How to Play Microsoft Flight Simulator on Oculus Quest 2/3

Hello there!

You've embarked on an exciting journey by deciding to merge the immersive world of VR with the realism of Microsoft Flight Simulator. As someone with considerable flight sim and PC knowledge, you'll find this process engaging, though it does have its nuances.

Step 1: Preparing Your PC and VR Headsets

• First, ensure your PC's software is up to date. This includes your graphics drivers and Windows OS.
• For the Oculus Quest 2 and 3, ensure they are running the latest firmware.

Step 2: Oculus Software Installation

• Download and install the Oculus software from Oculus Setup. This is crucial for the Oculus Link, which allows the Quest to connect to your PC.
• Once installed, open the Oculus software and connect your headset using a high-quality USB 3.0 cable or via Air Link for a wireless connection.

Step 3: Enabling Oculus Link

• Put on your headset and enable Oculus Link when prompted. This turns your Oculus Quest into a PC VR headset.

Step 4: SteamVR Setup (If Applicable)

• If you have the Steam version of Microsoft Flight Simulator, install SteamVR from the Steam store.
• Run SteamVR once to ensure all necessary drivers are installed.

Step 5: Microsoft Flight Simulator VR Settings

• Launch Microsoft Flight Simulator. Go to the VR settings and select your Oculus headset as the default device.
• Adjust the graphics settings to balance performance and visual fidelity. This might take some trial and error based on your PC's capabilities.

Step 6: Final Adjustments

• In the Oculus software, explore the settings to optimize your experience. This includes adjusting the guardian boundary to avoid real-world collisions.
• Experiment with different in-game settings for the best balance of performance and visual quality.

Additional Tips:

• Ensure your play area is clear of obstacles.
• For optimal performance, consider using a wired connection via Oculus Link Cable.
• Regularly update both the Oculus software and Microsoft Flight Simulator for the best experience.

In Conclusion
Integrating VR into your flight sim experience transforms how you interact with the virtual skies. It might take a bit of tweaking to get everything running smoothly, but the result is well worth the effort.

If you have specific queries or face any hurdles during the setup, feel free to ask for more details, and I'll provide further assistance.

Safe virtual skies and happy flying!

Donald / Charlie / tptr — yep, this trips a lot of folks up because MSFS doesn’t actually have a “default VR device” selector in its menus. What matters is which OpenXR runtime Windows is currently pointing MSFS at.

What to do (Quest 2/3 + MSFS Microsoft Store version)

1) Get the headset into “PCVR mode” first

• Start the Meta Quest Link app on the PC.
• Put on the headset.
• Open Link (or Air Link) inside the headset so you’re actually sitting in the Link “PCVR home” environment.

If you’re still in the standalone Quest home (not in Link/Air Link), MSFS will often say “No VR device detected” even though the headset is fine.

2) Set Meta as the OpenXR runtime (this is the missing “default device” piece)
In the PC Meta app:

• Go to Settings -> General
• Find OpenXR Runtime
• Click to set Meta Quest Link as the active OpenXR runtime (J. Floyd already called this out and he’s spot on).

3) Then launch MSFS and switch to VR

• Start MSFS normally (2D on the monitor).
• Once you’re at least in the cockpit, hit CTRL + TAB to switch into VR (as Herbflight noted).

4) If it still says “No VR device detected”
Try these in order:

• Close MSFS completely, and also fully quit the Meta PC app (not just minimize), then start Meta app first, get into Link/Air Link, then start MSFS.
• In the Meta PC app, check that Link is actually connected (you should see the headset as connected/active).
• Toggle Unknown Sources ON in the Meta app (it shouldn’t usually be required for MSFS, but it has helped some setups).
• Optional: enable Public Test Channel in the Meta app (as dave666 mentioned) if you suspect you’re on a buggy release.

A couple quick questions so I don’t send you down the wrong path:

• Are you connecting via USB Link cable or Air Link?
• When you try CTRL+TAB, are you already sitting in the Link/Air Link PCVR environment (not the standalone Quest home)?
• What GPU + driver version are you on, and does MSFS give any other VR-related message besides “No VR device detected”?