So you’re in the middle of playing with your Oculus Quest 2.
When suddenly…
The entire screen goes blank.
Now, some call it the black screen of death.
But you know what?
It’s actually not that bad.
In fact, there are ways to fix it within minutes.
Continue reading to find out:
- 11 easy steps to fix your Oculus Quest 2’s black screen problem.
- The most common reasons why an Oculus Quest 2 screen may go black.
- Oculus Quest 2 features that you need to turn off to prevent a black screen issue.
- And a lot more…
Why is my Oculus Quest 2 screen black?
Your Oculus Quest 2 screen is black due to a glitch. In addition, this may also happen if its proximity sensor is either dirty or defective. Moreover, you’ll also see a black screen if you try to use it while it’s in the process of updating. And in rare cases, it can be due to corrupted firmware.
How to fix Oculus Quest 2 black screen? 11 steps
Just a little clarification before we dive into the steps.
There are several reasons why the screen of the Oculus or Meta Quest 2 can go black. These include:
- Dirty sensors.
- Temporary glitch.
- Hardware defect.
- Outdated software.
- Low battery charge.
And because of that, the way to resolve a black screen also varies.
Hence, the 11 steps here are more about the different troubleshooting fixes that you can try.
In other words, this isn’t really just a step-by-step guide for 1 particular solution.
Nonetheless, I’ve arranged them in a logical order…
Starting with the easiest fix down to the more complicated ones.
So it’s still best to follow this guide sequentially.
With that, let’s get started.
#1: Charge your Oculus Quest 2
This may sound a bit obvious. But it’s definitely worth pointing out.
The most common reason why the Quest 2’s screen would go black is that it simply ran out of battery charge.
You’ll know this is the case if you’re also not hearing any sound from the headset.
So just go ahead and charge your Quest 2.
Normally, this gadget takes around 2 and a half hours to achieve a full battery. And that should be enough for 2 to 3 hours of usage.
“What if the headset doesn’t seem to be charging?”
That means there’s an issue with the charger or the power source.
You should first try to plug the adapter into another outlet. 1 that you’re sure is working.
And if the device still won’t charge…
The USB-C cable or the wall adapter may be defective.
Now, you’ll find many non-brand chargers for Quest 2 out there in the market.
However, Meta recommends that you only use original products. Doing so will help keep your VR headset in tip-top condition.
So I’d advise that you visit Meta’s official online shop to order a replacement charger. It should only cost you around $35.
#2: Pull up the Menu screen
Now, here’s another scenario.
You’re playing with your Quest 2. The screen goes black. However, you’re still hearing sounds from your game.
This usually happens due to a software glitch.
And the quickest solution would be to open the Menu screen.
To do that, just press the button with 3 lines on your left controller. This will pull up the menu on the game or app that you’re using.
Once it appears on the screen, click the button again to exit. For some, that’s enough to resolve the black screen issue.
But if that doesn’t work, you may try launching the Universal Menu instead. This is where you can see the home screen of your Quest 2.
To open it, press the button with the Oculus logo on your right controller. And from there, try to launch another app or game.
#3: Perform a hard reboot
If opening the menu didn’t fix the issue, this is another simple troubleshooting step you can try.
A hard reboot means turning a device completely off and then back on. Some also call this a power cycle.
And it’s effective in resolving almost all temporary glitches.
There are actually 2 ways you can do this on a Quest 2.
- Via the Power Menu screen.
- By pressing and holding multiple buttons.
How to reboot a Quest 2 by pressing multiple buttons
Step #1: Look for the Power and Volume Down buttons. The former is on the left side of the headset. And the latter is on the top left, with the minus sign.
Step #2: Press and hold those 2 buttons for at least 10 seconds.
Step #3: Release them as soon as you see the Oculus logo on the screen.
How to reboot a Quest 2 via the Power Menu screen
Step #1: Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons.
Step #2: Release both of them when the Power Menu window appears on the screen.
Step #3: Using either Volume button, navigate to Boot Device.
Step #4: Click the Power button. This should trigger the reboot process.
#4: Press the Power button before putting on the headset
Normally, it shouldn’t matter whether you turn on your VR before wearing it. Or you put it on prior to booting up.
Your Quest 2 should work fine either way.
However, some have reported that wearing the headset while it’s still off…
And then switching it on causes a black screen.
It’s apparently another glitch on some Quest 2 models.
And while Meta hasn’t exactly addressed the cause of this issue…
The workaround is fairly simple. Just follow these steps:
Step #1: Switch off your headset. To do that, just press and hold the Power button on the left side of the device.
Step #2: When the Power Menu appears on the screen, select Power Off.
Step #3: Wait for around 20 to 30 seconds.
Step #4: Press the Power button again to boot up the device.
Step #5: Finally, put on the headset.
#5: Launch a game through the Meta Quest app
The Quest 2 comes with a corresponding mobile application.
It used to be called the Oculus app. But through a rebranding, it should now appear as Meta Quest on your smartphone.
Now, there are many things you can do with this app, including:
- Playing VR games with friends.
- Buying and installing Quest 2 games.
- Reserving virtual seats for live events.
- Managing and monitoring your Quest devices.
You may also use the app to cast your VR headset on a phone or a smart TV. It’s possible because Oculus works with Chromecast.
More importantly, though, you can also launch games via this app. And it’s another effective fix for your VR gadget’s black screen problem.
Now, before you do that, ensure that the app is up to date.
