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Meta Quest Link Setup and Unreal Engine VR Preview Guide

This guide explains how to set up a Meta Quest headset for Unreal Engine development using Meta Horizon Link. It includes the required account setup, mobile and desktop apps, developer mode, USB connection, OpenXR configuration, and how to use VR Preview in Unreal Engine.

Official References

Overview

Meta Quest Link allows a Meta Quest headset to function as a PC VR headset so Unreal Engine projects can be tested directly from the editor using VR Preview. This is much faster than packaging and installing a full APK every time you want to test a change.

Requirements

Before starting, make sure you have:

  • A compatible Meta Quest headset
  • Meta Quest 3S
  • Meta Quest 3
  • Meta Quest 2
  • Meta Quest Pro
  • A compatible Windows PC
  • A Meta account
  • A Meta Developer account
  • The Meta Horizon mobile app
  • The Meta Horizon Link desktop app
  • Unreal Engine installed on the development PC
  • A USB-C cable that supports data transfer
  • A wired USB connection is recommended for setup and development because it is generally more stable than wireless

Part 1: Create or Confirm a Meta Developer Account

A Meta Developer account is required for Link-based app development workflows.

Steps

  1. Sign in with your Meta account.
  2. Create or confirm access to a Meta Developer account.
  3. Use the same account for the headset, mobile app, and desktop Link app.

Part 2: Install the Meta Horizon Mobile App

The mobile app is required for headset setup and enabling Developer Mode.

Steps

  1. Install the Meta Horizon mobile app on your phone.
  2. Sign in with your Meta account.
  3. Turn on the headset.
  4. Pair the headset to the mobile app if it is not already paired.
  5. Confirm the headset appears in the app under connected devices.

Part 3: Enable Developer Mode

Developer Mode must be enabled for development workflows such as USB debugging and Unreal Engine testing.

Steps

  1. Open the Meta Horizon mobile app.
  2. Select your connected headset.
  3. Open the headset settings.
  4. Find Developer Mode.
  5. Turn Developer Mode On.
  6. Restart the headset if prompted.

The desktop Link application is required for connecting the headset to the PC for Unreal Engine VR Preview.

Steps

  1. Download and install Meta Horizon Link on the Windows development machine.
  2. Sign in using the same Meta account used on the headset and mobile app.
  3. Open the app and allow it to finish setup or updates.

These settings should be configured before using Unreal Engine with Link.

Activate OpenXR Runtime

  1. Open the Meta Horizon Link app on the desktop.
  2. Go to Settings > General.
  3. Next to OpenXR Runtime, select Set Meta Horizon Link as active.
  4. Once active, the option becomes grayed out.

Toggle Developer Runtime Features

  1. In the Meta Horizon Link app, go to Settings > Developer.
  2. Turn Developer Runtime Features On.

Optional Feature Toggles

If your project needs specific runtime features over Link, return to Settings > Developer and enable them there. Depending on the project, these can include features such as:

  • Passthrough over Meta Horizon Link
  • Eye tracking over Meta Horizon Link
  • Natural Facial Expressions over Meta Horizon Link

If you enable new runtime features while Unreal Engine is already open, restart the editor before testing.

Part 6: Connect the Headset to the PC

A wired connection is the recommended development workflow.

USB Connection Steps

  1. Connect the headset to the PC with a USB-C data cable.
  2. Put on the headset.
  3. Accept any prompts for:
  4. USB data access
  5. USB debugging
  6. Open the Meta Horizon Link desktop app.
  7. Confirm the headset appears under Devices.

Test the Cable Connection

In the Meta Horizon Link app:

  1. Go to Devices.
  2. Select the connected headset.
  3. Select Device Setup.
  4. Choose Link Cable.
  5. Select Continue.
  6. On the cable check page, select Test Connection.
  7. Confirm the result shows a compatible connection.

If the connection is weak or incompatible, try a different USB-C cable.

