Quest 3S & Quest 3: The best tips & tricks you need to know
Want to get the most out of your Meta Quest, be it Quest 3S or 3? Here are the best tips & tricks.
This article was written for the Meta Quest 3 and 3S, but many tips & tricks apply to the Quest 2 as well.
If you're considering buying a Quest 3S or Quest 3 but aren't sure which one is right for you, here's everything you need to know to decide.
Content
Basic information for beginners
Introduction to Meta Quest 3S
Setting up and using the Meta Quest 3S should be self-explanatory. Nevertheless, it can't hurt to watch Meta's introductory videos. They help with orientation and provide valuable tips on the following topics.
- Unboxing and first steps
- Setting up Quest using the Meta Horizon mobile app
- Tips for wearing Meta Quest 3S
- Charging, maintenance and care
There is also an official video specifically for Quest 3:
Protect your lenses from sunlight and scratches
The most important tip first: Keep your headset out of the sun when you're not using it.
If you expose the lenses to direct sunlight, they can burn holes in the display behind them within seconds. This will render the headset unusable. If you want to store your Quest safely or frequently take the VR headset with you when traveling or visiting friends, we recommend purchasing a carrying case.
If you wear eyeglasses, make sure the lenses of the headset and your eyeglasses do not touch. Otherwise, both may get scratched.
If you have a Quest 3S, you should install the supplied glasses spacer. If you have a Quest 3, you can simply adjust the eye relief mechanism as shown below to make more room for your glasses.
An even better solution is to order prescription lenses from the VR optician or other manufacturer. The lenses are easy to put on and take off when you pass the device around.
Start slowly to avoid motion sickness
Motion sickness is a phenomenon that can occur during passive forms of movement. Many people are familiar with the symptoms from traveling, such as on a boat or as a passenger in a car.
A feeling of discomfort develops suddenly or gradually and can increase significantly depending on the duration and sensitivity. The most common symptoms are dizziness, headache, and nausea. Motion sickness is a natural physical reaction that occurs when the eye sees something different from what the vestibular organ perceives. It passes on its own after a while.
Virtual reality can also cause motion sickness. The most common cause is artificial locomotion. Artificial locomotion occurs when you move your virtual body without moving your real body, as shown in the following image.
Using the thumbstick to move the virtual body is the most common type of artificial locomotion. | Image: Meta
If this is your first experience with virtual reality, take it slowly. If you jump right into a virtual roller coaster, don't be surprised if you feel nauseous.
The Horizon Store offers a comfort rating for almost every app: from "Comfortable" to "Moderate" to "Intense". You can also adjust the artificial motion settings in many VR games to your preference, minimizing the risk of motion sickness.
Almost every app in the Horizon Store has a comfort rating. The example above shows Batman: Arkham Shadow. | Screenshot: MIXED
It is important not to ride out the symptoms. First, you cannot force immunity to motion sickness, and second, the negative effects will increase if you ignore your body's warning signals. If you feel sick, take a break or switch to a less intense game. There are plenty of those out there.
You can read more about this important topic in our article:
Upgrade Meta Quest 3S and 3 with accessories
The following accessories are worth buying:
- If the Meta Quest does not fit comfortably with the included soft strap, we recommend Meta's Elite Strap (with or without battery) or a similar third-party head strap.
- If you wear glasses and don't want to wear them under the headset, we recommend special prescription lenses from the VR optician or another manufacturer.
- If you do a lot of VR sports or sweat a lot, we recommend the Breathable Facial Interface for Quest 3S, the Silicone Facial Interface for Quest 3 or a facial interface from a third-party manufacturer.
- If you take your Meta Quest with you often, we recommend the official carrying case or a third-party case.
- To make charging the headset as easy as possible, we recommend the Compact Charging Dock for Quest 3S and 3, the more expensive Charging Docking for Quest 3, or a third party charging-charging dock.
You can find these and other useful accessories with links in the following articles:
The best tips & tricks
Quickly switch between VR and passthrough mode
Meta Quest 3S and 3 both support high-quality color passthrough so you can keep an eye on your surroundings. You can switch between fully immersive VR and your physical environment at any time.
- For Quest 3S, press the action button on the bottom right of the headset.
For Quest 3, tap the headset twice with your finger for the same effect.
Capture, view, and share screenshots and videos quickly and easily
You can use the following key combination to take screenshots and videos at any time:
- Hold down the Meta button on the right controller, and quickly press the trigger button on either controller to take a screenshot.
- Press and hold the Meta button and hold the trigger button a little longer to start a video recording. End the recording with the same action.
You can make adjustments to video recording (image stabilization, aspect ratio, frame rate, bit rate, etc.) under Settings > System > Camera.
You can find the screenshots and videos in the Camera or Files apps and share them from there.
