Just bought an Oculus Quest 2? You’re ready to enter the world of VR with no wires and tons of great games.
Follow our setup guide to get going with your Quest 2 as quickly as possible. We’ll walk you through the initial setup and show you the basics.
What’s in the Oculus Quest 2 Box?
To begin, pull the tab on the bottom of the box to remove the plastic wrap. After removing the cover from the box, you’ll find the following items inside:
- Oculus Quest 2 headset
- Silicone cover
- Two touch controllers
- Two AA batteries, already inserted in the controllers
- A charging cable and power adapter
- A spacer for those who wear glasses
- Reference materials
First, pull the plastic tab out of the bottom of both controllers to activate them. You’ll also want to remove the L and R stickers on the controllers; do the same for the plastic holding the wrist straps.
Next, on the headset, pull the tab near the Power button (on the right side of the headset) to remove that wrapping. Where your face goes into the headset, you’ll find the optional silicone cover and another insert that explains how to adjust the lenses. Remove these, along with the protective plastic on both lenses.
The foam part of the headset (for comfort) is removable. If you wear glasses, pull the foam insert out and place the glasses spacer inside, then replace the foam.
Because some users experienced skin irritation from the foam, Oculus now includes a silicone cover in the box. Slide this cover over the foam if you want to use it.
Putting On and Adjusting the Quest 2 Headset
To turn your headset on, hold the Power button on the right side for a few seconds. Pull the strap back and place it over your head to see how it fits.
To make adjustments, remove the headset, then use the two sliders on the back of the strap to adjust how tightly it fits. Move the sliders towards the center strap to loosen it, or towards the outside of the headset to tighten it.
Once you have a good fit, put the headset back on. You can now remove the Velcro from the top strap and adjust it to get a comfortable fit on the top part.
Once your headset is on, you’ll see the initial setup screen, which walks you through picking up the controllers and connecting to your Wi-Fi network, followed by a brief informational video.
If the screen looks blurry, remove the headset and push the lenses apart or closer together to see if that improves the clarity. You can also make minor adjustments to the headset while it’s on your face—make sure it’s not too high or low.
After this, your Quest 2 will likely need to install the latest software update. At this time, you can take your headset off and plug it in to charge. The USB-C port is on the left side—note that there’s also a headphone jack here. The Quest 2 has built-in speakers, but you can connect headphones for more immersive audio.
Install and Configure the Oculus App
While you wait for your headset to update, you should download the Oculus app for Android or iOS. This companion app lets you manage your Oculus device and buy games, which can be more convenient than doing so in the VR environment.
Since Oculus requires a Facebook account, you’ll need to sign into your Facebook profile or make an account if you don’t have one. You can also connect your legacy Oculus account, in case you have that.
Once you’re signed in, the app will ask you to set up your VR username and profile photo to connect with others. You can pick from your Facebook photos, use a photo saved on your phone, or pick from the default ones.
On the next screen, the app shows your Facebook friends that use Oculus. Tap Add Friend for anyone you want to connect with on the platform.
Moving on, select who can see your activity on Oculus and who can see your Facebook name while using Oculus. This lets you pick from Public, Friends, or Only me. On the following page, select some interests so Oculus can make better recommendations for you.
Next, create a PIN that protects purchases on the Oculus Store. You can then add a credit card or PayPal account for purchases, or skip this step for now.
You’re now ready to pair your Oculus headset with the app. Pick your model from the list that appears, then the app should detect your Oculus automatically. Put your headset back on to finish setup.
Configuring Oculus Guardian
The last part of your Quest 2 initialization is setting up Guardian. With this safety feature, you draw a line to mark the space that’s safe to move around in; your Oculus will alert you if you move past this area.
This is vital if you play in room-scale mode; it’s not necessary if you play in stationary mode. Oculus recommends a space that’s at least 6.5 feet by 6.5 feet for room-scale.
Move to the area where you plan to use your Oculus, if you’re not there already. Your Oculus will use Passthrough mode during this process, which allows you to see a black-and-white feed of what’s around you. Set the floor height by gently touching your controller to the ground.
Next, use the trigger on your controller to draw a safety line around the perimeter of your play area. Make sure to leave room around walls, furniture, and other obstacles. If you put the border right up against something, you might not know you’ve reached past it until it’s too late.
Guardian will then show wireframe walls that indicate the border you’ve set. If you get close to an edge, it will turn red to warn you.
If you use your Quest in a new area, it will ask you to perform the Guardian setup process again. Your headset remembers previous Guardian areas, so when you return to the original place, you won’t need to set it up anew.
Jump Into the Oculus Experience
You’re done with the initial setup and ready to experience the Oculus Quest 2. There’s a lot to try, so we’ll mention a few basics to get you going.
Press the Oculus button on the right controller at any time to bring up the universal menu. There, you’ll see icons for the key functions of your device.
Select the time and battery icons on the left side to open Quick Settings. Tap your profile icon to view and customize your user profile. When you’re ready to play something, use the Explore icon to show suggested content, or the Store to browse for new games (many have free demos). The grid of dots icon shows the list of all apps installed on your system.
At any point, press and hold the Oculus button to re-center yourself if the calibration feels off. If you’ve walked through setup in the Voice Commands app, you can double-tap the Oculus button to summon the virtual assistant.
Your headset includes a free demo title called First Steps. Find it in the app menu and give it a try; in a few minutes, you’ll learn how to use the controller and feel more comfortable in VR.
Virtual Reality, Real Fun
We’ve shown you how to set up your Oculus Quest 2 and introduced you to the basics of the device. There’s a lot more to discover as you get used to it. Try playing a variety of games, connecting with friends, and experiencing VR events.
We’ve looked at some next steps to try with your Quest 2, if you’re looking for more guidance.
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