You’re ready to enjoy another VR game before the day ends.
But when you wear your Oculus Quest 2…
It refuses to turn ON.
Others would say it’s time to get a replacement.
But I beg to differ.
Because trust me, you can fix this problem in just minutes.
Continue reading to discover:
- How to check if a faulty proximity sensor is causing this issue.
- 5 quick solutions you can try to turn ON your VR headset again.
- The most common reasons your Oculus Quest 2 isn’t turning ON.
- And this is just the beginning…
Why is my Oculus Quest 2 not turning on?
Your Oculus Quest 2 isn’t turning ON because you’ve drained your device’s battery. This issue also happens due to system glitches and bugs. Or if you haven’t charged your device. Moreover, a malfunctioning proximity sensor also prevents your VR headset’s display from turning ON.
Oculus Quest 2 won’t turn on: 5 fixes
#1: Let your VR headset charge
Now, you might think this is too obvious to be a fix.
But really, when Oculus Quest 2 models don’t turn ON…
Most of the time, it’s simply because you’ve drained your VR headset’s battery too much.
So, for an easy fix, you should…
Plug your Oculus Quest 2 into its power source:
- Prepare your device’s charging adapter and cable.
- Insert 1 end of the cord into the left side of your VR headset.
- Connect the other end to your wall adapter.
- Plug the charging head into an outlet.
- Ensure that the indicator light on the right side of your headset turns ON.
“My device’s LED light is OFF.”
In that case, your VR headset isn’t charging.
So, follow these…
Tips to make your Oculus Quest 2 charge properly
Use the official charging kit
The Oculus Quest 2 doesn’t always charge when using 3rd-party USB chargers.
Especially if you’re using a cord with an output of less than 10W.
So, if you still have your VR headset’s original wall adapter and cable…
Use them to charge your headset.
“I no longer have the original charging kit.”
In that case…
I recommend buying replacements from the official Meta store.
Use a wall adapter
If you charge your Oculus headset using another gadget like an Apple Macbook…
Your VR device won’t receive nearly enough power. Compared to what it would get if you charge using a wall adapter.
See, typical USB ports on gadgets usually only supply a maximum of 0.5 amps.
However, your VR headset needs about 2 amps to charge efficiently. Which is the amount of power provided by wall outlets.
Note: I also recommend avoiding power strips. Because I tried charging my Oculus headset using one before, but my device refused to charge.
Give it time
Let your device charge for 3 hours minimum.
This way, your Oculus Quest 2 can fully charge.
However, if you haven’t used your headset for more than a week…
Leaving it connected to power overnight would be a better idea. Because 3 hours might not be enough for your headset to replenish its energy. Since it’s been drained for so long.
#2: Cover the proximity sensor
It’s common knowledge that your VR headset’s display automatically turns OFF when you remove it.
But if you’ve ever wondered how your device senses if you’re using it or not…
Well, it’s all thanks to its built-in proximity sensor.
See, you can find this component inside your VR headset. In between the lenses.
And while it usually works perfectly…
In rare cases, your headset’s sensor can start to malfunction.
When this happens, even if you’re wearing your device…
Your Oculus headset won’t detect your presence.
So, it’ll only stay on its standby mode and won’t turn ON its display.
Luckily, this issue is easy to fix.
However, before proceeding to the actual solution, do this simple test to…
Check if your VR headset’s proximity sensor is faulty or not:
Step 1: Turn ON your Oculus Quest 2.
Step 2: Locate its proximity sensor.
Step 3: Cover this part with your thumb.
Step 4: Take a peek at your device’s lenses with your finger still on the sensor.
If you only see pitch black, your headset’s sensor isn’t causing the problem.
So, proceed to the next solution.
However, if covering the sensor turns ON your Oculus Quest 2’s display…
That means your device’s sensor is causing this issue.
So, you can go ahead and…
Follow any of these 2 solutions to resolve the problem:
Fix 1: Put tape over the sensor
Let’s start with the easiest workaround for this problem.
Here are the materials you need:
- Scissors.
- Electrical tape.
“Can I use other kinds of tape?”
Yes, you can. As long as they’re not transparent.
However, electrical tape is your best option. Because it’s thick enough to block light from triggering the sensor. Yet it’s not too sticky to leave unwanted residues on your device.
