This guide will help you determine whether or not your Oculus Quest 2 headset is available for use with your Linux operation system and offer you detailed methods to get your device working correctly.
Does Oculus Quest 2 Work on Linux?
Unfortunately, the Oculus Quest 2 does not work with Linux. Like most modern software, the Oculus Quest 2 is optimized for use with Windows operating systems. The creators of the Oculus Quest 2 have chosen not to offer native support and compatibility for Linux operating systems. This is one of the most significant trade-offs for freedom that Linux gives its users. It can sometimes be hard to find software that is designed to be compatible with your operating system when using Linux. Luckily, this is a common occurrence that Linux users have cleverly learned to work around in several different ways. The next part of this guide will focus on ways that you can bypass the incompatible nature of the Oculus Quest 2 with your operating system. As most Linux users will tell you, the solution to these types of problems is rarely simple, but this guide will break down all of the steps you need to take to get your Oculus Quest 2 running correctly on your operating system.
How To Use Oculus Quest 2 On Linux
As previously mentioned, there are very few plug-and-play options available for users of the Oculus Quest 2 on Linux. The Linux community has come up with a few workarounds to these compatibility issues. The most common ways to use your Oculus Quests 2 with a Linux-based PC are listed below:
1. Transfer Files and Sideload Games to Your Oculus Quest 2 Using Linux
You can access the internal storage of your Oculus Quest 2 device on your Linux-based PC by simply plugging your device into your PC. After a successful connection, you will be prompted to “Allow Data Access”, which will enable files to be transferred from your PC to your Oculus Device. You can follow this same method to add any custom games or applications to your Oculus Quest 2 device. Keep in mind that you will not be able to use any of the games you have installed on your Oculus Quest 2 with any Linux-based PC. This method can simply help you move files and games that you have downloaded on your Linux-based PC to your Oculus device.
2. Use ALVR
ALVR, or Air Light VR, is a virtual reality software that mimics the functions of the standard Oculus Link software. Oculus Link is the software that is installed on your PC that manages how your Oculus Quest 2 device communicates with other devices. Since the Oculus Link software is not compatible with Linux-based PCs, ALVR is a great alternative that helps get the Oculus Quest 2 working on their operating system. This software is relatively new, so some bugs and glitches are to be expected. This could lead to a less than optimal VR experience, so it might be better to wait until the software has had more time to grow and evolve before expecting optimal functionality.
3. Dual-Boot Your PC
The easiest solution to incompatibility problems between Linux-based PCs and the Oculus Quest 2 is to simply dual-boot your PC. Dual-booting is the act of installing two operating systems on one PC. Using this method you can utilize both of your operating systems and their advantages for different situations. You should consider pairing your Linux operating system with a copy of Windows so that you can switch between them when you want to use your Oculus Quest 2. The steps to dual-boot your PC are fairly simple and are listed below: Step One: Gather Appropriate Materials and Software There are a few things that you will need before you begin the process of dual-booting your PC. The first thing you will need is two USB flash drives to store the installation files of the operating systems that you wish to install. You could also use disk copies of the installation files if you have those readily available or if your PC does not support booting from a USB drive. Next, you will need a licensed copy of Windows. If you are adding Linux to a PC that is already running on a Windows operating system, you can skip this requirement. You can find a copy of the Linux operating system online for free download. There are also a couple of software programs that you will require to dual-boot your PC. The first is Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. This program will allow you to create the necessary files in the right format on either your USB drive or disk. This software will be used in tandem with the Ubuntu Iso Image software. You will need Ubuntu Iso Image to utilize any bootable versions of the operating system that you are trying to use. To create the bootable media for a Linux-based system, you will need to download and install Etcher. An etcher is a software that allows for the creation of bootable media across all three major operating systems. After installing Etcher, be sure to give it access to the Ubuntu software that you have previously downloaded. To do this, launch the Etcher software and click the “Select Image” option and direct it to the Ubuntu software. Step Two: Install Windows After you have gathered all of the necessary files and equipment to start the dual-boot process, you should first install windows and the Ubuntu software mentioned above. If you already have Windows installed you can skip this step. You should first insert the windows installation media that you have created and boot it up. You will be able to access the boot menu by referencing your PC manual for the access method. Once your PC has detected the flash drive or disk containing your installation files, you will be prompted with the option to “Install Now”. You will then have to enter your product key or specify that you do not have one because your PC came with a copy of Windows. This will activate your copy of Windows. You will then be shown a list of versions of Windows that you can install. Choose the one that matches the copy you currently have and click “Next”. You will be taken to a License Agreement screen where you will be prompted to accept the Terms of Use. After agreeing to the License Agreement, you will be taken to the installation options screen. You will be presented with two options, Upgrade or Custom Installation. The option that you want to choose when dual-booting your PC is Custom. You will then be taken through the custom installation process. The first part of this process is to allocate your hard drive for the installation of your operating system. It is advised that you remove any currently existing partitions and create a new one. You should then allocate at least 60 gigabytes of space for the Windows installation package. The rest of your hard drive should remain unallocated. Confirm the new allocation settings and click “Next”. This will begin the installation process. Once this process is complete you will be notified that the installation has been successful. After that, it is time to install Ubuntu. Step Three: Install Ubuntu You should follow the same method to enter the boot menu to access your Ubuntu installation software from your flash drive or disk as you did to install Windows. This method is detailed in the step above. Once the installation software is running, you will be presented with two options, “Try Ubuntu” or “Install Ubuntu”. It is often the better choice to choose “Try Ubuntu”, as this gives you the chance to make sure that everything works as intended before committing to an installation. After clicking “Try Ubuntu”, you should see the Ubuntu desktop. Here, you can play around with the settings and get used to the Ubuntu software before deciding to install it. Once you have made sure that everything is working as intended, you can click the desktop icon labeled “Install Ubuntu” to start the installation process. You will be prompted to choose a language and keyboard layout, then click “Continue”. This will bring you to the installation options menu where you can choose between a normal or minimal installation. For most purposes, the normal option is the one you should choose. On the next screen, you will be presented with some other installation options, including “Install Ubuntu alongside Windows 10”. This is the custom dual-boot installation option. After you have selected this option click “Next”. Finally, you will be presented with a summary of your installation and the option to “Install Now”. Select this and the installation process will begin. While Ubuntu installs on your PC, you will have the chance to enter your location and account information for use with Ubuntu. After the installation is complete, you will then have access to both operating systems from the boot menu.