How to update the Meta Quest app on iOS
- Open the App Store on your phone.
- Search for the Meta Quest app.
- Click the Update button beside the app.
How to update the Meta Quest app on Android
- Launch the Google Play Store app.
- Click your profile icon. It’s on the top right of the screen.
- Select Manage apps & devices.
- Look for the Meta Quest app.
- Tap the Update button.
With Meta Quest now up to date, you may go ahead and launch a game.
On the app’s home screen, just click on any of your installed titles. It should then open on your VR headset.
#6: Plug your Oculus Quest 2 and leave it for a couple of hours
By default, this device will update itself automatically.
And when the Quest 2 is in the middle of an update installation…
Its screen would also go black.
So it’s also possible that this is the case with your device.
Now, normally, updates can take anywhere from a few minutes to about an hour or 2. It really would depend on the size of the files.
What you should do is plug the headset into an outlet. This ensures that it doesn’t run out of charge while the update is ongoing.
And then leave it for about a couple of hours at most. You may also check the screen every few minutes to see if the display has come back on.
#7: Clean the proximity sensor
Take a look at the back of your Quest 2 headset. Right in the middle, in between the goggles, you’ll see a tiny circle.
That’s the proximity sensor.
But what exactly is it?
Well, as its name suggests, it helps your VR headset determine whether someone’s wearing it or not.
If the sensor couldn’t detect a wearer…
The screen goes black. And it’s a mechanism to help preserve the device’s battery life.
Now, with frequent usage, dirt may start to accumulate around the sensor’s location. This, in turn, may lead to malfunction.
And when the proximity sensor isn’t working properly…
It may trigger a black screen even if someone’s wearing the headset.
So 1 thing you can do is to clean it. You may blow into it gently. Or wipe it.
It’s best that you use a dry microfiber cloth for wiping. This is because this material doesn’t leave behind tiny fibers.
But if you don’t have 1, any clean cloth or tissue would do.
#8: Remove the headset’s silicone cover
Still on the topic of the proximity sensor.
If you notice, there’s a rubber-like material surrounding your headset’s goggles. It’s actually made of silicone.
And just as earpads can stop headphones from hurting your ears…
This silicone cover also adds comfort when you’re wearing your Quest 2.
It’s just that, sometimes, when adjusting your headset…
This rubber may come into contact with the proximity sensor. And again, this can lead to a black screen.
So a quick solution would be to remove it. It’s not glued to the headset so taking it off shouldn’t be a problem.
“But what if I don’t feel comfortable without the silicone cover?”
That’s understandable. And there’s an easy workaround.
All you have to do is grab a scissor. And cut a portion of the middle part of the rubber.
This ensures that it never comes into contact with the proximity sensor again.
You may check out this video to see how to properly cut the headset’s silicone cover:
#9: Put a tape on the proximity sensor
Here’s another workaround that many have proven effective:
Place a masking tape to cover the proximity sensor.
Now, if you’re wondering what this accomplishes…
It basically tricks the sensor into thinking that someone’s wearing the headset at all items.
This can help ensure that your screen never goes black.
Of course, there’s a downside to this method.
This may drain your Quest 2’s battery even quicker. This is because the screen display will stay on even if you take off the headset.
But as a temporary solution, this should work.
So, you can just put the masking tape on while you’re using the headset. And then remove it afterward.
#10: Disable the Auto Wake and Auto Sleep features
In addition to the proximity sensor…
These 2 features can also control the display of your Oculus Quest.
Auto Wake turns on the headset as soon as it detects activity.
Auto Sleep, on the other hand, powers off the device after a set period of inactivity.
But as with any feature, these 2 can also malfunction. And among the consequences of that is a black screen.
So disabling both can help fix the issue. Here’s how to do it through your smartphone:
Step #1: Launch the Meta Quest app.
Step #2: Go to Settings and click Devices.
Step #3: Select Power Settings.
Step #4: Highlight Auto Wake Headset and toggle it off.
Step #5. Select Auto Sleep Headset. And on the dropdown menu, choose Off.
#11: Update your Oculus Quest 2’s firmware
As I’ve mentioned, Meta releases software updates for their line of VR headsets from time to time.
These typically include feature enhancement and bug fixes. That’s why installing them is another effective solution to the black screen issue.
How to update your Quest 2 directly from the headset
Step #1: Press the Oculus button on the right controller.
Step #2: When the Universal Menu pops up, select Settings.
Step #3: Navigate to About and click it. You may use the controller’s thumbstick to scroll through the menu options.
Step #4: If you see an Install or Download button, click it. This will start the update process.
“What if I can’t update directly through the headset?”
In case the screen’s still black even after you try to open the Universal Menu…
You can just turn on the auto-update option through the mobile application.
How to enable automatic updates via the Meta Quest app
Step #1: From the home screen, select Settings.
Step #2: Choose your Quest 2 headset from the list of devices. This is in case you have other Meta VR gadgets.
Step #3: Click More Settings.
Step #4: Select Advanced Settings.
Step #5: Look for Update Software Automatically. Then switch it on.
BONUS: Get in touch with Meta for technical support
Is your Oculus Quest 2’s screen still black after trying out all the fixes?
If it is, then there’s likely a problem with its internal components.
Now, this device comes with a 1-year warranty. And it covers factory defects, among others.
But it’s best to contact Meta for repair options.
You may visit this page to reach them. You may chat with an agent there or request a callback.