To set up Meta Quest 2, charge the headset, install Meta Horizon on your phone, sign in to a Meta Account, pair the headset, then complete its Wi-Fi, update, and boundary instructions. Have your Wi-Fi password ready, and keep your compatible phone connected to Wi-Fi with Bluetooth enabled.
The short version
- Prepare the hardware: Charge the headset, remove the controller battery tabs, and adjust the fit.
- Pair with your phone: Use Meta Horizon and a Meta Account to complete consumer activation.
- Finish inside the headset: Connect to Wi-Fi, let updates finish, and choose a Stationary or Roomscale boundary.
- Handle pairing codes correctly: Enter the five-digit device code only when the companion app requests it.
| Setup location | What you do there | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Headset hardware | Charge, adjust lenses and straps, and prepare controllers | Before activation |
| Meta Horizon phone app | Create an account and pair your Quest 2 | New or factory-reset personal headset |
| Inside the headset | Connect to Wi-Fi, update, set a boundary, and install apps | During setup and later adjustments |
| Meta’s device login page | Enter an eight-character account login code | When logged out or adding a profile and prompted for browser login |
| Software Update tool | Follow guided update recovery | When updating from the headset is unavailable |
Charge the headset and prepare the controllers
Connect the charging cord to your Quest 2 and a power source. A green charging indicator means the headset is fully charged, and you can keep it connected during initial updates if necessary. Remove the battery-blocking tabs from the Touch controllers and check their batteries before starting.
Hold the headset’s Power button to turn it on, then follow the initial instructions inside. Move the lenses left or right until they click into the position that gives you the clearest view. Adjust the side-strap sliders, center the top strap and adjust its Velcro, then tilt the headset arms for a clear, comfortable view.
For glasses, check that the frames are no wider than 142 mm and no taller than 50 mm before fitting the included spacer. Remove the facial interface, press the glasses spacer into its mounting position, and reinstall the facial interface over it. Put the headset on from front to back.
Install Meta Horizon and prepare your account
Open Meta’s Meta Horizon installation page, then select Google Play Store for Android or App Store for iPhone and install the app. Meta lists Android 5.0 or later and iOS 15.1 or later as the phone requirements. Keep Wi-Fi connected and Bluetooth enabled on your compatible phone.
Launch Meta Horizon and sign in to your Meta Account, or create one during setup. Older packaging may call the companion app Oculus or Meta Quest; its current name is Meta Horizon, and current setup uses a Meta Account.
For a child aged 10 to 12, with regional age variations, a parent or guardian should create a parent-managed account. Sign in to Meta Horizon as the parent, then tap Menu > Family Centre > Get started. Tap Create an account for a child, tap Continue, and complete the account instructions.
Pair your Quest 2 with the phone
With the headset turned on, open Meta Horizon and tap Menu > Devices. Select the option to add a new headset, then follow the instructions in both the app and headset to complete setup for your Quest 2.
Some connections complete automatically without a code. When the app requests a pairing code, look inside the headset for the five-digit device code and enter it on your phone. That device pairing code stays the same after a factory reset.
An eight-character alphanumeric code is for account login when you are logged out or adding a profile to another device. When the headset displays that login code, open Meta’s device login page on a phone or computer, sign in to the intended account, and enter the code.
Connect to Wi-Fi and finish updating
To connect or change networks inside the headset, press the right controller’s Meta or Oculus button to open Navigator. Select Quick controls > Settings > Wi-Fi and turn on Wi-Fi. Choose your network, select Connect, and enter its password when requested.
You can also configure Wi-Fi through the paired phone app. Open Meta Horizon, tap Menu > Devices, select the headset, then tap Headset settings > Wi-Fi. Choose the network and enter its password.
Keep the headset charged, turned on, and connected to Wi-Fi while its initial software updates finish. To check manually afterward, open Navigator > Quick controls > Settings > General > Software update and install an available update with the displayed download button. On the same screen, you can turn on Automatically power headset to update, although automatic power-on updating is unavailable when a lock PIN is set.
