VR headsets · Repair guide

How to fix Meta Quest Link and Air Link not working

10 fixes, easiest first4 min readUpdated November 2026

Quick fix

Restart the headset and PC, update your graphics driver, then plug a USB-C cable rated for at least 5 Gbps into a USB 3 port on the PC and start Link from Quick controls > Link on the headset. For Air Link, put the PC and headset on the same 5 GHz Wi-Fi network.

What it means

Meta Horizon Link (formerly Oculus Link and Meta Quest Link) lets a Meta Quest play PC VR games from a Windows computer, using a USB-C cable (Link) or Wi-Fi (Air Link). When it fails, the PC app may not see the headset, the headset may sit on a black loading screen, or games may stutter. The usual causes are the cable or USB port, an outdated graphics driver, or a weak or wrong Wi-Fi network for Air Link.

Common causes

  • A USB 2 port or a charging-only or slow USB-C cable
  • An outdated graphics card driver or headset software
  • PC and headset on different Wi-Fi networks, or a crowded 2.4 GHz network for Air Link
  • Air Link left on while trying to use a cable
  • Graphics settings too high for the PC, causing stutter
  • Another VR program set as the OpenXR runtime
  • Security software or a broken Meta Horizon Link app install blocking the connection

How to fix it

Work down the list. Each fix is safe to try before moving on to the next.

01Restart the headset and the PCEasy

  1. On the headset, hold the power button until the Power off screen appears, then select Restart.
  2. On the PC, select Start > Power > Restart.
  3. Open the Meta Horizon Link app on the PC before you start Link from the headset.

Why it helps: A restart clears stuck connections between the headset and the Link app.

02Use a USB 3 port and a fast USB-C cableEasy

  1. Use a USB-C cable that supports data at 5 Gbps or more. Many phone charging cables are too slow.
  2. Plug it into a USB 3 port on the PC, ideally one on the back of a desktop. Avoid hubs and front-panel ports while testing.
  3. Try a different USB port and flip the USB-C plug the other way round at each end.
  4. If you use a USB-A to USB-C adapter, make sure it supports USB 3; some only work at full speed in one orientation.
  5. If you see the PC treating the cable as USB 2, try another port or cable until it is recognized as USB 3.

Why it helps: Link needs a fast data connection; a slow cable or USB 2 port is the most common reason the headset is not detected or the picture fails.

03Start Link the right way from the headsetEasy

  1. Make sure the Meta Horizon Link app is installed and open on the Windows PC and that you are signed in.
  2. On the headset, press the Meta button to open the Navigator, then select Quick controls.
  3. Select Link, choose your computer, then select Launch.
  4. If you are using a cable, make sure Use Air Link is turned off, because the headset can only use one connection at a time.
  5. If Link does not appear at all, open Quick controls > Settings > Link and turn on the Link toggle.

Why it helps: Link only starts when the PC app is running and the headset is set to the right connection type.

04Update the graphics driver and headset softwareEasy

  1. On the PC, install the latest driver for your graphics card from the maker's website or its driver app (NVIDIA, AMD or Intel).
  2. Also run Settings > Windows Update and install any updates.
  3. On the headset, open Quick controls > Settings > General > Software update and install any update.
  4. Restart both devices and try Link again.

Why it helps: Outdated graphics drivers are a common cause of black screens, crashes and poor performance in Link.

05Set up Air Link on the same 5 GHz Wi-FiEasy

  1. Connect the headset and the PC to the same Wi-Fi network; use the 5 GHz band if your router has one.
  2. On the headset, open Quick controls > Link and turn on the toggle next to Use Air Link.
  3. If your computer is not listed, turn Air Link off and on again.
  4. Select your computer, then Pair, and check the pairing code in the headset matches the one on the PC. Click Confirm on the PC.
  5. Select Launch in the headset.

Why it helps: Air Link can only find the PC when both are on the same network, and 5 GHz Wi-Fi is far faster and less crowded than 2.4 GHz.

06Run the Air Link troubleshooter and improve Wi-FiMedium

  1. On the headset, open Quick controls > Link, select your computer, then select Troubleshoot.
  2. Check which items show Missing Requirements or Meets Some Requirements.
  3. Connect the PC to the router with an Ethernet cable so only the headset uses Wi-Fi.
  4. Play in the same room as the router with a clear line of sight.
  5. If your router allows it, set the 5 GHz band to a fixed channel with an 80 MHz channel width.

Why it helps: Air Link streams video over Wi-Fi, so signal strength, interference and network delay decide whether it plays smoothly.

07Lower or reset Link graphics settings to stop stutterMedium

  1. Open the Meta Horizon Link app on the PC and click Devices, then your headset. If the headset is not listed, fix the cable or Air Link connection first.
  2. Go to Graphics preferences.
  3. Lower the Refresh rate and Render resolution, then click Save, or click Reset to default and Save.
  4. Close other programs and background apps on the PC while playing.

Why it helps: Settings set higher than the PC can handle cause dropped frames, stutter and freezes.

08Set Meta Horizon Link as the OpenXR runtimeMedium

  1. Open the Meta Horizon Link app on the PC.
  2. Go to Settings > General.
  3. Next to OpenXR Runtime, select Set Meta Horizon Link as active. If the button is grayed out, it is already active.
  4. Restart the game you were trying to play.

Why it helps: If another VR program is set as the OpenXR runtime, some PC VR games will not open in the headset over Link.

09Sign out, then reinstall the Meta Horizon Link appMedium

  1. In the Meta Horizon Link app, log out and log back in.
  2. If that does not help, uninstall the app from Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows.
  3. Make sure the PC has at least 9 GB of free space, then download the app again from Meta and install it.
  4. If your headset is enrolled in the Public Test Channel (PTC), leave PTC, because Link may not work with test software.

Why it helps: A damaged install, sign-in problem or test build can stop the app from talking to the headset.

10Test with security software paused (temporarily)Advanced

  1. Warning: only do this briefly, while you test, and turn protection straight back on afterward.
  2. Temporarily pause your third-party antivirus or firewall, then try Link again.
  3. If Link now works, turn protection back on and add the Meta Horizon Link app as an allowed program in that security software instead of leaving it off.
  4. If Link still fails, turn protection back on right away; security software was not the cause.

Why it helps: Some firewalls and antivirus programs block the connection Link uses between the headset and the PC.

Check it's fixed

  • The headset appears under Devices in the Meta Horizon Link app on the PC.
  • Selecting Launch in the headset opens the Link home space instead of a black loading screen.
  • A PC VR game plays smoothly for several minutes without stutter or disconnects.

When to get help

If the headset is never detected with several known-good USB 3 cables and ports, or the PC does not meet Meta's minimum requirements, contact Meta Store Support or a PC repair shop to check the USB controller and graphics card.

Questions

What cable do I need for Quest Link?

A USB-C cable that carries data at 5 Gbps or more, plugged into a USB 3 port on the PC. A basic charging cable often will not work.

Why is Quest Link stuck on a black screen with three dots?

It usually means the headset has started Link but is not getting a picture from the PC. Restart both, update the graphics driver, try another USB 3 port and check the OpenXR runtime setting.

Can I use Air Link on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi?

Meta recommends 5 GHz Wi-Fi for Air Link. 2.4 GHz is slower and more crowded, which usually causes lag, stutter or failed connections.

Does Quest Link work on a Mac?

No. The Meta Horizon Link app is for Windows computers only.

Is Meta Horizon Link the same as Oculus Link?

Yes. Oculus Link was renamed Meta Quest Link and is now called Meta Horizon Link; the PC app has the same name.

Related fixes

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