The First Things You Should Do With Your New Oculus Quest 2!

This is the first guide you need to read after you get your new Oculus Quest 2! We’ll go through the entire Oculus Quest 2 setup process, unboxing, and getting started.

If we’ve missed anything, make sure to comment down at the bottom of this guide and let us know.

Let’s dive in!

Oculus Quest 2 Overview

The Meta/Oculus Quest 2 offers easy access to exactly what makes VR so special, offering high-quality virtual reality experiences at a fair price. Oculus Quest 2 is an immersive gadget that even the most tech-shy members of your family can have a blast with. It allows you to literally step around inside gaming worlds and access 360-degree video content and apps.

It remains very similar to the original Oculus Quest, being a battery-powered and standalone headset. Some things have changed though – it’s a more responsive experience overall. This is thanks to improved RAM, the new Snapdragon XR2 processor, and a higher resolution display that’s 50% sharper than its predecessor.

Developers now have the option to make their games run at a 90Hz refresh rate and the headset itself is lighter than before, too. At a starting price of $299, this is affordable enough to pull a whole new crowd of players into VR gaming. It comes with an all-in-one kit that bundles everything you need to get playing.

Unboxing

When you open the box, the first thing you are greeted with is a small package containing a quick start guide. The package also contain a power adapter, and a USB-C charging cable.

You will also get a pair of Oculus Touch controllers. These controllers are an improvement over the original Quest, with stronger haptic feedback and longer battery life. Two AA batteries are included in the controllers already, so you don’t need your own to get started. Remember to pull the battery tabs out before you start playing.

You also get the Quest 2 headset itself. It features 4 tracking cameras on the front play for the inside tracking system. Also, you get a glasses spacer which helps you if wear glasses and want to play VR.

Finally, the box comes with a wall charging block to your local area. You get a 1 meter charging cable, which is much shorter than what you got in the Quest 1 box. Once everything is unpacked, you are ready for our Oculus Quest 2 setup guide below.

Initial Oculus Quest 2 Setup

Unlike the original Oculus Quest, the Quest 2 setup takes place mostly in the headset itself. Below is the step-by-step process of setting up the Quest 2:

Unbox the Hardware

Before you get the headset on, take note of your Wi-Fi password and remove the battery taps from the Touch controllers to activate them. The headset itself should have around 40% battery charge out of the box.

Put on Your Headset

Press the power button on the right-hand side of the headset for 2 seconds to power the headset, and put the headset on. Adjust the straps so that the headset can fit your head. 

The Touch controllers will pair automatically with the headset. You can then use the controllers as pointers by simply using the trigger button to click through the menus.

Choose Your Language

Next, choose your preferred language by selecting your option and using your touch controller to confirm.

Set Up Your IPD

Set up your IPD to enjoy a memorable and comfortable VR experience. The Quest 2 has three IPD setting slots:

1. 58 mm
2. 63 mm
3. 68 mm

Have a look at each setting and decide which one looks the least blurry to you.

Connect Your Headset to Wi-Fi

Enter in your Wi-Fi password to connect your headset to your home network. At this point, the headset requires an update which will take up to 5 minutes. You can take off your headset while waiting for the headset to update if you want.

Download the Oculus Mobile App

After the update is complete, you need to pair the Quest 2 to the Oculus mobile app on your phone. If you don’t have it installed yet, you can find it in the Apple or Android app store.

A pairing code is displayed on the headset that you need to enter into the Oculus app in order to sync the two together.

Setup Your Guardian Boundary

The final step in the Quest 2 setup is to configure the guardian boundary system. This is the safe space in your room you will play virtual reality in. The guardian is meant to protect you so that you won’t hit the wall or furniture when you are playing VR.

In the next section, we’ll go into detail on how to set up your VR room and guardian.

Room and Guardian Setup

In this Quest 2 setup section, we’ll have you setup the guardian.

First, set the floor level by lowering the controller to the floor and pressing the trigger button.