How To Fix Problems With The Oculus Quest 2 On Linux
1. Reinstall the Oculus Application On Your PC
Sometimes application files can become corrupted or damaged in some way. This can lead to the Oculus software on your PC not working as intended, potentially causing issues with your headset device. If you are experiencing persistent issues with the Oculus software on your Linux-based PC or your headset device, then you should consider reinstalling the application. Reinstalling the Oculus app will clear your device of any potentially damaged files and replace them with fresh copies. This will also apply any updates that you have missed since your first installed the application. You will not lose any of the games in your library or any account data by reinstalling the application. All of your games and data on the Oculus app are tied to your Facebook account, so you can reinstall them with no issues.
2. Factory Reset Oculus
If you believe that you are experiencing some type of hardware error with your Oculus Quest 2, then you should consider doing a full factory reset on your Oculus headset. You can do this in the Oculus application or by turning off your headset and holding down the volume down button and the power button until you see the boot screen for your headset. The boot screen will allow you to access the factory reset option on your headset without the need for the Oculus application. If you have the Oculus app installed on your Linux-based PC, then you can simply navigate to the devices menu in the app and factory reset it there.
3. Contact Oculus
If you have exhausted this detailed list of troubleshooting methods and are still encountering issues with your Oculus Quest 2, then you should consider contacting Oculus Support and having them further investigate your issue. You can get in touch with Oculus Support on their website or through the Oculus application that you have installed on your Linux-based PC. You will need to provide an extremely detailed account of your issue so that Oculus support can walk you through any potential troubleshooting methods that you might have missed. They will then get back to you with detailed instructions on how to solve your problem. It can be frustrating to deal with customer support over the phone, but rest assured that Oculus support will do everything they can to get your device up and running again, with your pairing code displaying correctly. Keep in mind that this should be considered as a last resort after trying all of the troubleshooting methods in this list. This is because Oculus Support is likely to suggest to you many of the troubleshooting methods already listed here. This can save you time when trying to get to the root of your issue.
4. Look In The Forums
The forums are a great source of information regarding all types of issues that you might experience while using the Oculus Quest 2. There you will find an active community of users that come together to talk about problems they have encountered and work together to solve them. This includes other Linux users who may be experiencing the same compatibility problems as you. This can be a good alternative to contacting Oculus Support if customer service is not something you would like to deal with. You will likely find your issue being discussed on the Oculus forums or find that your problem has already been solved and archived. You could also use guides like the one you are reading to help you better identify your pairing code issues’ root causes and potential troubleshooting methods.
5. Purchase A New Headset Or Send it In For Repair
Unfortunately, there are some instances where a headset can be damaged and need to be replaced or repaired. If your pairing code is not displaying correctly, it could be due to a broken display. To fix a broken display you will either have to replace your Oculus Quest 2 headset or send it off to be repaired. Depending on how extensive the damage to your device is, you might find that replacement is the only option. To avoid damage to your Oculus headset, you should ensure that you are storing it properly and avoiding drops and spills. This can help you ensure that your device has a long and healthy life.
Final Thoughts
This guide has broken down many of the ways that you can use your Oculus Quest 2 with a Linux-based operating system. Although the Oculus Quest 2 is not natively compatible with the Linux software, this guide has provided detailed workarounds for these compatibility issues. As this guide has shown, the best option for those who are trying to use the Oculus Quest 2 with their Linux operating system is the dual-boot your PC. You can use the detailed instructions provided in this guide to help you do this and get your device working with your Linux PC fast and easily.
