How to play a steam game on oculus quest 2

Looking to play Steam games on the Quest 2? Here's how

Updated: Sep 26, 2022 9:35 am

How to play a steam game on oculus quest 2

Since the beginning of VR some 10 years ago, Oculus has enjoyed a reputation as one of the best and most accessible VR gaming headsets out there. This reputation was further bolstered by the release of the original Oculus Quest which allowed for standalone operation via an internal android-based operating system. When the Oculus Quest 2 debuted in October of 2020 it received very good reviews but drew some criticism for the mandatory Facebook account sign-in to actually use it.

NOW READ: Meta Quest 3 release date

In order to make the most of the standalone functionality of the Quest 2, you’ll need to install games directly onto the built-in memory but how exactly do you do this? We’re going to explain exactly how to play steam games on the Oculus Quest 2 for you right here in a handy step-by-step guide.

How to play Steam games on Oculus Quest 2: A step-by-step guide

While the device itself is standalone, you’ll still need a computer to initially load it with games. let’s see exactly how that process goes and what you’ll need in order to get it done. To play steam games on Oculus Quest 2 you’ll need the following:

  • USB Type-C cable
  • A computer with the Quest 2 desktop app installed.

The Quest 2 desktop app download can be found here. Once you’ve downloaded it simply follow the instruction until the installation is complete.

Turn the Quest 2 on and connect it via USB-C to your computer

Using a long USB C cable will make life easier here, as you wont have to carry the Quest back and forth just to install games on it.

Open the Quest 2 desktop app and select the ‘add headset’ option. Then click ‘Quest 2’ from the menu.

For this step, just open up steam and search for ‘Steam VR’ in the store. The app is free and will enable you to play steam games on your Oculus Quest 2

Put the Quest 2 on and start it up. In the apps menu go to filter, and make sure the ‘unknown sources’ switch is flipped. This will allow you to run the Steam VR app on the headset.

Select the ‘virtual desktop’ option in the Quest 2, this will show you your PC’s desktop, Then open the Steam VR app as you would on a regular computer.

The VR app will now takeover. Scroll through your list of Steam VR games and select the ones you want to play.

How to play Steam games on Oculus Quest 2: Final word

If you’ve carefully followed the preceding steps, you’ll now be free to play all of your Steam games on your Quest 2. Additionally, you can return to this process to add or remove games as and when you need to.

NOW READ:Meta Quest 3 pre-order info

Hungry for more virtual reality content? Here are some of the other pages we’ve written about the subject.

  • Best VR gaming headsets
  • Best VR games
  • How To Play Minecraft VR On The Oculus Quest 2
  • Oculus Quest system requirements
  • How to cast Oculus Quest 2 to TV
  • How to factory reset Oculus Quest 2

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It’s no secret that Steam is home to thousands of video games. Except for some exclusive titles, you can find pretty much any game you’re searching for. This also includes VR titles, which, for some reason, are attracting a lot of attention from newer generations. 

You’ll need a VR headset to play these VR games, and considering how each VR headset comes with its own settings and configurations, it can be hard to configure them at first. For that reason, we have prepared a guide on how you can link your Oculus Quest 2 headset with your PC and also play your Steam VR games on it. 

  • How to Play Steam Games on Oculus Quest 2
    • PC Requirements to Run VR Games
    • Via USB-C Cable
    • Via Air Link Connection

You can play the Steam VR games on Oculus Quest 2 using both a USB-C cable and wireless connectivity. But first, you’ll need to connect your VR headset to your PC.

Here are the steps for connecting your Oculus Quest 2 headset to your PC by using both a USB-C cable and an Air Link connection.

Note: Before going on to the process, make sure to install both the Steam app and the Oculus desktop app on your PC. You’ll also need to install Steam VR within the Steam app.

PC Requirements to Run VR Games

Here are the minimum required specifications to run VR games on your PC:

  • CPU: Intel i5-4590 / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or greater
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / AMD Radeon 400 Series or better
  • RAM: 8 GB+
  • OS: Windows 10
  • Video Card Storage: 3 GB

Via USB-C Cable

The primary method to connect your Oculus Quest 2 headset and PC is through the use of a USB-C cable. You’ll need a USB-C cable that is long enough so you can play your games from a safe distance and without causing damage to your surroundings.

Here’s how you can connect your Oculus Quest 2 headset to your PC using a USB-C cable:

  1. Power up your Quest 2 headset and connect it to your PC (or Laptop) using the USB-C cable.
  2. Now, launch the Oculus desktop app.
  3. Within the app, select the Devices menu from the sidebar, then click on Add Headset option.
    quest-app-menu
  4. Select the Quest 2 option and follow the given instructions to successfully connect your Oculus Quest 2 VR headset to your PC.
    select-headset-menu
  5. Now, when you wear the headset, you should be able to see your desktop through it.
  6. Next, put down your headset and launch the Steam desktop app on your PC. Then, click on the Library tab to view all your games.
  7. Select Steam VR and click on Play to launch it.
  8. You can now access and play all your Steam VR games on your Oculus Quest 2.
    Steam-VR-Games

You can connect your Oculus Quest 2 to your PC using your Wi-Fi as well. For that, you’ll need a strong internet connection to ensure that your framerates remain consistent throughout your gameplay.

Here’s how you can connect your Oculus Quest 2 headset to your PC using Air Link:

  1. Open the Steam client app on your PC and click on the Library tab to see all your games.
  2. Select the Steam VR app, and click on Play to launch it.
  3. Now, open the Oculus desktop app as well.
  4. Click on the Settings menu, then under the Beta tab enable the Air Link feature.
    quest-app-settings-menu
  5. Now, put on your VR headset and press the Oculus Button from the right-hand controller. 
  6. Go to the Settings menu, then click on the Experimental tab and enable the Air Link option. 
    experimental-feature--airlinl
  7. On the Quick Settings menu, click on the Air Link option to connect it to your PC.
    connect-quest-2-headset-with-your-PC
  8. Now, you’ll see a popup screen showing the list of devices that are available to connect. Select your PC from the list and click on Pair.
    click-on-pair
  9. After clicking on the Pair button, you can see a code on your desktop. You can also see a prompt on your PC with the same code. Click on Confirm to pair your headset with your PC.
  10. Now, on your headset desktop, click on Confirm, then click on Launch to successfully connect your headset and PC. 

You can now click on the desktop icon from the menu bar and see your desktop on your headset. After this, launch Steam VR, and you’ll be able to play your VR titles immediately.

Also, next time you launch the Steam VR, you can directly connect your headset without having to pair it with your PC.

Can Quest 2 play Steam games?

The Oculus Quest can indeed play Steam games. All you need to do is connect your Oculus Quest VR headset to your PC, download SteamVR, then you should be able to play all of your favorite Steam games using your Oculus Quest headset.

How do I play VR games from Steam on Quest 2?

You can play Steam games on the Quest 2 by linking your virtual reality headset to a computer. You can access Steam VR games with a USB link cable or a wireless Air Link connection. Your PC needs to meet the Quest 2's minimum system requirements, and you'll need to install the Quest desktop app.