Oculus doesn’t need a computer to work.
However, by linking it to your Windows 11 device…
You get the chance to enjoy PC-only VR games.
And if you’re struggling to connect your Oculus to your computer…
Worry not.
Just follow these fixes. And you’ll be playing in no time.
Keep reading to discover:
- 11 effective fixes to get Oculus to work on Windows 11.
- Oculus settings you must enable before you can link it to a PC.
- A comprehensive list of PC graphics cards that’ll work best with Oculus.
- And a lot more…
Is Oculus working on Windows 11?
Oculus is working on Windows 11. But this is provided that your PC also has the required specs. To be specific, you’d need a minimum of 8GB RAM. Regarding the processor, it should be at least an Intel i5-4590 or an AMD Ryzen 5 1500X. And having a high-end graphics card would also help.
Oculus not working on Windows 11: 11 fixes
#1: Check if your PC meets the minimum requirements
Virtual Reality (VR) games are graphics-heavy.
As such, you need a powerful PC to get your Oculus to work on Windows 11.
In particular, your device has to have at least 8GB of memory. The higher the capacity, the better the performance.
When it comes to processors…
Meta’s website indicated that it should be no lower than an Intel i5-4590 or an AMD Ryzen 5 1500X.
As for graphics cards, here’s a complete list of NVIDIA models compatible with Oculus:
- Titan X.
- GeForce GTX 970.
- GeForce GTX 1070.
- GeForce GTX 1080.
- GeForce GTX 1660.
- GeForce GTX 1660 TI.
- GeForce RTX 20-series.
- GeForce GTX 1650 Super.
- GeForce GTX 1060 Desktop, 6GB.
- GeForce RTX 30-series (except the 3050 and the 3050ti versions).
And these are the AMD graphics processing units (GPU) that’ll also work with Oculus:
- 400 Series.
- 500 Series.
- Vega Series.
- 5000 Series.
- 6000 Series (except the Radeon RX 6500).
How to find out your PC specs
Now that you know the minimum hardware requirements…
It’s time to check if your PC meets these standards. .
There are actually several ways to find out your system specs on Windows 11. But this is the easiest to do:
Step #1: Open File Explorer. Just press the Windows key on your keyboard + the letter E.
Step #2: Right-click This PC.
Step #3: Select Properties. A new window should pop up with your PC’s basic information. From there, you’ll find your device’s processor and memory specs.
What you won’t see there is your graphics card info. So proceed to the next step.
Step #4: Right-click the Start button. It’s the 1 with the Windows logo, on the left-most part of the taskbar.
Step #5: Select Device Manager.
Step #6: Look for Display adapters and click it. You’ll then see the graphics card installed on your computer.
Now that you’ve checked…
Does your PC have the required hardware for Oculus?
If it does, that’s great. Proceed to the next troubleshooting guides.
But if it doesn’t, I’m afraid there’s not much you can do to get Oculus to work on it. The rest of the fixes won’t be able to help you.
The good thing is that you can still do many things with your Oculus. You may even cast it to your phone or smart TV since it works with Chromecast.
#2: Install updates for your PC drivers
To link an Oculus to a Windows 11 device, it’s not enough that you just meet the hardware requirements.
The drivers, or programs that control your hardware, should also be up to date. Otherwise, your PC may malfunction. And you may have trouble connecting your Oculus to it.
Now, there are 2 ways you can update your PC’s drivers:
- Updating the Windows OS.
- Through the Device Manager.
How to update drivers via Windows Update
Step #1: Ensure that your PC has a stable internet connection.
Step #2: Click the Start button.
Step #3: Select Settings.
Step #4: Navigate to Update & Security and click it.
Step #5: Select Windows Update. Your PC should then begin downloading and installing updates for all of your drivers.
How to update drivers through the Device Manager
Step #1: Ensure your computer uses a stable internet connection.
Step #2: Right-click the Start button and choose Device Manager. You should see a list of all of your PC’s drivers.
Step #3: Click the down arrow of a driver category. And right-click the driver’s name.
Step #4: Select Update driver. Then wait for your PC to scan and download available updates.
Step #5: Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for all other drivers.
#3: Ensure that your Oculus has the latest software
Still on the topic of updates.
It’s also crucial that your Oculus has the latest software installed.
By default, the Oculus should update itself automatically.
However, you should still check if the setting for that is actually turned on.
How to enable the Oculus auto-update option
Step #1: Launch the Oculus app on your mobile phone.
Step #2: If you have multiple headsets, you’ll see a list of them. Click the model that you need to update.
Step #3: Tap More Settings.
Step #4: Select Advanced Settings.
Step #5: Look for Update Software Automatically. And make sure that its toggle is switched on.
In addition, you may also install updates through your Oculus Universal Menu.
How to update your Oculus manually
Step #1: Turn on your headset and put it on.
Step #2: Press the Oculus button on the right controller.
Step #3: Look for the gear icon on the bottom right of your screen and click it. This should launch the Settings menu.
Step #4: On the left column, scroll down and choose About.
Step #5: If you see a Download or Install Update button, click it. If you can’t find any buttons, your Oculus is already up to date.
Note: It may take about 30 minutes to 2 hours to update an Oculus successfully. So just be patient. And ensure that you plug it into an outlet once the update begins.
#4: Update the Oculus PC app
So you’ve already installed software updates for your drivers and the Oculus headset.
Well, there’s 1 more thing to update. And that’s the Oculus PC application.
