VR headsets · Repair guide

How to fix Apple Vision Pro eye or hand tracking

8 fixes, easiest first3 min readUpdated November 2026

Quick fix

Redo eye and hand setup: put the headset on, press the top button four times quickly and follow the steps. You can also go to Settings > Eyes & Hands > Redo Eye Setup or Redo Hand Setup.

What it means

Apple Vision Pro uses cameras inside the headset to follow your eyes and cameras underneath to see your hands. If the headset sits wrong on your face, the room is dim, the glass is smudged, or your saved eye and hand setup no longer matches you, it may highlight the wrong thing or ignore your pinches.

Common causes

  • Eye or hand setup that no longer matches how you wear or use the headset
  • Someone else using your headset without Guest User
  • A dim room, so the cameras cannot see your hands clearly
  • Hands out of view of the cameras under the headset, crossed, or covered by gloves, sleeves or large jewellery
  • A Light Seal or cushion that is the wrong size, or a headset sitting too high or low
  • Smudges on the cover glass, outward cameras or the inside displays
  • A temporary software glitch

How to fix it

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

01Redo eye and hand setupEasy

  1. Put on Apple Vision Pro.
  2. Quickly press the top button four times. This redoes both hand setup and eye setup.
  3. Follow the on-screen steps, and keep your head still during eye setup for the best result.

Why it helps: A fresh setup recalibrates tracking for your eyes and hands as they are now.

02Redo only eye setup or only hand setupEasy

  1. Open Settings, then select Eyes & Hands.
  2. Select Redo Eye Setup if the headset highlights the wrong item when you look at it.
  3. Select Redo Hand Setup if pinches and taps are missed.
  4. You can also say "Siri, set up eyes" or "Siri, set up hands".

Why it helps: Redoing just the part that is wrong is quicker than a full setup.

03Improve the lightingEasy

  1. Turn on more lights or move to a brighter room so the headset can see your hands clearly.
  2. Do not point the headset or its lenses at the sun, and keep it out of direct sunlight; sunlight through the lenses can permanently damage the displays.

Why it helps: Apple says hands are tracked best when the headset can clearly see them in good light.

04Keep your hands where the cameras can see themEasy

  1. Hold your hands in view of the cameras on the underside of the headset; resting them on your lap or a desk works for most gestures.
  2. Take off gloves, roll up long sleeves and remove large jewellery that covers much of your hands.
  3. Do not cross your hands or cover the gesturing hand with the other one.
  4. Look directly at the item you want, then pinch, and keep your other hand still.

Why it helps: Pinches only register when the cameras can see the gesture clearly and your eyes are on the target.

05Check the fit and the Light SealEasy

  1. Tighten the head band until the headset feels snug but not tight, with even support on your forehead and cheeks.
  2. If you see a message asking you to move the headset up or down, adjust it and the band until the message goes away.
  3. If you see a message that you are too close to the displays, or your eyelashes touch the headset, use the thicker Light Seal Cushion marked + that came in the box.
  4. If fit warnings keep appearing, contact Apple, as you may need a different Light Seal size.
  5. Eyeglasses are not compatible, so use contact lenses or ZEISS Optical Inserts instead.

Why it helps: The eye cameras work best when the headset sits at the right height and distance from your eyes.

06Clean the glass and displays the way Apple saysEasy

  1. Wipe the front cover glass and outward camera lenses with a clean, dry microfiber cloth such as the included Polishing Cloth.
  2. To clean the displays, put the headset in its cover on a flat surface and gently wipe the displays with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
  3. Do not use paper towels or tissues on the displays, and never use alcohol, glass cleaner, bleach or similar products on the headset.
  4. Apple allows ZEISS cleaning spray only when it is sprayed onto the Polishing Cloth first, never directly onto the headset; then wipe dry.

Why it helps: Smudges on the glass or displays can blur what the cameras see.

07Use Guest User for other peopleEasy

  1. If someone else used your headset without Guest User, redo your own eye and hand setup.
  2. Next time, turn on Guest User before you hand the headset over. New guests do their own eye and hand setup, and your settings come back when they take it off.

Why it helps: Eye and hand setup is personal, so tracking can be off when another person uses your setup.

08Restart, or force restart if frozenMedium

  1. Press and hold the top button and the Digital Crown together. Keep holding past the Force Quit Applications window until the Power button slider appears, then release.
  2. Look at the Power button, pinch and drag it to the right, and wait for the screen to go dark.
  3. Hold the top button for three seconds to turn it back on, and allow about a minute for it to start.
  4. Only as a last resort if the headset is frozen: hold the top button and the Digital Crown until the screen goes black, then release. Do not force restart during a visionOS update.

Why it helps: A restart clears temporary glitches that can stop tracking from responding.

Check it's fixed

  • Items highlight as soon as you look at them.
  • A light pinch with your hand resting on your lap selects every time.
  • Tracking stays accurate after you take the headset off and put it back on.

When to get help

If tracking is still poor after redoing setup in good light with a correct fit, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store, especially if you get repeated fit warnings, as you may need a different Light Seal size or a repair.

Questions

What is the shortcut to recalibrate Vision Pro eye tracking?

Put the headset on and press the top button four times, then follow the steps. It redoes both hand setup and eye setup.

Can I control Vision Pro without pinching?

Yes. Go to Settings > Eyes & Hands > Hand Input to choose another way to select items if tapping your thumb and index finger is not an option.

Can I wear glasses with Vision Pro?

No. Apple says eyeglasses are not compatible. Use contact lenses or ZEISS Optical Inserts.

Why is tracking off after someone else used my Vision Pro?

Your setup is tuned to your eyes and hands. Redo your eye and hand setup, and use Guest User next time so the other person gets their own setup.

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