Is Your Oculus Quest 2 Overheating? (07 Ways to Fix)

Are you wondering why your Oculus Quest 2 overheating? Well, then, this guide is for you!

Well, there are many factors for Oculus Quest 2 overheating, especially when combined with the warm summer seasons, so this guide will help you fix this!

When Oculus Quest 2 is overheating, begin with a soft reset to cool down the hardware and use the downtime to clean the ventilation openings using only dry tools.

Let’s continue to unwrap!

Oculus Quest 2 Overheating Message Explained!

The Oculus Quest VR headset has a built-in ventilation system, which drains in fresh air from the bottom and expels the warmth from the top.

So, your Oculus Quest 2 may be overheating when the bottom or top ventilation openings are clogged, covered, or obstructed by anything.

Oculus Overheating Consequences?

So, your Oculus Quest 2 can’t be damaged by overheating because of the device’s ability to preserve the hardware components by automatically turning off.

When the temperature margin has been reached, your device will automatically turn off to cool down and prevent any damage.

There’s another thing called “thermal throttling,” which will also occur in cases of overheating and preserve your VR headset from damage.

This feature will automatically downclock the unit’s hardware components to work on a lower frequency in order to decrease the HW temperature.

Info: During thermal throttling, you may observe your games lagging, the menus will be slow and stuttery, and even streaming won’t be smooth.

How to Permanently Prevent Oculus Quest 2 Overheating?

Tip: Try the solutions consecutively!

1. Power Cycle Your Oculus Quest

If you’ve just seen the overheating message on your Oculus Quest, maybe it’s time for a break!

Sometimes, when you’re playing or using demanding apps for extended periods of time, your VR headset may start to reach marginal temperatures.

The message is only the first warning that your Oculus Quest 2 is hot, but you should be able to continue playing without a problem.

However, if your Oculus Quest 2 is lagging and struggling to maintain its performance, it’s time for a power cycle to cool down the hardware completely.

You must first hold the Power button on the right-hand side, and when the power menu shows, select “Shut down” from the options.

Tip: Keep your Oculus Quest 2 unplugged for as long as possible (5 minutes minimum)!

2. Use Only One App At a Time!

Oculus Quest 2 allows using up to 3 apps side-by-side from the home environment and works with Browser, Apps, Streaming, and more…

So, if you’re doing more than one task at a time, combined with a warm environment/room, it may be expected for Oculus Quest 2 to overheat.

So, we recommend using only 1 app at a time, especially when the room of your Oculus setup is warm.

How to Close Apps on Oculus?

It’s straightforward to close an app on Oculus Quest 2, so follow the steps:

1. First, locate the main panel with the tasks.
2. Locate the name of the open applications.
3. To close the app, select the “Quit” button.
4. Repeat for all the currently opened apps.

When all the apps on your Oculus Quest 2 are closed, open only the software or entertainment service you use and test whether your VR headset will overheat. 

Note: Test the overheating on different apps and services!

3. Clean the Ventilation Openings!

The ventilation system on your Oculus Quest 2 is one of the fundamental factors that regulate the temperature of your VR headset.

So, the most essential step is cleaning and unclogging anything from the Oculus Quest vents, verifying that the VR system’s airflow is not obstructed.

We’ve prepared a detailed steps guide to help you out cleaning:

1. First, power off your Oculus Quest 2 entirely.
2. Then, get an earpick and a clean, dry cloth.
3. Locate the Oculus Quest 2 top/bottom vents.
4. Use the earpick to scratch dust accumulation.
5. Use a dry cloth to remove any debris clogs.
6. Optional: Purchase a can of compressed air!
7. Blow into the vents of the unit with your mouth.
8. Turn your VR headset upside down and shake.
9. Use the dry cloth again to remove everything.

When the Oculus Quest 2 vents are clean and unclogged, the airflow within the unit’s hardware should pass freely.

This will generally help your VR headset maintain lower temperatures and actively help against thermal throttling and overheating.

Tip: Clean the vents on your Oculus Quest 2 regularly!

4. Charge the Oculus Quest to Full!

All electronic devices using batteries are subject to “battery throttling.” This occurs when your Oculus Quest 2 battery is low and you use demanding apps.

Essentially, the device is limiting its hardware resources to preserve the battery charge and last as long as possible.

This typically happens in the bottom 20% charge left, so when it occurs, your Oculus Quest will struggle to keep the performance with limited resources.

This leads to heavy utilization and increases the VR headset’s temperature to the point of overheating. 

The only way to justify that this is not the case is to plug your Oculus for 30-45 minutes and then check whether the device will overheat.

5. Do NOT Use Sideloaded Apps!

Well, even when everything with the ventilation system of the Oculus Quest 2 is expected, the unit might still overheat when using sideloaded apps.

You should know that all apps from the built-in store of your Oculus are tested and proven not to cause overheating with your device.

When you’re using third-party “sideloaded” apps from other suppliers, there is no guarantee that your Oculus Quest will be able to handle them without an issue.

Some sideloaded apps may be too demanding for your Oculus, especially if designed for Oculus Quest 3, which is much faster!

What Are the Correct Apps for Oculus Quest 2?

Everything in the “Meta Quest Store” and available for downloading on your Oculus Quest 2 is tested and proven not to cause extensive overheating.

So, if you’re experiencing overheating on any sideloaded or third-party app/game, you may be unable to stop the headset’s overheating.

6. Factory Reset the Oculus Quest

An efficient solution against overheating is to perform a factory reset, which will reinstall the device’s operating system from scratch. 

This means that all data, games, and apps will be erased from the device permanently, which will resolve storage corruption and other possibilities for overheating.

Here’s how to factory reset your Oculus Quest 2 in easy steps:

1. Hold the Power button to turn OFF the headset.
2. Press and hold the Power + Volume (-) buttons.
3. When on the A/C prompt, select “Factory Reset.”
4. Info: Use the Volume button to scroll down/up.
5. Info: Use the Power button to select the option.

When the factory reset begins, do not interact with the headset until you’re prompted to set up the device from scratch.

You will have to sign into your Meta account, connect your headset to the WiFi, and finally, you can test whether the Oculus Quest 2 will continue to overheat…

7. Implement an External Cooling!

Sometimes, you’ll have to think outside the box.

When you really want to use demanding apps not designed for your Oculus Quest model, you will often encounter overheating, which can be controlled by implementing conventional cooling methods.

Some quick suggestions are opening a window to cool down the environment or turning on your A/C to lower the room’s temperature.

The only advice we’ve got is not to turn on any fans to blow against your head while wearing the Oculus Quest headset because you might get a cold.

Need More Help?

If your Oculus Quest 2 is actively overheating, even when you’re only using testified apps, you might have to contact Meta Customer Service for assistance.

Your Oculus Quest 2 unit may be faulty, or the ventilation system is not working, so check the device’s warranty and try your luck!

More Oculus Quest 2 Errors:

Q: What should I do if my Oculus Quest 2 has low memory?
A: Delete unused apps, clear cache, and transfer media files to free up space.

Q: How do I fix the social platform on Oculus Quest 2 from stopping?
A: Ensure the app is updated, clear its cache, and restart your device.