Create your play boundary and center the view
Choose a Stationary boundary for sitting or standing in place. Choose Roomscale to draw a play area you can move around in; Meta recommends a safe, unobstructed space of at least 2 by 2 meters. Complete the headset’s boundary instructions before starting a game.
To adjust the boundary later, press the right controller’s Meta or Oculus button. Select Quick controls > Settings > Environment setup > Boundary > Adjust boundary, then follow the instructions. To recenter your view, face the direction you want to use as forward and hold the right controller’s Meta or Oculus button.
An app can retain a different boundary preference from VR Home. If an immersive app opens with a Stationary boundary despite your Roomscale Home setup, open that app and press the right controller’s Meta or Oculus button. Select Quick controls > Boundary > Switch to Roomscale, then draw or adjust its boundary.
Adjust accessibility and install your first game
After the initial software update, press the right controller’s Meta button three times to access accessibility controls during setup. Adjust the vision, mobility, or hearing settings you need. After setup, reach those categories through Navigator > Quick controls > Settings > Accessibility.
For your first download, press the right controller’s Meta or Oculus button and select Meta Horizon Store. Choose an app or game compatible with Quest 2, then select its price to buy it or select Free. Downloaded apps appear in Library.
To install through your phone, open Meta Horizon, tap Search, and find a compatible app. Tap its price to buy it or tap Free. Meta says the app installs automatically on the headset associated with the purchasing profile and appears in Library.
Protect your profile and enable backups
To protect your profile with a passcode, open Navigator > Quick controls > Settings > Passcode and security, then select Create beside Passcode. Enter a passcode containing 4 to 16 digits, select Continue, enter it again, and select Continue. Enable Unlock headset to require the passcode before anyone can access your profile when the headset wakes from sleep or powers on.
For backups, open Navigator > Quick controls > Settings > General > Cloud backup and turn on Cloud backup. Backup availability and the data included depend on each app.
Finish setup when pairing or updates stall
If setup stops responding, hold the headset’s Power button until the Power off screen appears, then select Restart. For an unresponsive headset, hold Power for at least 30 seconds, then wait 30 seconds. If it does not restart automatically, hold Power to turn it on.
For a controller that has not paired, keep the headset on and open Meta Horizon, tap Menu > Devices, then select the headset. Tap Headset settings > Controllers > Pair new controller and choose the controller. On the right controller, hold Meta + B or Oculus + B until its LED blinks and lights up. On the left controller, hold Menu + Y until its LED blinks and lights up.
If an already-paired controller needs reconnecting, keep the headset on and return to Menu > Devices in Meta Horizon, then select the headset. Open Headset settings > Controllers, select the controller, and tap Unpair controller. Select Pair new controller and repeat the pairing steps.
When updating from the headset is unavailable, open Meta’s official Software Update tool on a computer or phone, then follow its guided instructions.
A factory reset is a later option for restarting setup or preparing a used headset, and it erases headset accounts and downloaded content. Charge the headset to at least 50%, turn it off, and hold Power + Volume Down until the boot screen loads. Use the volume buttons to highlight Factory reset and press Power, then highlight Yes and press Power again. Complete initial setup again after the reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you set up a warranty replacement Quest 2 without paired controllers?
Power on and wear the replacement headset. When it requests controller tabs or cannot locate the controllers, remove it and wait five to ten minutes. Put it back on, follow the gaze instructions by moving your head, and use the volume buttons to select prompts. Complete controller pairing and the remaining setup.
Can you add another household member to Quest 2?
Yes, you can add up to three additional profiles. In Meta Horizon, open Menu > Devices, select the headset under Devices you own, then under Info, tap Manage profiles > Add profile. Tap the link to copy it, or tap Share link and choose a messaging app. The recipient must already have a Meta Account and accept the invitation within 15 minutes.
How do you enable hand tracking after setup?
Press the right controller’s Meta or Oculus button, then select Quick controls > Settings > Tracking and turn on Hand and body tracking. Point at a target and pinch your thumb and finger together to select it.
How do you create an avatar on Quest 2?
Open Navigator and select your profile photo, then select Create Avatar. Customize the avatar and select Save and continue.
