The Oculus Quest 2, also known as the Meta Quest 2, is presently one of the most remarkable virtual reality (VR) headsets on the market, yet, some customers are unhappy with the built-in sound. The most obvious approach is using your headphones with the virtual reality headset.
However, connecting your AirPods to the Oculus Quest 2 may take time, especially given how frequently updates with new information on how to finish the connection are issued. It should come as no surprise that the Quest 2 includes its audio system. However, you may prefer to separate yourself from the rest of the world.
It’s conceivable that your family might choose not to hear the noises made by whatever you’re watching or playing. And if that’s the case, we’ll show you how to pair them. We’ll get back to you and let you know whether the AirPods are supported.
Does Oculus Quest 2 Support AirPods?
Connecting AirPods to Oculus Quest 2 by connecting your Oculus device and your AirPods through Bluetooth using the option available in the Experimental Features section of the Settings menu. This should be considered experimental because it causes frame dips in movies and other latency issues.
Do not be concerned; by the time you finish reading this article, you will be able to block out the outer world and enjoy virtual reality as it was meant. Let’s put a stop to this suspenseful buildup and get right into the meat of the story. While sipping your coffee, pay attention to the narrative and don’t skip through to any of the portions. According to the official support website for Quest 2, Meta claims that the game is compatible with 3.5 mm jack headphones as well as USB-C jacks.
The paper, however, makes no mention of wireless headphones. In fact, they make no mention of the device’s Bluetooth connectivity at all. But it is not too late. Although no “official” AirPods support exists, the Quest 2 has one more trick up its sleeve that allows you to utilize your AirPods with your VR headset. This trick is the wireless charging case for Quest 2. That will be the topic of our subsequent discussion.
How To Connect AirPods To Oculus Quest 2
Despite the fact that the Quest 2 does not natively support your AirPods, you may still pair the two devices thanks to the Experimental Features enchantment.
And the procedure is as follows:
- Set Quest 2 to active mode.
- Navigate to the Settings menu item.
- Choose Experimental Features.
- Next, ensure that your AirPods are turned on and that they are in pairing mode.
- Return to Quest 2 and look for an option labeled Bluetooth Pairing. Press the button to link your devices.
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth > Pair new devices to connect them to your AirPods.
- Your Oculus Quest 2 will be able to connect to your AirPods if you follow these procedures. You may also link your Galaxy Buds to QUest 2, in the same way I detailed before. However, before you go ahead and do this, there are a few constraints you should be aware of.
Keep in mind that this is indicated in the description as an experimental feature. And, because the Quest 2 does not ‘officially’ support the pairing of Bluetooth headphones, there are questions about how well the two devices will work together.
According to some reports, even if the two devices operate together, the experience could be better. The most common issues include slowness and audio that is not correctly synchronized. Furthermore, there isn’t much that can be done to address this issue. However, there is some good news: this issue appears to be less of a concern while using programs like Netflix rather than when playing games.
At the very least, you have the means to give it a chance and decide for yourself whether or not it is beneficial, regardless of how well it works.
How To Connect Bluetooth Headphones To Oculus Quest 2
Bluetooth headphones can be connected to Oculus Quest 2 in the same way as AirPods. To do so, go to the Settings menu’s Experimental Features section and select the Bluetooth Pairing option to link the Bluetooth Headphone with the Oculus Quest 2.
The Oculus Quest 2 may be linked to Bluetooth headphones using the procedures below:
Switch on your Oculus Quest 2 Virtual Reality Headset.
To enter the Oculus menu, put on the Oculus Quest 2 Headset and press the Oculus button on the suitable controller.
- Select the Settings option, which is situated in the gear-shaped menu.
- Choose an option from the sidebar labeled Experimental Features.
- Before putting your Bluetooth headphones into pairing mode, ensure they are fully charged and switched on. To begin the pairing procedure with your AirPods, locate the little circular button on the bottom of the charging case and press and hold it.
- Return to the Oculus Quest 2 headset you were wearing and check for the “Bluetooth Pairing” option under “Experimental Features.” Select Pair from the menu that displays to the right of Bluetooth Pairing to begin Bluetooth pairing.
