Your Oculus Quest 2 Controllers Not Pairing? (Easy Fix!)

Oculus Quest 2 controllers not pairing, and you don’t know why? After this guide, you will!

The Oculus Quest 2 controllers are actively using replaceable batteries to pair with the Meta Quest app on your mobile and link with the headset.

Then, the process is automated after the first-time setup, but if your controllers are not pairing in the first place, then there is a problem.

When your Oculus Quest 2 controllers are not pairing, begin with a power circulation on your headset, controller, and Meta Quest app device.

To uncover the correct and chronological way of troubleshooting, keep reading!

Why Oculus Quest 2 Controllers Won’t Pair?

The reason why Oculus Quest 2 controllers are not pairing could be due to numerous factors if we consider the amount of instances involved.

To establish the pairing, you need your Oculus Quest headset (charged), the Quest controllers (sufficient battery), and the Meta Quest app.

Hence, issues may arise from any of these three separate connection instances, so you must inspect everything involved in the setup.

So, before we begin, it’s recommended to take a quick look at the possible causes, summarized in a list at your disposal:

When put like this, the possibilities don’t seem like much. However, many other factors are also involved, so we recommend reading the guide below.

Without further ado, let’s jump right at it!

How to Fix When Oculus Quest 2 Controllers Not Pairing?

Important: Verify that your Oculus Quest 2 VR headset is already paired with the app!

1. Pair Your Controllers *Correctly*

The first and fundamental step is to verify that you’re pairing the controllers with the Quest VR headset the correct way.

The pairing procedure actively requires the Meta Quest app, which is available for Androids and Apple devices, so if you haven’t got the app, download and install it.

Here’s how to correctly pair your Oculus Quest 2 controller:

1. Verify that you’re signed into the Meta Quest app.
2. Then, go to the home page and enter the “Menu.”
3. Next, you must tap on the “Devices” menu option.
4. Info: You should see your Oculus Quest 2 paired.
5. Go down and tap “Controllers” under “Settings.”
6. Press on “Pair New Controller” with the “+” icon.
7. Select if the controller is the right or the left one.
8. Then, press and hold the “Options” + “Y” buttons.
9. Wait until the Quest controller vibrates and flashes.
10. Repeat the steps for the secondary Quest controller.

This is the correct way to pair the Oculus Quest 2 controller to the Meta Quest app, and in case the process fails, there is much more to know.

So, let’s continue with the troubleshooting ahead!

2. Power Cycle Your Oculus Setup!

If your Oculus Quest 2 controller is not pairing or you’re witnessing an error, perhaps there is a bug that requires a complete system reboot.

In this method, we will take this approach one step further and also perform a power circulation, which is proven to resolve all minor glitches!

How to Power Cycle Headset?

1. Verify that your Quest 2 headset is charged.
2. Equip the headset and find the Power button.
3. Hold the Power button until the “Boot Menu.”
4. From the unit boot menu, select “Shutdown.”
5. When the Quest 2 powers off, wait 2 minutes.
6. Hold the Power button to turn on the headset.

How to Power Cycle Controller?

1. Grab one of the Oculus Quest 2 controllers.
2. Push down from the cover with a tight grip.
3. Remove the controller’s compartment cover.
4. Eject the two AA batteries located within.
5. Wait for 2 minutes with the batteries out.
6. Inspect the polarity contacts for any faults.
7. Re-insert the batteries and test the pairing.

One More Thing – Replace the Batteries!

So, if you have a fresh pair of two AA batteries, now would be the best time to replace them to exclude this possibility entirely.

If you don’t have fresh batteries, feel free to test with any of your remotes or other electronics-compatible batteries to justify this concern as early as possible.

Warning: The Oculus Quest 2 controller may not pair with weak or dead batteries!

3. Reinstall Your Meta Quest App!

The Meta Quest application is one of the fundamental things to check when the controllers won’t pair with Oculus Quest 2.

Hence, when there is a system failure, your controllers may not pair easily. 

• So, one of the most potent solutions would be to cleanly remove and reinstall the Meta Quest application.

The complete reinstallation will guarantee the latest app version, fill in any missing files, and resolve any data corruption.

Note: The steps below apply to both Android and iOS mobile devices!

Here’s how to remove and reinstall the Meta Quest app:

1. First, locate and hold the icon of the Quest app.
2. On an Android, drag the icon to the Trash Bin.
3. On an Apple device, press the “Remove App.”
4. Then, go to “Google Play” or the “App Store.”
5. Search for the Meta Quest application software.
6. Then, tap on the Install or Cloud+Arrow button.
7. Wait until the Meta Quest app is cleanly installed.
8. Sign in to your Meta Account by using the options.

When the Meta Quest app is cleanly installed, and you’re signed in, you’ll have to pair the Quest 2 headset, and then you will have the opportunity to pair your controllers.

Scroll up and follow the steps provided earlier to pair your Oculus Quest controllers without interruptions and faults!

Tip: If the app prompts you for updates, make sure to apply them as soon as possible!

4. Update Your Oculus VR Headset

The Oculus Quest headset carries the main operating system responsible for the pairing and all other functionalities of your controllers.

When the system is outdated, you may encounter weird bugs and glitches related to pairing, functionality, or even gaming on your Oculus 2 headset.

Hence, updating to the latest operating firmware version is mandatory, and it’s really quick as long as your headset is connected to the internet.

How to Update from the Quest Headset?

1. On your Quest headset, go to the “Settings.”
2. Then, enter the “About” section in the menu.
3. From there, go to “Install Updates” to begin.

How to Update from the Meta Quest App?

1. Open the Meta Quest app on your mobile.
2. Then, you must sign into a Meta Account. 
3. Go to the Settings and select your Quest.
4. From the menu, choose “More Settings.” 
5. Then, select the “Advanced Settings” tab.
6. From there, press on “Turn ON Updates.”

Tip: When your Oculus Quest 2 is updated to the latest version, use the steps shown earlier to pair your controller with the app.

5. Factory Reset Your Oculus Quest

If everything else fails and you’re unable to pair your Oculus Quest 2 controllers, the culprit may be related to a system fault with the headset.

Hence, the best next step would be to perform a factory reset, which will revert all settings to default and erase everything from your device!

However, the factory reset is an exceptionally helpful solution against any problems with your Oculus Quest 2 setup, hence, it has the highest chance of helping.

Warning: The factory reset will erase all your games, apps, recordings, images, and data!

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

1. Make sure to power off the Oculus Quest headset.
2. Press and hold the Power + Volume Down buttons.
3. When the A/C menu appears, select “Factory Reset.”
4. Use the Volume buttons to navigate through the list.
5. Use the Power button to select a highlighted option.

When you select the factory reset option, your Oculus Quest 2 will become unusable for a few minutes, during which you must remain patient.

You will know when your headset is reset and ready to be set when the initialization prompts appear, so follow the instructions until the end.

Reminder: To pair your Quest 2 controllers correctly, follow the steps from earlier in the guide!

More Oculus Quest 2 Errors:

Q: What does “No Command” mean on my Oculus Quest 2?
A: This typically occurs during a failed boot. Try holding the power and volume buttons to enter recovery mode.

Q: How do I fix my Oculus Quest 2 glitching out?
A: Restart the headset, ensure all software is updated, and check for any app-specific issues.