Steps in the Headset

  1. Put on the headset.
  2. Open Settings.
  3. Go to System.
  4. Find Quest Link.
  5. Turn Quest Link on.
  6. Select Launch Quest Link.

This should move the headset into the PC VR / Link environment.

Once the headset is connected and Link is active, Unreal Engine can use the headset directly.

Steps

  1. Open the Unreal Engine project on the development PC.
  2. Wait for the project to finish loading.
  3. Open the level you want to test.
  4. Make sure the headset is connected through Meta Horizon Link and currently in Link mode.
  5. In Unreal Engine, click Play and choose VR Preview.

Expected Behavior

  • The Unreal scene should launch directly to the headset.
  • The headset should switch from the Link interface into the Unreal project.
  • Tracking data from the headset and controllers should be available in the editor session.

A common workflow during development is:

  1. Connect the headset by USB.
  2. Open Meta Horizon Link.
  3. Confirm the headset is connected.
  4. Launch Quest Link from the headset.
  5. Open the Unreal project.
  6. Make your changes.
  7. Use VR Preview to test quickly.
  8. Stop the preview.
  9. Repeat as needed.

This workflow is much faster than packaging an APK after every change.

Part 10: Preview Platform Notes in Unreal

Unreal Engine supports previewing platform-specific rendering settings.

Notes

  • In Unreal, preview platform options are available under Settings > Preview Platform.
  • Quest uses Vulkan rendering.
  • Link can support both OpenGL and Vulkan during development workflows.

This can be useful when checking how a project may behave under Quest-targeted rendering.

Part 11: Optional Development Convenience

Disable the Proximity Sensor

If the headset keeps sleeping when you remove it during development, the proximity sensor can be disabled temporarily using Meta Quest Developer Hub (MQDH).

Steps

  1. Connect the headset to the development PC.
  2. Open MQDH.
  3. Go to Device Manager.
  4. Select the headset.
  5. Under Device Actions, find Proximity Sensor.
  6. Toggle it to disable the proximity sensor temporarily.

This is useful during long testing sessions.

Important Notes

  • Link helps reduce iteration time, but it is not identical to running a packaged APK directly on the headset.
  • Visual appearance and performance can differ between VR Preview over Link and a packaged Android build.
  • Final validation should still be done with an actual headset build installed on the device.

Troubleshooting

Common VR Preview Black Screen Issue

It is common for VR Preview to launch to a black screen the first time, especially if another play mode such as Selected Viewport was used immediately before it. This can also happen occasionally even without switching play modes.

In most cases, this does not mean the headset or project is broken.

  1. Press Esc to exit the failed VR Preview session.
  2. Launch VR Preview again.

The second launch will often load correctly.

  • Confirm the USB cable supports data transfer, not just charging
  • Try a different USB port
  • Reconnect the cable
  • Restart the headset
  • Restart the Meta Horizon Link app

VR Preview Does Not Launch Correctly

  • Make sure the headset is already connected and in Quest Link mode
  • Make sure Meta Horizon Link is open before launching VR Preview
  • Restart Unreal Engine after changing Link developer features
  • Confirm Meta Horizon Link is set as the active OpenXR Runtime

USB Debugging Prompt Does Not Appear

  • Reconnect the headset
  • Confirm Developer Mode is enabled in the mobile app
  • Check for prompts inside the headset

Performance or Connection Quality Is Poor

  • Use a different USB-C cable
  • Run the Test Connection option in the Link app
  • Prefer wired USB for development
  • Close unnecessary background applications on the PC

Summary

To use Meta Quest Link with Unreal Engine:

  1. Create or confirm a Meta Developer account
  2. Install the Meta Horizon mobile app
  3. Pair the headset
  4. Enable Developer Mode
  5. Install Meta Horizon Link on the desktop PC
  6. Set Meta Horizon Link as the active OpenXR Runtime
  7. Turn on Developer Runtime Features
  8. Connect the headset by USB-C
  9. Enable and launch Quest Link
  10. Open Unreal Engine and use VR Preview

This is the primary workflow for fast VR iteration during development.