Once your materials are ready, simply follow these steps:
- Cut a piece of tape big enough to cover your VR headset’s sensor.
- Place it on top of the said part.
Then, you can use your Oculus Quest 2 like usual again.
Now, if you want to challenge your techy side a little, you may also…
Fix 2: Deactivate your device’s sensor through its Debug Tool:
Step 1: Turn ON the PC that your VR headset is connected to.
Step 2: Plug your Oculus Quest 2 into your computer using its cable.
Step 3: Launch your PC’s File Explorer app.
Step 4: Select the This PC option on the left bar of the window.
Step 5: Double-click the Local Disk (C:) tile under the Devices and drives section.
Step 6: Select Program Files.
Step 7: Scroll down and double-click Oculus from the list.
Step 8: Choose Support.
Step 9: Click the oculus-diagnostics option.
Step 10: Launch the OculusDebugTool.exe.
Step 11: Wait for the Oculus Debug Tool to show up.
Step 12: Locate the Bypass Proximity Sensor Check option.
Step 13: Set this to “ON.”
After doing so, simply exit the Debug Tool.
Then, unplug your headset from the PC and try turning it ON.
Read also: (11 Fixes) Oculus Not Working On Windows 11 [Updated]
#3: Hard reboot your Oculus Quest 2
If you’re still experiencing the same problem at this point…
Your VR headset is likely glitching.
Or it may have forcedly shut down before.
Hence, your device is having trouble restarting operations.
Luckily though, the solution to this problem is pretty simple.
All you need to do is…
Reboot your Oculus Quest 2:
- Press and hold the power button on the right side of your device.
- Let go when your headset’s indicator light turns white.
Note: This process should only take about 10 seconds.
“My VR headset won’t reboot.”
In that case, let’s do a similar fix using a different approach.
And by that, I mean it’s time to…
#4: Boot your device using its settings
Some VR headsets won’t turn ON.
But they’d still launch the boot menu if necessary.
So, this time…
You should boot your Oculus device using its settings menu.
This way, your VR headset can:
- Refresh its system.
- Remove its temporary cache.
- Get rid of minor glitches or bugs.
Now, don’t worry.
This process won’t delete any crucial data from your device.
So, simply follow these steps to…
Boot your VR headset using its settings:
- Wear your Oculus Quest 2.
- Lightly place 1 finger on your VR headset’s Power button.
- Locate the Volume Down button on the underside part of your device.
- Place another finger on top of this key.
- Long-press both buttons for about 10 seconds.
- Let go when a menu shows up.
- Use the Volume buttons on your headset to navigate.
- Select the Exit and Boot the device option.
- Tap the Power button on your headset to start the process.
And if this solution still couldn’t turn ON your Oculus Quest 2…
#5: Factory reset your device
Unfortunately, some stubborn issues need extreme measures.
So if all else fails, you should perform a factory reset on your Oculus Quest 2.
Now, fret not. This process is very easy to do.
However, know that it’ll have drastic changes to your device.
Specifically, this reset will:
- Log you out of your VR headset.
- Delete your custom settings on your gaming gear.
- Remove all of your information and data from your Oculus Quest 2.
But here’s the good thing:
A factory reset also removes your device’s most stubborn glitches and bugs.
So, it’s a necessary final step in fixing any problems on your Oculus Quest 2.
With that said…
Here are the steps to factory reset your VR headset:
- Wear your gaming device.
- Press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons on your VR headset.
- Let go when a menu pops up.
- Using the volume buttons, highlight the Factory Reset option.
- Press the Power button on your headset to proceed.
After following these steps…
Set up your Oculus Quest 2 again with the help of this video:
Editor’s pick: Does Oculus Work With Chromecast? 5 Things You Need To Know
Bonus: Contact Oculus support
Still having trouble turning ON your device?
Then, it’s time to contact professionals for help.
Luckily the Meta Platform’s support team is highly responsive.
So, feel free to reach out to brand’s representatives.
Just head straight to the brand’s support website.
Then, choose which contact method you prefer between these options:
- Chat.
- Email.
- Request callback.
- Chat via WhatsApp.
Pro tip: Let the support team know you’ve already tried the fixes above. This way, they’d only recommend solutions you haven’t done.