You should see a list of devices that have been successfully connected. To complete the pairing process, choose your Bluetooth Headphones or AirPods from the selection that displays when you select Pair new device. If your headphones do not appear in the list of devices, make sure they are still in pairing mode.
- As a result, this is how you may connect your Bluetooth headphones or AirPods to the Oculus Quest 2; however, keep in mind that this is not an official method provided by Oculus. Follow the procedures given above to connect your headphones to the Oculus Quest 2.
- As a result, it is likely that specific Bluetooth devices will encounter issues while attempting to connect via this method. I can confirm that this works with AirPods; however, there are certain limitations when using AirPods with Oculus.
- It is critical to remember that if your headphones are unable to connect to the Oculus, the fault is not with them. Instead, you may give the matching process a few more tries before giving up.
Remember, as previously said, that using AirPods or Bluetooth Headphones with your Oculus VR Headgear has its own set of issues, and you must keep this in mind when using the headset. Because this option is placed beneath the Experimental Features menu, you shouldn’t be surprised. You have the freedom to make your own decisions; however, we recommend that you avoid using wireless headphones or AirPods for the following reasons:
- Audio and video stuttering issues It does not happen all the time. Still, you will notice that the audio may periodically cut out, and you will also see some latency difficulties, especially while playing VR games. Although this does not occur on a regular basis, it will undoubtedly happen at some point.
The Oculus Quest 2’s CPU is insufficient to handle the demands of playing fast-paced games or games with a lot of movement when using AirPods or a Bluetooth Headset. As a result, the gadget has low frames per second and high latency. As a result, latency and frame dropouts will render the game unplayable.
However, remember that these problems are less noticeable if you are merely viewing a movie or TV show on Netflix or Amazon Prime. If this is the case, you should keep reading.
You may be wondering if there is a way to utilize AirPods with an Oculus device without being limited by the limitations listed above. The answer to the question may be found in the next section.
How To Fix Oculus Quest 2 AirPods Latency Issues
Using a Bluetooth transmitter can help you overcome any latency issues you may be having with your Oculus Quest 2 AirPods. This plugs into the same port as a wired headphone would (a 3.5 mm connector), but instead of connecting your Oculus to the transmitter, you connect your AirPods to it.
Your Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headset will have an easier time processing the sound from the Bluetooth transmitter if you increase the volume of the wireless audio. There is no assurance that utilizing a Bluetooth transmitter will result in no latency; nevertheless, in most circumstances, there is a delay of at least 40 milliseconds while using the transmitter, which is adequate for gaming purposes.
- If you want a truly realistic virtual reality experience, one additional vital element to consider is that the quality of your Bluetooth transmitter should be above average. It would be best if you are looking for a transmitter that can handle Bluetooth version 4.2 or above and has a range of at least 10 meters.
- After you’ve found the suitable Bluetooth transmitter, all that remains is to connect the Bluetooth Headphones or AirPods to the transmitter after ensuring that it’s properly plugged into the 3.5 mm socket.
The great majority of customers make the mistake of attempting to connect their AirPods to their Oculus Quest 2 while still plugged in. Because you will not be using the transmitter at any time during the procedure, there will be no reduction in latency.
We’d also like to point out that, in order to get the most out of your Oculus Quest 2 VR headset and have the most immersive experience possible, just link it with a pair of wired headphones. You will be able to listen to uncompressed high-quality audio with zero latency.
FAQ
Can you use any headphones with Oculus Quest 2?
The Oculus Quest 2 has built-in speakers; however, they are not designed to give a genuine surround sound experience. The majority of headphones have extremely long cords that dangle awkwardly from the headset. You may, however, use any headphones with a 3.5mm connector or specific headphones with a USB-C jack.
Can you connect AirPods to Oculus go?
If you wish to utilize your AirPods with your Oculus Go, you must first connect the Bluetooth wireless transmitter to the Oculus Go’s 3.5mm headphone socket. The noises from your Oculus Go will be played through the in-ear speakers. After that, you may put your AirPods in.