This app is what makes it possible to link an Oculus to a Windows 11 computer. So you also need to ensure that this app is up to date. Here’s how:
Step #1: Launch the Oculus app on your PC.
Step #2: On the menu on the left of your screen, select Library.
Step #3: Click Updates. Your PC will begin scanning for available updates. It’ll then download and install them automatically.
#5: Log out of the Oculus PC app and sign back in
As I’ve mentioned, this application is necessary for linking an Oculus to a Windows 11 device.
So if you’re having issues getting the connection to work…
It’s possible that the Oculus PC app is glitching.
And a quick fix would be to sign out. Close the app. And log back in.
Can’t find the Log Out button on the app’s Home Screen?
Don’t worry. Other users have also struggled to locate it.
But it’s actually within the Settings menu. Just follow these steps:
- Click Settings. It’s on the top left of your screen.
- Select Account.
- Choose Log Out.
After this, close the app. Then wait for a few seconds before relaunching it. And sign back in with the account registered with your Oculus headset.
#6: Power cycle your Oculus
Your VR headset may also be experiencing some temporary malfunction. And that’s why you’re having trouble connecting it to your Windows 11 PC.
The solution?
Perform a power cycle or a restart. This is the fastest way to do that:
Step #1: Locate the Power and Volume Down buttons.
The Power button is on the right side of the headset. It’s beside the indicator light.
Meanwhile, the Volume Down button is on the top left of the device.
Step #2: Once you find both, press them simultaneously for at least 10 seconds.
Step #3: Release both buttons as soon as you see the Oculus logo on your screen. Then wait for the headset to turn off and back on.
For a visual guide on rebooting an Oculus, watch this video below:
#7: Restart your PC
If power cycling your Oculus didn’t do the trick…
Then perhaps the issue is with your computer. So you should also go ahead and restart it.
Now, there are many ways to do that.
But the quickest method is to press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard. And then select Restart.
#8: Check if there are problems with the USB connection
There are 2 ways to link an Oculus to a Windows 11 device:
- Via a USB cable.
- Wirelessly through a WiFi connection.
If you’re trying to connect through Meta’s Link USB…
Ensure that you securely plug the cable into your headset and PC. You may even try to remove the cable first. And reconnect it.
Still couldn’t get it to work?
It’s possible that the port you’re using is defective. So try to plug the USB into another port on your PC.
And if that doesn’t resolve the issue, the USB cable itself is likely defective. So look for a replacement instead.
“Is it ok to use a 3rd-party USB cable?”
Yes, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Now, Meta actually recommends that you only use an original cable. But to be honest, it’s severely overpriced at $79.99.
So here are some alternatives that’ll still work with your Oculus headset:
| Product Name | Length | Price |
| dethinton Link Cable | 10 ft (3 m) | $9.79 |
| VOKOO Link Cable | 16 ft (4.9 m) | $19.99 |
| Kuject Link Cable | 20 ft (6 m) | $24.99 |
#9: Resolve any WiFi issues
Air Link is the wireless way to connect an Oculus to a Windows computer.
And your WiFi plays a crucial role for this to work.
So first, you must ensure that your PC and Oculus are connected to the same WiFi network.
Otherwise, they won’t be able to detect each other.
If possible, connect your headset to WiFi via a 5GHz band. Here’s how:
Step #1: Switch on and wear your Oculus headset.
Step #2: Press the Oculus button on your right controller.
Step #3: Point to the clock on the left when the Universal Menu pops up. You’ll then see the Quick Settings menu.
Step #4: Click WiFi.
Step #5: Select WiFi Network. If you can see your home WiFi’s name with “5G” or “5” next to it, click it to connect.
In addition, it’d also be helpful if you could link your router to your PC via an ethernet cable.
With your Oculus connected to a 5G network and your PC hooked to your router…
You should then be able to link the 2 devices wirelessly without a hitch.
#10: Ensure that your PC and Oculus have the correct settings
In case you’re having trouble pairing your headset with your Windows 11 computer…
It’s likely due to some incorrect setting on either or both devices.
If you’re using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) on your PC…
You need to switch it off. It can get in the way of pairing your headset with your computer.
Moreover, on your Oculus, you must ensure that Quest Link is toggled on your Oculus. And if you’re trying to connect wirelessly, the Air Link option should also be enabled.
How to turn on Quest Link and Air Link on Oculus
Step #1: Power on and wear your Oculus headset.
Step #2: On your right controller, press the Oculus button.
Step #3: Click the gear icon on the leftmost side of the Universal Menu.
Step #4: Select System.
Step #5: Scroll down and click Quest Link. Then switch it on.
Step #6: Click the arrow icon beside the Launch Quest Link option. A new window should pop up.
Step #7: Look for Use Air Link and toggle it on.
#11: Factory reset your Oculus
Still having trouble connecting your VR headset with your PC?
If so, a last resort option would be to perform a factory reset on your Oculus.
Warning: Your downloaded games will all be erased during this process. This will also unlink the headset from your Meta account. So proceed with caution.
Now, this is how to factory reset your Oculus:
Step #1: Launch the Oculus app on your smartphone.
Step #2: Select Devices.
Step #3: Choose the headset that you’ll be resetting.
Step #4: Tap Advanced settings.
Step #5: Select Factory reset. And click Reset to confirm.
If this doesn’t fix the issue, your Oculus may be defective. So it’s best to contact Meta for support.
Just visit their Help Center page. And you can either chat or email an agent about your specific device issues from there.