meta Account.

Step #2 – Connecting Quest 2 to Oculus App

Here’s how to connect your Oculus Quest 2 to the Oculus app:

1. First, power on the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset.
2. Connect the headset to the PC via USB-C cable.
3. Select “Deny” on the data prompt on the headset.
4. When asked, select the “Enable Oculus Link.”

When you’re ready with the steps, your Oculus Quest 2 will be recognized by the Oculus app!

Step #3 – Establishing Connection via Air Link

To enable the Air Link, verify that both your devices are on the same WiFi/network and enter the Settings of the Oculus desktop app.

From there, you must click on the “Beta” tab on the top and click on the toggle next to “Air Link.” 

Then, equip your headset, press the Oculus button on the controller, and go to Settings.

Next, select the “Experimental Features” tab and toggle on “Air Link” from there. Your computer’s name should appear, so select “Pair” and launch the software you want to experience in VR.

If you experience problems with the Air Link, continue reading!

2. Connect Quest 2 to the PC’s WiFi

If the Air Link feature is not working or your computer does not appear in the connection tab on your Oculus Quest 2, perhaps you’re on a different network.

It’s very important to connect your Oculus Quest to the router’s WiFi, supplying your computer with internet via an Ethernet cable.

In other words, your Oculus Quest and computer must be on the same network, meaning your headset must be connected to the main router’s WiFi.

How to Connect Oculus Quest to WiFi?

1. Press the “Oculus” button on the controller.
2. Using your trigger, select the WiFi symbol.
3. Choose the WiFi connection from the menu.
4. Then, insert the correct password to connect.

When your Oculus Quest and computer are connected to the same network, they will be able to communicate, meaning that Air Link should now work.

So, go back to the correct steps to turn on Air Link and test whether the feature would work smoothly.

Important: Verify that your WiFi network is connected to the internet and accessible!

3. Reinstall the Oculus Desktop App

One of the potential causes for a non-working Air Link on your Oculus Quest 2 is the computer app, which is the fundament of the connection.

Whenever the app is outdated or some essential files are missing, the Oculus application’s functionalities may not work, including the Air Link!

Hence, removing the application from your computer and installing the software cleanly is one of the most potent solutions against non-working features.

Here’s how to uninstall and reinstall the Oculus Quest app on Windows:

1. First, exit the Oculus desktop app on your PC.
2. Then, click on the Start Menu from the Taskbar.
3. Next, type “Control Panel” and enter the panel.
4. On the top right, set “View By” to “Small Icons.”
5. Next, find and click on “Programs and Features.”
6. Locate the Oculus desktop app from the menu.
7. Highlight the app and click the “Uninstall” button.
8. Follow the prompts to uninstall the application.
9. Download and install the Oculus Desktop App.
10. Open the app, sign in, and connect the headset.

Reminder: To connect the Oculus Quest headset to the Oculus desktop app, follow the correct steps from earlier in the guide.

4. Update the Oculus Quest System

The Oculus Quest 2 must be on a firmware build V28 or later for the Air Link feature to work, so if you haven’t updated the headset in a while, it’s time for an update.

The only requirement is to have your headset connected to a reliable WiFi network, and you can manually start an update.

Here’s how to manually update your Oculus Quest 2 headset:

1. Press the “Oculus” button on your controller.
2. Select “Settings” from the universal menu.
3. Scroll down and navigate to the “About” tab.
4. Choose “Download, Install, or Install Update.”

The Oculus Quest headset will now check for updates, and if a more recent build is discovered, it will be automatically installed on your headset.

So, when the device is up to date, test Air Link!

5. Switch to the 5 GHz WiFi Thread

One of the most significant requirements for the Air Link to work on your Oculus Quest 2 is to have a 5 GHz WiFi, meaning you need a dual-band router.

If you only have one WiFi available, which is 2.4 GHz, you may experience interruptions, or the Air Link may not work entirely…

• So, verify to connect your Oculus Quest 2 to the 5 GHz thread of your router!

Dual-Band Router But No 5 GHz WiFi?

So, if your router is dual-band, but you don’t have the 5 GHz WiFi, you need to enter the router’s GUI by inserting “https://192.168.1.1/” into a web browser.

From there, you must sign in using admin/admin or admin/password and navigate to the “Wireless” tab to enable the 5 GHz thread.

Tip: When using the 5 GHz WiFi of your router, you must stay closer to the router.

6. Link Your Computer via Ethernet

Another essential requirement for the Air Link feature is to connect your computer to the router via an Ethernet cable.

So, if you have a wireless adapter (dongle) and use WiFi on the PC or laptop, the Air Link feature will not work, and the computer will not appear discoverable.

So, you must use a long enough Ethernet cable to connect the computer (with the Oculus app) to the router.

The Ethernet cable plugs into your PC’s motherboard (from the back port) and into the router’s “yellow” port, which will route the signal directly and bypass all the WiFi limitations.

Note: Establishing a wired connection sometimes requires assistance from your ISP.

Oculus Quest 2 Air Link Steam VR Not Working?

So, if you’re using Air Link to play VR games from Steam, there is one more app that you must inspect in addition to everything we’ve discussed so far.

This is the Steam application, and when VR games from Steam don’t work on Air Link, you must check for potential Steam app issues.

The best way to address Steam application problems is to uninstall the app entirely from the PC Control Panel and download the app cleanly.

If this doesn’t solve the Air Link problem, check if the connection works when playing other games or games from the Oculus desktop app library.

Tip: For more help, contact Meta Customer Service!

More Oculus Quest 2 Errors:

Q: Why won’t my game install on Oculus Quest 2?
A: Ensure your headset has sufficient storage space and a stable internet connection. Restarting the device or checking for system updates may also help.

Q: Why does my Oculus Quest 2 keep restarting?
A: This could be due to a software glitch, overheating, or low battery. Try a factory reset or contact support if the issue persists.