Draw the boundary of your play space by pressing and holding the trigger to draw along the boundary of your cleared playing area.

After you are done, your guardian will protect you while you play. If you reach your hand outside of your guardian, a red warning will come into your vision to let you know.

Once you’re done with the room and guarding setup for the first time, you are given the option to enable hand tracking. 

In the home environment, you can also enable Oculus Quest hand tracking.

If you set up multiple boundaries in your home, your Quest will remember them. First, you put on your headset and look at a pre-existing boundary. Your Quest will automatically pop up and let you set the boundary without manually having to draw it again.

After your guardian is set up, you will be placed in the home environment. From here, you can browse the store, play games from your library, connect with friends, and much more.

What’s Next

After the initial Quest 2 setup, what should you do next on your new VR headset? Here is a list of suggestions from the Oculus community!

Play Free Demos

Each Quest 2 headset comes with a few VR demos to check out and play. If you’ve never experienced virtual reality before, this is a good starting spot. It will let you feel how movement and gameplay in VR is, which can be a big adjustment for some first-time users.

We recommend trying out the First Steps game, which showcases virtual reality in a few cool ways. Other demos worth playing are Creed, a boxing game, and Epic Rollercoasters!

Check Out Free Games

After some demos, you should go and check out some of the awesome free games there are available. Again, they’ll give you an idea for what you like to play in VR (it’s not the same as console gaming)!

We have a full guide here on the best FREE Oculus Quest 2 games.

If you want to see what hand tracking is like, go and check out Elixir for free.

For high definition 360 degree videos, go take a look at Felix & Paul or the Youtube app.

If you want to check out multiplayer in virtual reality, go download Echo VR.

To work and be productive in VR, go check out Spatial or Alcove.

If you want to watch movies and TV shows and mirror your computer, go check out Bigscreen VR.

To play hundreds of different games with others in VR, go and check out Rec Room.

Overall, there is plenty of Quest 2 setup games that are completely free to try.

Install SideQuest VR

SideQuest is a third party app store for the Quest. It contains over 500 VR games not found in the official Oculus Store, and many of these are free as well. Here’s a list of our favorite SideQuest VR games.

Beside games to play, there are other reasons you might need SideQuest later too. Its needed to install real life custom songs on Beat Saber or Synth Riders. You can also send custom commands to adjust the resolution and other settings in your headset.

Click here to view our SideQuest VR tutorial guide, which will show you how to install and use it.

Look for Quest 2 Accessories

Oculus Quest 2 has a growing system of first and third party accessories to check out. From new comfort padding, charging docks, audio headphones and more, there is an accessory to make your Quest 2 setup even better.

Here are the best Oculus Quest 2 accessories to check out today.

Play the Best Games for Oculus Quest 2

If you want to jump into the best of the best, its time to look at the best VR games available today. Our upcoming Quest games guide has a good list of upcoming and recently releases. We also have a guide to the best games that showcase the power in the Quest 2.

Click here to view our favorite Oculus Quest 2 games.

Your Oculus Quest 2 setup is now complete. Below, take a look at some other beginner tips we have:

Other Tips and Tricks

Below are some tips to help you to enjoy your new Oculus Quest 2 setup and VR headset:

1. To change the theme of the home environment, navigate to settings and you will see a few different options to choose from.
2. If you have prescription VR lenses, they fit perfectly over the Quest 2 lenses.
3. Take a look at using Oculus Link to connect your headset to a PC. Manage the cable by threading it through the head strap to the back. This way the cable doesn’t get on your way as you play your favorite PC games.
4. Don’t use the Quest 2 outdoors. Some weather conditions do not favor the headset. You must never get UV sunlight in the lenses or the headset.
5. To clean your lenses, use a dry optical lens microfiber cloth. Never use liquid or chemical cleaners.
6. Considere completing your setup with one of our top Oculus Quest 2 accessories.

Check out our comprehensive VR tips page for 101 other virtual reality tips.

Do you need any help with your Oculus Quest 2 setup? Comment below and let us know.