- Gaming and consoles
- VR headsets
Headphones not detected
Meta Headphones not detected on VR headset: Link audio
Risk level
Low
Usually safe to check without specialist tools.
Urgency
Medium
Quick answer
When connecting your Meta Quest headset to a Windows PC with Meta Horizon Link, you get a 'Headphones not detected' error, missing audio, or your USB 3.0 cable shows as USB 2.0. Enable Oculus Virtual Audio Device in Windows Sound settings and run oculus-driver.
Safety first
Stop and check this first
- If you are using a USB cable for Meta Horizon Link, make sure Air Link is turned off on the headset because the headset can only use one connection at a time.
- Remove any third-party covers from the headset when troubleshooting Link audio, and avoid pushing render resolution to the 5408 x 2736 maximum if you experience dropped frames.
Safe checks you can perform
- Enable Oculus Virtual Audio Device in Windows Sound Output settings
- Run the official oculus-driver executable via Windows Run
- Enable Link audio toggles, turn off Air Link for USB and leave PTC
- Flip USB-C plug orientation and reset Graphics preferences and Debug Tool
Leave these tasks to a qualified professional
- Do not attempt this professional task: Reinstall Meta Horizon Link, oculus-driver and reset Oculus Debug Tool
- Do not attempt this professional task: Inspect internal desktop PCI-E USB card cables or escalate to Meta
What a technician must be able to justify
Technician visit
These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.
These are not instructions for opening or handling the equipment yourself. They are the checks that should support a technical conclusion.
Reinstall Meta Horizon Link, oculus-driver and reset Oculus Debug Tool
What they doThe technician verifies at least 9 GB of free disk space, reinstalls the Meta Horizon Link PC app, executes oculus-driver, sets Oculus Virtual Audio Device in Windows Sound and resets all numerical values in the Oculus debug tool to 0.
They must show youOculus Virtual Audio Device enabled in Windows Sound and active headset status in the Meta Horizon Link Devices tab.
In writingverified free disk space (9 GB+), refresh rate setting (72, 80, 90 or 120 Hz) and reset of Oculus debug tool values to 0.
Inspect internal desktop PCI-E USB card cables or escalate to Meta
What they doIf a desktop USB 3.0 port continues recognizing a USB-C 3.2 (5 Gbps+) cable as USB 2.0 after flipping connector orientations, the technician powers off and unplugs the PC to ensure PCI-E card cables are fully seated.
They must show youUSB 3.0 recognition inside the Meta Horizon Link desktop app after reseating the connection.
In writingtested USB 3.0 ports and orientations with a 5 Gbps+ cable and inspection result of the PCI-E card cables.
Before accepting a part or repair
Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.
Follow these steps
Note: Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.
Enable Oculus Virtual Audio Device in Windows Sound Output settings
- Who:
- you, on the Windows PC running the Meta Horizon Link app.
- How:
- go to Windows Settings > System > Sound > Output, select Oculus Virtual Audio Device, enable it if it is disabled, verify it is not muted as speaker or microphone, and restart the computer.
- Result that matters:
- re-enable the virtual audio endpoint that Link treats as physical headphones.
- If the Headphones not detected error clears and VR audio plays:
- resolved.
- If the error persists after restarting the PC:
- run the oculus-driver installer.
- Evidence to keep:
- screenshot of Windows Settings > System > Sound > Output showing Oculus Virtual Audio Device enabled.
Evidence: How to troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link on your computer | Quest help | Meta · How to set up Meta Horizon Link and Air Link | Quest help | Meta · Troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link audio issues | Quest help | Meta · Headphones not detected with Meta Quest Link | Quest help | Meta
Run the official oculus-driver executable via Windows Run
- Who:
- you, on your Windows desktop with the Meta Horizon Link app closed.
- How:
- close the computer app, press Windows key + R to open the Run command, type C:\Program Files\Oculus\Support\oculus-drivers, open oculus-driver, then relaunch the desktop app and reconnect your headset.
