The Oculus Quest 2 is a virtual reality headset designed and developed by Oculus. This device is notable for its all-in-one design, meaning it doesn’t require a separate computer or gaming console to operate, making it highly portable and accessible. The Quest 2 version has become quite popular since it offers several new and improved features, such as a higher-resolution display, more powerful processing, and improved wireless connectivity.
Not happy with that, the device offers a more extensive selection of VR games and experiences. Besides, thanks to its compatibility with the Oculus Store and the ability to connect to a gaming PC through a feature called Oculus Link. However, some users find the sound quality a bit disappointing.
Thus, you might prefer to use your headphones, and you might want to know if you can use headphones with Oculus Quest 2 to live the whole experience and have the entire package, right? No worries. In this article, we will answer all your questions.
Can you use headphones with Oculus Quest 2?
Sure, you can! But the process is not exactly intuitive, and the Oculus has an inbuilt audio system, so many users find it challenging to connect their headphones to Oculus Quest 2.
According to the Oculus support page, they only support 3.5 mm and USB-C headphones for the Quest 2. There is no mention of compatibility with Bluetooth headphones on their support pages.
On July 20th, 2021, Oculus officially added support for USB-C headphones. Although Bluetooth headphones are not officially supported, users may still be able to connect them to the headset using the Oculus Experimental Features.
How to connect your Bluetooth headphones to Oculus Quest 2
It is pretty straightforward. Remember to turn on the Bluetooth in your headphones and disconnect them from other devices to avoid complications. Then, follow these steps:
- Turn on your Oculus Quest 2
- Navigate to the Settings menu
- Choose the “Experimental Features” option
- Select the “Bluetooth Pairing” option and then press the “Pair” button
- Ensure that your headphones are powered on and ready to be detected
- Pick your audio device from the list displayed on the screen and connect it to your headset.
If it doesn’t work, try your headphones with other devices and your Oculus with other headphones to check where the problem is. You can even try with wired headphones. If you still have trouble, do not hesitate to contact them directly via their website.
To use headphones with a standard 3.5 mm jack, insert the headphone plug into the audio port on the right side of the Quest 2 headset. If you want to use USB-C headphones, connect the USB cable to the charging port on the right side of the headset, located behind the audio port.
Note that if you have both a 3.5 mm headphone and USB-C headphone connected simultaneously, only the 3.5 mm headphones will work. Besides, using a USB-C headphone is impossible when the Elite strap with battery is plugged in.
How to connect AirPods to your Oculus Quest 2
It shouldn’t be that difficult! Just follow these steps. Turn on your AirPods and put them in pairing mode by holding the button on the back of the case until the LED light starts flashing.
- On your Oculus Quest 2, go to the Settings menu.
- Select “Device” and then “Bluetooth Devices.”
- Your AirPods should appear in the list of available Bluetooth devices.
- Select your AirPods from the list and select “Pair” to initiate the pairing process.
- Wait for the connection to complete, and you should now be able to use your AirPods with your Oculus Quest 2.
Note: The ability to connect AirPods to the Oculus Quest 2 may depend on the specific model of AirPods and the software version of the Quest 2. Moreover, this feature is not officially supported by Oculus. It may not work for all users, so you might have problems like AirPods randomly disconnecting or being connected but with no sound.
How to avoid lag on your AirPods with Oculus Quest 2
Consider using a Bluetooth transmitter to reduce audio lag with AirPods on the Oculus Quest 2. This device reduces audio lag by processing audio for the headset and freeing up resources, leading to faster Bluetooth transmission and reduced audio lag and frame drops. It is important to note that the Bluetooth transmitter must support the same Bluetooth codec as your AirPods to work effectively.
Currently, all AirPods variants support two Bluetooth codecs, SBC and AAC, but it is recommended to use a transmitter that supports AAC for optimal performance.
Can you use headphones with Oculus Quest 2? Conclusions
The Oculus Quest 2 is a worthy investment for virtual reality lovers, and it could be a nice gift for that friend of yours. Its key strengths include its ease of use, portability, and affordability compared to other high-end VR systems. The device also offers a highly immersive VR experience, with accurate head tracking, room-scale VR, and six degrees of freedom (6DOF) motion control.
All these factors make the Oculus Quest 2 an excellent choice for both VR gaming and non-gaming applications, such as education and social experiences. The only common issue was synchronizing it with your headphones, but as you can see in this article, the solution is relatively easy.