Optionally, you can also view and share them inside the Meta Horizon mobile app or browser. To do this, you need to enable the following option in the settings:
- Settings > System > Camera > Sync media to Meta Horizon mobile app.
You can now find the screenshots and videos in the mobile app or in your browser at the following link.
Achieve better black levels with Meta Quest
Meta Quest can reduce the brightness of the display depending on the content and thus improve the contrast in dark scenes. This may also extend the battery life.
The "Content adaptive brightness control" must be activated under Settings > Experimental.
In our hands-on experience with this feature, we did not notice any drawbacks, so we highly recommend using it.
Using Meta Quest while lying down or traveling
When you enable the Lying Down Mode, you can use the Meta button on the right controller to calibrate games and apps along a vertical axis so you can enjoy them while lying on your bed or couch. If you are prone to motion sickness, you should be cautious when using artificial locomotion.
Lying mode is currently an experimental feature and must be enabled in Settings > Experimental.
If you want to use Quest while traveling by car, bus, or plane, you can enable travel mode. This option can be found in Quick Settings.
Enjoy iPhone panoramas and Spatial Videos with Meta Quest
If you have an iPhone and iOS 17 or higher, you can transfer your panoramas to Meta Quest and enjoy them in stunning large format.
Find out how this works and looks in our hands-on with the panorama playback feature.
Users of an iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max or an iPhone 16 (all models) can also take Spatial Photos and Spatial Videos and view them in 3D on Meta Quest.
This content can be transferred to Meta Quest in two ways: Spatialify or the Meta Horizon mobile app.
Share smartphone URLs with Meta Quest
This feature is relatively unknown, but very useful as it bridges the gap between your smartphone and Meta Quest.
Link sharing lets you share URLs from your smartphone with Meta Quest. The headset automatically opens the relevant website in the Quest browser without you having to type or search for it.
Just open a web page in your smartphone browser and use the share function on your smartphone. Then select the Meta Horizon mobile app and follow the instructions.
An easier connection to a new Wi-Fi spot
Visiting someone and want to connect your VR headset to a new Wi-Fi network without having to enter the password in VR? No problem.
Open the Meta Horizon mobile app, open the menu and tap on "Devices" under Device management. Connect to your headset and then tap on Headset settings > Wi-Fi. Select the appropriate Wi-Fi network and enter the password on your smartphone.
Horizon OS: View release notes and current version
Horizon OS is the operating system of the Meta Quest. Meta releases updates with new features and improvements almost every month.
You can view the release notes in the Meta Quest Release Notes and check the Horizon OS version currently installed on your Meta Quest under Settings > System > Software update.
Enable automatic updates
Meta Quest can automatically download and install Horizon OS and app updates, so you can start playing right away when you use the headset.
To do this, enable the following settings:
- Settings > System > Software update > Software updates
- Settings > System > Software update > Security and critical updates
- Settings > System > Software update > Automatically power headsets to update
App updates are downloaded and installed while your headset is charging. If you turn off the device, it will turn on for updates and turn off after installation.
Get early access to new Horizon OS features
The Public Test Channel (PTC) is an early access program that provides advance access to upcoming Horizon OS updates. By signing up, you can get access to features before they are officially released.
Please note, however, that beta updates may be buggy or incomplete, and you may not be able to sign up for PTC if the channel is full.
You can find out how to sign up for the PTC in the official support article.
Easily shut down Meta Quest immediately or force a restart
Meta Quest can be turned off in several ways:
- Pressing the power button once will put the Quest into standby mode. The advantage of this mode is that you can use the Quest immediately by pressing the button again, or by simply putting on the headset.
- Pressing and holding the power button for two seconds will bring up a menu that gives you different options.
- If you press and hold the Power button for five seconds, the Quest will shut down immediately. This allows you to completely turn off the headset without having to put it on. This is useful if you don't plan to use the headset for a while or want to conserve battery power.
- If you press and hold the power button for ten seconds, the unit will turn off without shutting down. This type of shutdown can be useful when the operating system stops responding and should only be used in exceptional cases.
You can find more useful options under Settings > System > Power.
Reset Meta Quest to factory settings
Occasionally, it can be useful to completely reset Meta Quest. For example, if you have a problem with the headset or want to sell it.
A factory reset can be done from the Meta Horizon mobile app, directly on the headset, or even remotely. Check here for more information.
A factory reset can be performed from the Meta Horizon mobile app, directly on the headset, or even remotely. Click here for more information.
Please note that a factory reset will erase all account information, downloaded games, and content from your headset. Don't worry, any apps you purchased from the Horizon Store are yours and will still be available for download.
Social features you should know about
Use a selfie to create a Meta Avatar
If you don't have the time or inclination to create a digital alter ego, you can automatically create a similar-looking avatar by taking a selfie.