- Result that matters:
- reinstall the virtual audio and USB Link drivers.
- If the desktop app detects headset audio and connects cleanly:
- resolved.
- If audio or USB detection still fails:
- check Link audio toggles and Air Link state.
- Evidence to keep:
- completed oculus-driver run and current headset software version.
Evidence: How to troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link on your computer | Quest help | Meta · How to set up Meta Horizon Link and Air Link | Quest help | Meta · Troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link audio issues | Quest help | Meta · Headphones not detected with Meta Quest Link | Quest help | Meta
Enable Link audio toggles, turn off Air Link for USB and leave PTC
- Who:
- you, in the Meta Horizon Link PC app and headset settings.
- How:
- in the desktop app open Devices > your headset and enable Hear computer audio in VR and Hear VR audio from computer; if using a wired USB-C 3.2 (minimum 5 Gbps) cable, turn off Air Link on the headset and disable Public Test Channel (PTC) access.
- Result that matters:
- prevent Air Link or beta PTC builds from blocking wired USB Link.
- If wired Link connects with working audio and smooth video:
- resolved.
- If the PC recognizes the USB 3.0 cable as USB 2.0 or stutters:
- flip connector orientation and reset graphics.
- Evidence to keep:
- status of the audio toggles under Devices and Air Link switched off.
Evidence: How to troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link on your computer | Quest help | Meta · How to set up Meta Horizon Link and Air Link | Quest help | Meta · Troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link audio issues | Quest help | Meta · Headphones not detected with Meta Quest Link | Quest help | Meta
Flip USB-C plug orientation and reset Graphics preferences and Debug Tool
- Who:
- you, at the PC USB 3.0 ports and inside the Meta Horizon Link app.
- How:
- if a USB 3.0 cable is recognized as USB 2.0, reseat the USB-C to USB-C cable or USB-A to USB-C adapter in different orientations; also go to Devices > Graphics preferences > Reset to default > Save and set all numerical values in the Oculus debug tool to 0.
- Result that matters:
- restore USB 3.0 negotiation and clear excessive render resolution or bitrate overrides.
- If the port negotiates USB 3.0 and Link runs smoothly at default graphics settings:
- resolved.
- If all ports still report USB 2.0:
- arrange a PCI-E cable check or official support.
- Evidence to keep:
- USB connection speed reported in Devices and screenshot of Graphics preferences.
Evidence: How to troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link on your computer | Quest help | Meta · How to set up Meta Horizon Link and Air Link | Quest help | Meta · Troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link audio issues | Quest help | Meta · Headphones not detected with Meta Quest Link | Quest help | Meta
Still not solved
If the error persists, stop here. See what the technician must do and show you.
Where this code applies
A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.
Primary scope
- System
- Gaming and consoles
- Brand
- Meta
- Product type
- VR headsets
Known code variants
- Cable USB 3.0 reconocido como USB 2.0 en Link
- Headphones not detected
- Headphones not detected with Meta Quest Link
- Meta Quest Link no detecta los auriculares
- Oculus Virtual Audio Device desactivado
- Oculus Virtual Audio Device disabled
- USB 3.0 cable recognized as USB 2.0
What it means
According to official Meta Quest support pages for Meta Horizon Link (covering Quest 3, Quest 3S, Quest 2 and Quest Pro on Windows PCs), the desktop app treats the Oculus Virtual Audio Device driver as physical headphones; if disabled in Windows, it triggers 'Headphones not detected with Meta Quest Link' even when no physical headphones are faulty. Meta also documents Link issues caused by leaving Air Link on during USB use, Public Test Channel (PTC) enrollment, or a USB-C 3.2 (5 Gbps+) cable showing as USB 2.0. This message alone never proves a part is faulty, and other models may differ.
Warnings and stop conditions
- Lowsource verified
If you are using a USB cable for Meta Horizon Link, make sure Air Link is turned off on the headset because the headset can only use one connection at a time.
