Are Oculus Quest 2 Games Crashing On Startup? (Quick Fix!)
Wondering why are the Oculus Quest 2 games crashing on startup? We’re here to help!
The games installed on your Oculus Quest 2 can crash mainly due to storage, cache, or history problems.
This guide will give you all you need to know about maintaining the Oculus 2 storage, addressing cache and system data, and identifying and fixing issues with applications or games!
Whenever the games installed on your Oculus Quest 2 crash, clear the cache and history storage first and attempt to launch a different application. Also, update the Oculus Quest firmware version and perform a complete reboot.
Let’s investigate further!
Why Do My Oculus Quest 2 Games Keep Crashing?
The games installed on your Oculus Quest 2 may be crashing due to issues with the cache and system data or firmware-related problems.
Thus, it’s best to uncover all potential causes first!
Here’s why the games installed on your Oculus Quest 2 keep crashing on startup:
Those are the reasons why the games are crashing on startup when opened on your Oculus VR headset.
So, to resolve the problem quickly and efficiently, follow the troubleshooting step guide!
Oculus Quest 2 Games Crashing On Startup – Fixed!
Tip: Follow the steps in chronological order.
1. Update the Oculus Quest Headset
Most of the games and applications installed on your Oculus Quest may not be compatible with the current firmware version of the headset.
The first step is to verify that the Quest 2 is updated to the most current software by checking the “Firmware” tab within the VR headset’s settings.
Here’s how to update the firmware version of the Oculus Quest 2:
- Put on the Oculus headset and verify it is turned on.
- Press the “Oculus” button on the right-hand controller.
- Select the Clock icon once the visual menu appears.
- Access the “Settings” tab and navigate to “System”.
- Choose “Software Update” and then select “Update”.
Remember to verify that you have tested multiple installed games before and after updating the firmware version of the headset.
If only a single downloaded app or game is not working correctly, uninstalling and installing it again should resolve the problem.
Note: There will be no “Update” button in the “Software” tab if you’re up to date!
2. “Soft Reset” the Oculus Quest 2
Another helpful solution against unexplained crashes on your Oculus headset is to perform a “soft” reboot.
This is an effective solution against any functionality errors with the unit, including issues with installed applications, settings-related problems, or other system (OS) errors.
Here’s how to soft reset the Oculus Quest 2 in easy steps:
- Take off the Oculus headset and locate the power button.
- Plug the headset of the equipment with a charging cable.
- Hold the Power button on the headset for 10-15 seconds.
- Once the device powers off, wait for an extra 30 seconds.
- Finally, press the “Power” to turn on the Oculus headset.
Once the Oculus headset reboots, select an application and test!
Bonus Tip: Re-Charge the Headset!
Not charging the headset’s battery optimally is another reason installed applications and games are crashing.
Hence, connect the Oculus Quest headset and the controllers with a USB cable or position the equipment on the Oculus charging station for 30 to 40 minutes for charging.
Note: When the battery of the Oculus has charged optimally, you may test your games!
3. Clear the Oculus Cache and Data!
As mentioned earlier, the primary cause for the unexplained crashes of installed games and applications on your Oculus is uncleared cache and data.
It is vital to control the storage and the excess data files (app cache) consistently to use the Oculus Quest 2 headset error-free!
Info: There are multiple sources of cache on your Oculus that could cause slowdowns!
How to Clear Oculus Guardian History/Cache?
- Equip the Oculus headset and press the “Oculus” button.
- Access the “Settings” section from the universal menu.
- Locate the “Guardian” section after scrolling downwards.
- Select the “Clear your Guardian history” button below.
How to Clear Browsing History On Oculus?
- Open the Oculus app on your Android or Apple iOS device.
- Next, navigate to the “Settings” tab and locate the “Privacy” section.
- Tap on the “Clear Browsing Data” button from the available options.
- Wait until the Oculus headset has cleared all browsing data prompts.
How to Clear an Oculus Application Cache?
- First, open the “Settings” app on your mobile device.
- Next, access the “Applications” section in the menu.
- Use the search field or manually find the Oculus app.
- Enter the app settings and select “Clear Cache/Data.”
Remember: Clear the cache periodically to preserve the Oculus headset’s performance!
4. Check the Quest’s Wi-Fi Connection!
Some games and applications installed on your headset require a stable Wi-Fi connection to start and operate error-free.
Thus, you must verify that the headset has established a proper connection with your home Wi-Fi and test if the connectivity of the Oculus Quest is reliable.
Here’s how to verify that the Oculus Quest 2 is connected to Wi-Fi:
- From the main menu of the VR headset, navigate to “Settings.”
- Select “Wi-Fi network” and wait for all SSIDs to be displayed.
- Next, select your home Wi-Fi network from all available options.
- Input the Wi-Fi password used for connecting with the network.
- Select the “Connect” button and wait until the headset connects.
While connecting the headset, verify that you’re within a 4-5 feet radius of the Wi-Fi router.
Also, remember that the Quest 2 is compatible with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, so you may want to test whether the connection will improve if you switch from one WiFi thread to another.
How to Test Oculus Quest 2 On Mobile Hotspot?
If the Oculus keeps unpairing from the Wi-Fi or won’t stay connected consistently, the best way to determine the source of the problem is by pairing the headset to your phone’s hotspot.
First, verify that the feature is activated in your phone’s settings, save the password, and pair Oculus.
Note: If the Oculus stays connected to the hotspot, the problem is on your router’s network!
5. Free Up Storage On your Oculus!
Perhaps the Oculus can no longer function normally due to overwhelmed storage.
Whenever the storage of your Oculus is full, some apps and games can’t be updated or can’t generate the temporal files required for the startup.
Hence, this causes your games to crash immediately.
Here’s how to review the Oculus Quest storage and free up some of the space:
- Equip the Oculus headset and verify that it is turned on.
- Pick an application from the universal menu to delete.
- Select the “Uninstall” button that looks like a trash can.
- Verify that you wish to remove the following application.
- Wait until the VR headset finishes the removal of all data.
Alert: Uninstalled applications can only be restored from the headset’s content store!
Tips to Increase Oculus Quest 2 Storage Space!
A reliable option to save data from your Oculus without uninstalling any content is moving the largest applications and games to an external hard drive.
Upon connecting Oculus to your computer, press the “Allow” button on the storage prompt and upload all accessible content.
Note: The externally uploaded content can be restored to your Oculus anytime via USB!
6. Perform a Factory Reset on Oculus!
If none of the installed games and applications are working, then it is suggested to perform a factory reset process.
This system reset will erase all downloaded games and restore all settings to their factory value, resolving any underlying issues with the headset’s functionality.
Here’s how to perform a factory reset on the Oculus Quest 2:
- Start by turning off the Oculus headset with the power button.
- Then, wait 10 seconds and hold “power” and “Volume Down.”
- Hold the buttons for 15 seconds simultaneously and release.
- Then, wait until the Oculus Quest recognizes the factory reset.
Note: After the factory reset is finalized, you must complete the initial setup of the headset!
More Oculus Quest 2 Errors:
Q: What does the HDSLVC2 error mean on Oculus Quest 2?
A: This error may indicate a hardware or firmware issue. Restart your device and ensure it’s updated.
Q: Why is Air Link not working on my Oculus Quest 2?
A: Ensure both the headset and PC are on the same network, update software, and check your PC’s performance settings.
Finn Wheatley, a Master’s graduate in Computer Science from UCL, London, honed his skills at small data science consultancies. There, he helped large corporations enhance their data capabilities by deploying cutting-edge machine learning analytics and resolving technical hurdles.