To do this, open the Meta Horizon mobile app and tap the icon in the bottom center (or your avatar thumbnail). If you do not have an avatar, select "Create avatar" and then select "Create from selfie". If you already have an avatar, you will need to delete it first.
Use Instagram, Facebook, Messenger and Whatsapp in VR
There are equivalent Quest apps for Meta's family of apps. If you're used to these social networks and instant messengers, you can use them in VR and stay in touch with family and friends while wearing the headset. The initial setup can be a little fiddly, as you may have to enter your password, but it's worth the effort.
You can find Instagram, Facebook, Messenger and Whatsapp in the Horizon Store.
Streaming the Quest experience to second screens
Meta Quest offers several ways to stream the VR experience to a second screen:
- To your smartphone with the Meta Horizon mobile app,
- to your TV via Chromecast
- to any device with a browser, and
- (coming soon) to a PC via Meta Quest Link.
The following video shows how to do this.
Create additional profiles for family members and friends
Meta Quest allows you to create additional user profiles. This allows family members and friends to create their own avatar, save app progress and media files, chat and unlock achievements.
As a device owner, you can also share your purchased apps with other profiles via App Sharing.
Note that all profiles require a Meta account.
Games, apps and other content
Play PC VR games such as Half-Life: Alyx with Meta Quest
You can connect your Meta Quest to a computer either wired or wirelessly and use it to play PC VR games from the Rift Store, Steam or Viveport.
There are three solutions to choose from for PC VR streaming:
- Via Meta Quest Link (wireless or wired)
- Via Steam Link (wireless)
- Via Virtual Desktop (wireless)
Meta Quest Link is free and is the only solution that supports wired PC VR streaming, but requires the installation of the separate Meta Quest Link PC app, which has a very outdated UI. In return, you can play Rift Store-exclusive PC VR titles like Lone Echo 1 & 2, Stormland, and Asgard's Wrath right out of the box.
Steam Link is also free and requires no additional PC app to be installed other than Steam (and installed SteamVR). Steam Link offers the easiest setup of all three solutions, but officially only supports PC VR games on Steam.
Virtual Desktop costs $25 and requires the installation of a separate PC app on your PC (similar to Meta Quest Link), but offers the most extensive setting options. For PC VR enthusiasts, it also offers excellent desktop streaming and virtual environments. Virtual Desktop supports both Rift and SteamVR titles.
Play Half-Life: Alyx with Meta Quest 3S or 3? No problem, as long as you have a gaming PC and a good router. | Image: Valve
Sideloading with Meta Quest
Sideloading allows you to install VR apps on Meta Quest from sources other than the Horizon Store.
The best way to do this is with SideQuest, which is both an app platform and a tool.
SideQuest offers unique content:
- outstanding VR ports of classics such as Doom3, Quake 1-3 and Half-Life,
- custom virtual environments for your Horizon Home and
- emulators such as CitraVR (Nintendo 3DS) and PPSSPP VR (PSP).
The web installer is sufficient for most users. To install, you will need a PC, Mac or Android smartphone, a USB-C cable, a Meta developer account and a SideQuest account. After installation, you can download SideQuest content directly in VR, eliminating the need for external hardware.
If you also want to access your Quest from a PC or Mac, install APKs, move files around, and customize your headset settings beyond what's possible by default, use the Advanced Installer to install SideQuest on your PC or Mac as well.
Push Quest 3S and Quest 3 to their limits with the Quest Games Optimizer
The Quest Games Optimizer is a paid tool that is becoming more and more popular.
The main feature of QGO is that it automatically configures your games and apps to tap into the often unused power of the Quest 3S and 3 chipset, while making them look better or run smoother. The visual difference can be huge in many games and applications.
To learn more about Quest Games Optimizer, refer to our extensive FAQ and review.
Download and watch Meta Quest TV content in the best possible quality
Meta Quest TV is Meta's app for non-interactive content. This includes videos and movies in immersive formats (monoscopic and stereoscopic 180 and 360 degrees) as well as traditional 2D and 3D.
Here's how to download content from Meta Quest TV and watch it offline in the best possible quality:
- Select the three dots in the thumbnail of a piece of content, then select "Cache high quality" and finally "Cache".
- If you have done everything correctly, the respective movie will be downloaded in the best possible quality. This version has a higher resolution than the streamed version.
- Once the download is complete, go to "Your Media" in Meta Quest TV. After the download, the content should appear under "Cached media".
- If you want to delete the episode from the device, select the three dots again, then "Delete from Cache" and then "Delete".
Glossary
Below are some important terms related to Meta Quest.
- Horizon OS is the name of Meta Quest's operating system.
- Horizon Store is the name of the official store where you can buy and download app for Meta Quest.
- Horizon Home is the name of Meta Quest's virtual home environment.
- Horizon Worlds is the name of Meta's proto-metaverse.
- Meta Horizon is the name of the mobile companion app (available for Android and iOS).
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