Evidence: How to troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link on your computer | Quest help | Meta · How to set up Meta Horizon Link and Air Link | Quest help | Meta · Troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link audio issues | Quest help | Meta · Headphones not detected with Meta Quest Link | Quest help | Meta
- Mediumsource verified
Remove any third-party covers from the headset when troubleshooting Link audio, and avoid pushing render resolution to the 5408 x 2736 maximum if you experience dropped frames.
Evidence: How to troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link on your computer | Quest help | Meta · How to set up Meta Horizon Link and Air Link | Quest help | Meta · Troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link audio issues | Quest help | Meta · Headphones not detected with Meta Quest Link | Quest help | Meta
Symptoms and causes
Probable causes · in order
- Oculus Virtual Audio Device disabled in Windows Sound settingsCommon
Under Windows Settings > System > Sound > Output, the Oculus Virtual Audio Device is disabled or not prioritized as the active speaker and microphone device.
Evidence: How to troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link on your computer | Quest help | Meta · How to set up Meta Horizon Link and Air Link | Quest help | Meta · Troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link audio issues | Quest help | Meta · Headphones not detected with Meta Quest Link | Quest help | Meta
- Outdated oculus-driver package or muted audio toggles in the Link appCommon
The driver in C:\Program Files\Oculus\Support\oculus-drivers needs to be re-run, or 'Hear computer audio in VR' / 'Hear VR audio from computer' is turned off in the Meta Horizon Link app.
Evidence: How to troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link on your computer | Quest help | Meta · How to set up Meta Horizon Link and Air Link | Quest help | Meta · Troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link audio issues | Quest help | Meta · Headphones not detected with Meta Quest Link | Quest help | Meta
- Air Link left on during wired USB use, PTC enrollment or USB 2.0 fallbackPossible
The headset can only use one connection type at a time (Air Link must be off for USB), the headset is enrolled in the Public Test Channel (PTC), or connector/adapter orientation causes a USB 3.0 port to detect the cable as USB 2.0.
Evidence: How to troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link on your computer | Quest help | Meta · How to set up Meta Horizon Link and Air Link | Quest help | Meta · Troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link audio issues | Quest help | Meta · Headphones not detected with Meta Quest Link | Quest help | Meta
- Modified Oculus Debug Tool values, high graphics or under 9 GB disk spacePossible
Non-zero overrides in the Oculus debug tool, refresh rate (72-120 Hz) or render resolution (up to 5408 x 2736) exceeding GPU capacity, or fewer than 9 GB of free PC drive space prevent proper Link operation.
Evidence: How to troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link on your computer | Quest help | Meta · How to set up Meta Horizon Link and Air Link | Quest help | Meta · Troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link audio issues | Quest help | Meta · Headphones not detected with Meta Quest Link | Quest help | Meta
Virtual technician
Does Headphones not detected still appear after these checks?
Answer a few questions to narrow down the likely cause and the safest next action. Guidance only - it never replaces a professional.
Sources and technical references
- 1
How to troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link on your computer | Quest help | Meta
Meta · 2026 · official_doc
- 2
Cómo solucionar problemas con Meta Horizon Link en tu ordenador | Ayuda de Quest | Meta
Meta · 2026 · official_doc
- 3
How to set up Meta Horizon Link and Air Link | Quest help | Meta
Meta · 2026 · official_doc
- 4
Cómo configurar Meta Horizon Link y Air Link | Ayuda de Quest | Meta
Meta · 2026 · official_doc
- 5
Troubleshoot Meta Horizon Link audio issues | Quest help | Meta
Meta · 2026 · official_doc
- 6
Resolución de problemas con el audio de Meta Horizon Link | Ayuda de Quest | Meta
Meta · 2026 · official_doc
- 7
Headphones not detected with Meta Quest Link | Quest help | Meta
Meta · 2026 · official_doc
- 8
Meta Quest Link no detecta los auriculares | Ayuda de Quest | Meta
Meta · 2026 · official_doc
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