How To Fix SteamVR Not Loading With Air Link

Is SteamVR not loading with Air Link?

It’s a common challenge some users face issue with their Air Link, a cutting-edge feature that allows wireless VR gameplay by connecting the Meta Quest headset to a gaming PC.

The error usually occurs if there is an unstable internet connection and the wireless driver is not up-to-date.

In this blog post, you will get step-by-step troubleshooting steps to fix Air Link and SteamVR, ensuring your wireless device connections work fine.

Why SteamVR Not Loading With Air Link

When SteamVR is not loading with Air Link, several common issues may be at play:

1. Software Updates: Both the Oculus software and SteamVR may need updates to ensure compatibility and functionality.
2. Connection Issues: Wi-Fi instability or weak signal strength can disrupt the communication between the headset and the PC.
3. USB and Power Management Settings: Incorrect USB power settings on the PC can interfere with the connection.
4. Firewall or Antivirus Blocking: Security software on the PC might be blocking the connection needed for Air Link to function.
5. Incorrect Setup: The Air Link setup process must be followed correctly; any deviation might prevent SteamVR from loading.
6. Bandwidth Limitations: Insufficient bandwidth due to network congestion or other devices on the network can affect Air Link’s performance.
7. VR Software Conflicts: Other VR software running on the PC may conflict with SteamVR when using Air Link.
8. SteamVR Settings: Incorrect settings within SteamVR could prevent it from recognizing the Air Link connection.
9. Oculus Software Issues: Bugs or glitches within the Oculus software could be causing a failure to load SteamVR.
10. PC Performance Issues: Insufficient hardware resources or performance issues on the PC can lead to problems with running SteamVR over Air Link.

How To Fix SteamVR Not Loading With Air Link

To Fix SteamVR Not Loading With Air Link, verify the internet connections and all the devices are up-to-date. Then try starting the headset with USB, connect to the Airlink, and remove the Oculus app from Appdata folder. If nothing helps, consider switching to the Virtual Desktop.

1. Check The Internet Connection

Before diving into more complex solutions, ensure that your headset, internet and other external connections are properly connected to your PC if you use a link cable.

For Wired Connection: Ensure your USB-C cable is properly connected to both your headset and your PC. The cable should be USB 3.0 or higher, in good condition, and not too long to avoid signal degradation.

For Wireless Connection: Confirm that your PC, the link box, and the external connections are on the same Wi-Fi network, preferably a 5 GHz network for optimal performance. Also, ensure that the signal strength is strong and the router is not being obstructed. Remove all devices from the connection except PC and the game Headset & controllers to optimize the bandwidth.

2. Restart SteamVR and Oculus software

Restarting software will refresh the application files and remove any minor glitches.

• First, restart both SteamVR and Oculus software. Close any instances of SteamVR and the Oculus application, then reopen them, ensuring that SteamVR fully closes in the background.
• On your computer, access the “Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)” to verify that all related processes have ended before restarting.

3. Ensure All Devices Are Up to Date

Make sure your GPU drivers and Windows OS are up to date, as outdated drivers or OS may cause performance issues.

To Update Windows And GPU Drivers:

• Update your GPU drivers: Download drivers from NVIDIA or AMD website, depending on your graphics card model and install them.

• Update Windows: “Settings” > “Update & Security” > “Windows Update.”

To Update The Oculus Quest Software:

• Ensure that your Oculus Quest headset is fully charged and turned on.
• Put on your Oculus Quest headset and select the “Settings” option from the universal menu.
• Scroll down in the settings panel and tap on “About” to check for software updates.
• If an update is available, there will be an option to “Update.” Tap it to install the latest version of the Oculus Quest software.

To Update The SteamVR:

Here are the steps to ensure you have the latest version:

• Open “Steam” and Go to “Library“
• Scroll down to find SteamVR and right-click on it.
• From the right-click menu, choose ‘‘Properties’‘
• click on the ‘‘Updates’‘ tab.
• Make sure that ‘‘Always keep this application up to date’‘ is selected. This will ensure SteamVR automatically downloads and installs any available updates.
• If you want to manually check for updates, you can click on the “Local Files” tab and then select ‘‘Verify Integrity of Tool Files’‘. Steam will check for updates and install them if they are not already applied.
• “Restart Steam” to ensure the changes take effect.

4. Stop the Oculus VR Runtime Service

To address issues with SteamVR not loading with Air Link, follow these steps to refresh the Oculus App and its settings:

• Exist “Oculus App “on your PC completely.
• Press “Win + R” to open the Run dialogue.
• Type “services.msc” and press Enter or search for “Services” in the Start Menu and open the app.
• Find ‘‘Oculus VR Runtime Service’‘ in the services list.
• Right-click it and select ‘‘Stop’‘.
• Turn off your Meta Quest 2 headset and then turn it back on.
• Open the “Oculus App” on your PC.
• This action should automatically restart the Oculus VR Runtime Service.
• In the Oculus App, add your Meta Quest 2 headset again, following the on-screen instructions.
• You will likely need to “Pair your headset” with the Oculus App again.
• At this point, SteamVR should load correctly with Air Link.

5. Remove Oculus Folder From AppData

The issue might occur because of the corrupted files in appdata. You can delete the Oculus folder from AppData.

• Press “Windows+R” to open run dialogue box.
• Type “%appdata%“, press Enter and navigate to “C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming.“
• “Delete the Oculus folder” found here for additional troubleshooting.

6. Connect via Oculus Link Cable

Connecting with the link cable first will make Steam recognise the Airlink devices faster.

• Connect your “Meta Quest” headset to your PC using the Oculus Link cable.
• Launch “SteamVR” and disconnect the Oculus Link cable from your Quest headset.
• Reconnect to your PC using “Air Link” through the Quest headset’s settings.
• After reconnecting with Air Link, SteamVR should continue to work great, allowing you to enjoy wireless VR gameplay.

7. Consider Using Virtual Desktop

Many users on Reddit reported that Airlink works very well on Virtual desktops. Consider switching to the Virtual desktop.

You can get a refund if you don’t like but you have to test it and return it within 2 hrs.