How To Set Up & Use Steam Link FAST

Are you a beginner with Oculus Quest and need some assisting? We are here to help you with everything you need.

One of the most common questions regarding VR headsets is how to connect them to steam.

You can download games on the Oculus app, and by extension, you can also play SteamVR games on the same headset.

There are two main ways to do that, by using either Virtual Dekstop or using Oculus Link. Which one you choose depends on you and your needs.

If you are interested in learning more about both of them, keep reading this article.

Virtual Desktop

One of the ways through which you can play Steam VR games with Oculus Quest is via the use of the Virtual Desktop app which is a wireless experience (similar to Oculus Air Link). The Virtual Desktop app is a paid application that allows you to play Steam VR games using your Oculus headset. Plus, it provides users with lots of customization options.

First of all, you need to download the Virtual Desktop app from the Quest store, then using Sidequest, install a patch for the app and you are good to go.

Interestingly, Virtual Desktop now allows users to stream directly from the PC to Oculus Quest, eliminating the need to install a patch. This means that by installing the Virtual Desktop and the streaming app on your PC, you are all set to enjoy Steam VR games.

How to Connect Oculus Quest to Steam using Virtual Desktop

Before you start, ensure that you buy the correct version of Virtual Desktop for your Oculus Quest headset (you can get the Virtual Desktop app on the Oculus Store).

Now, wear your headset and install the Virtual Desktop app. Below is a stepwise procedure for connecting Oculus Quest to Steam using Virtual Desktop:

On the Oculus bar at the bottom of the screen, open the library tab. You can press the home button on your right controller, just in case you don’t find the bar at the bottom of your screen.
Click on the install button on the Virtual Desktop tile to Install Virtual Desktop
Before you continue, be sure that your headset is on the same wireless network as your PC
Put off your headset after installation. Please note that it is not yet time to start Virtual Desktop.
On your gaming PC, install the Steam app if not already installed
Download SteamVR by logging into your steam account
Sign in via your existing Oculus account.
Download the Virtual Desktop streaming app
Once you are done downloading the Virtual Desktop streaming app, kick start the application
In the box you are provided with, input your username and save.
You can start with Windows and start minimizes in-tray would be selected. This will ensure that you can launch Virtual Desktop on your headset once you switch on your computer in the future.
Next, wear your Oculus Quest headset
On the Oculus bar at the base, you would find the library tab, launch Virtual Desktop from there.
If you are doing this for the first time, you have a secure connection by selecting your desktop PC from the list that you are provided with (your PC would most probably be the only option on the list).
After connecting Virtual Desktop to your PC, bring up the Virtual Desktop menu by using the menu button on the left Oculus controller.
On the left-hand menu, select Start SteamVR
Press the menu button on the left Oculus Touch controller to bring up the SteamVR dashboard after SteamVR is done loading.
Long-press the menu button on the left Oculus Touch controller to bring back the Virtual Desktop menu anytime you need to. It is better this way than browsing the SteamVR library from steam.

Oculus Link

Oculus Link is a wired method of connecting your Oculus headset to a PC to run SteamVR games.

To connect to steam via Oculus Link, you first need to get a compatible PC and USB cable as you cannot use just any PC or cable for Oculus Link. Below is the compatibility requirements for USB Cable:

Use a USB-C or USB-A cable. For a newbie, you can use the official USB-C cable that comes with your headset to save cost.
The USB cable must not be too short as it will limit your movement while you are playing VR games. We recommend a USB cable that is 10 feet long (at least), if you can afford it, a 15-foot USB-C cable would be even more preferable.

You also need to get a PC that meets the following requirements:

It must have at least a USB 3 port
It should have a RAM of at least 8GB or more
The processor should be at least an Intel i5-4590 or Ryzen 5 1500X
It should also use a Windows 10 operating system
For AMD graphic cards, the PC should use an AMD 400/500/5000 Series or a Vega Series. You can also choose one with at least an Nvidia GeForce RTX 20XX, GeForce GTX 1650 Super or higher, Nvidia Titan Z, or Titan X.

You can check for this information via the PC’s System Information dialog box.

How to Connect Oculus Quest to Steam using Oculus Link

Having ensured the above, follow the step-wise instruction to Oculus headset to a PC to run SteamVR games via Oculus Link:

Install the Oculus Quest desktop software on your PC if you haven’t done so before and launch the Quest app.
Also, install Steam on your PC and log in to your account.
After logging into your Steam account, install SteamVR
When the installation has been completed, connect your Oculus cable by plugging one end into your headset and the other end in the appropriate port on your PC
Switch on your headset
When the connection between your headset and PC has been secured, there would be a pop-up on your PC asking for permission to enable Oculus Link. Select continue
There would also be a pop-up for Oculus Link when put on your headset, click on ‘Enable Oculus Link’.
You are almost ready for SteamVR. Finally, choose how you want to start Steam virtual reality from the two ways highlighted below:
Run SteamVR directly from the computer desktop or
Run it from your application library in the headset.
Now you are all set to play interesting games on Steam VR!