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309

PlayStation 309 on PS VR2 for PC: SteamVR startup driver error

Verified with sources4 sourcesReviewed Oct 18, 2026
Technician coming? See the 2 steps they must show you
PlayStation 5 console with DualSense controller
Soberian (this retouched file) Osh33m (original photograph)CC BY-SA 4.0Image source

Risk level

Low

Usually safe to check without specialist tools.

Urgency

Medium

Quick answer

Error code 309 on PS VR2 for PC means SteamVR is not working properly. It commonly appears after replacing an AMD graphics board with an NVIDIA card and requires cleaning old GPU drivers and reinstalling your VR apps.

Safety first

Stop and check this first

  • Do not use HDMI or USB Type-C conversion adapters or open the hardware. PS VR2 does not support HDMI-to-DisplayPort or USB Type-C-to-DisplayPort conversion adapters; never open the headset or PC adapter housing, and avoid putting your PC into sleep mode during a SteamVR game.

Safe checks you can perform

  • Run the AMD Cleanup Utility and restart your PC
  • Perform a clean installation of the latest NVIDIA graphics driver
  • Reinstall SteamVR and PlayStation VR2 App and enable Direct Mode
  • Verify a direct DisplayPort 1.4 cable and test another motherboard USB port

Leave these tasks to a qualified professional

  • Do not attempt this professional task: GPU driver cleanup and SteamVR runtime verification for PS VR2 on PC
  • Do not attempt this professional task: Official support evaluation via PlayStation Support or GPU manufacturer support

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.

  1. GPU driver cleanup and SteamVR runtime verification for PS VR2 on PC

    What they doRun the AMD Cleanup Utility, perform a clean install of the NVIDIA graphics driver, and reinstall SteamVR and the PlayStation VR2 App with Direct Mode enabled.

    They must show youthe completed driver cleanup log and the live connection status inside the PlayStation VR2 App.

    In writingthe installed GPU driver, SteamVR, and PlayStation VR2 App versions along with the Direct Mode test result.

  2. Official support evaluation via PlayStation Support or GPU manufacturer support

    What they doVerify minimum PC requirements, test another motherboard USB port with a compliant DisplayPort 1.4 cable, and escalate to the GPU manufacturer or PlayStation Support if the error remains.

    They must show youthe PC adapter indicator light behavior and verification that the PC meets minimum PS VR2 specifications.

    In writingthe recorded symptom report for the PS VR2 headset and PC adapter for official support handling.

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.

  1. Run the AMD Cleanup Utility and restart your PC

    No special tools

    Who:
    You at your PC.
    How:
    Run the official AMD Cleanup Utility on your computer to remove leftover driver files from a previous AMD graphics board and restart Windows completely.
    Result that matters:
    Whether residual AMD graphics driver packages were still present on the system.
    If the cleanup tool finishes without errors and the PC restarts cleanly, proceed to reinstall the NVIDIA driver.
    If leftover driver services remain active or the utility fails, repeat the cleanup in Windows before opening SteamVR.
    Evidence to keep:
    Screenshot of the completed AMD Cleanup Utility run and system restart.

    Evidence: PC Error Code 309 · How to troubleshoot your PS VR2 on PC

  2. Perform a clean installation of the latest NVIDIA graphics driver

    No special tools

    Who:
    You at your PC.
    How:
    Reinstall the NVIDIA graphics board driver using the clean install option after restarting your computer.
    Result that matters:
    Whether the NVIDIA graphics driver initializes DisplayPort 1.4 output cleanly.
    If the clean NVIDIA driver install succeeds, continue by reinstalling SteamVR and the PlayStation VR2 App.
    If issues occur with the latest graphics driver, try rolling back to an earlier official driver version.
    Evidence to keep:
    Installed NVIDIA driver version number and clean installation confirmation.

    Evidence: PC Error Code 309 · How to troubleshoot your PS VR2 on PC

  3. Reinstall SteamVR and PlayStation VR2 App and enable Direct Mode

    No special tools

    Who:
    You at your PC.
    How:
    Remove any unofficial PS VR2 drivers, reinstall both SteamVR and the PlayStation VR2 App while selecting Yes for Steam Client Service admin permission, and enable Direct Mode under SteamVR > Settings > Developer tab.
    Result that matters:
    Whether SteamVR and the PlayStation VR2 App start without displaying error code 309.
    If both applications launch normally and detect the headset, the software conflict is resolved.
    If error 309 still appears when starting SteamVR, inspect your DisplayPort 1.4 cable and motherboard USB port.
    Evidence to keep:
    Screenshot of SteamVR Developer settings showing Direct Mode enabled.

    Evidence: PC Error Code 309 · How to troubleshoot your PS VR2 on PC

  4. Verify a direct DisplayPort 1.4 cable and test another motherboard USB port

    No special tools

    Who:
    You at your PC.
    How:
    Unplug and reconnect all cables using a compliant DisplayPort 1.4 or higher cable without HDMI or USB Type-C conversion adapters, move the PC adapter to another motherboard USB port, and power off both units before turning on the PC first and the headset second.
    Result that matters:
    Whether the PC adapter indicator turns solid white and the connection check passes in PlayStation VR2 App.
    If the status light turns solid white and SteamVR starts cleanly, keep using that motherboard USB port.
    If the startup error persists after testing another USB port and power-cycling both units, contact official support.
    Evidence to keep:
    Photo of the PC adapter status indicator and the motherboard ports tested.

    Evidence: PC Error Code 309 · How to troubleshoot your PS VR2 on PC

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
PlayStation
Product type
PlayStation 5

Known code variants

  • 309
  • Error 309
  • événement Fronius 309
  • evento Fronius 309
  • Fronius Ereignis 309
  • Fronius event 309
  • Fronius inverter 309
  • Fronius Symo / Eco 309
  • Fronius Wechselrichter 309
  • inversor Fronius 309
  • inverter Fronius 309
  • onduleur Fronius 309
  • PC código de error 309
  • PC Error Code 309
  • SteamVR isn't working properly
  • SteamVR no funciona correctamente

What it means

For error 309, the official PlayStation Support pages 'PC Error Code 309' and 'How to troubleshoot your PS VR2 on PC' for the PlayStation VR2 headset and PC adapter family state that SteamVR isn't working properly, frequently after swapping an AMD graphics board for an NVIDIA unit. Other PC hardware configurations or PS VR2 revisions may differ in behavior. Code 309 alone never proves a part is faulty before removing leftover drivers and checking your DisplayPort 1.4 and USB connections.

Warnings and stop conditions

  • Mediumsource verified

    Do not use HDMI or USB Type-C conversion adapters or open the hardware. PS VR2 does not support HDMI-to-DisplayPort or USB Type-C-to-DisplayPort conversion adapters; never open the headset or PC adapter housing, and avoid putting your PC into sleep mode during a SteamVR game.

    Evidence: PC Error Code 309 · How to troubleshoot your PS VR2 on PC

Symptoms and causes

Probable causes · in order

  • Leftover AMD graphics board driver components after switching to an NVIDIA GPUCommon

    Replacing an AMD graphics card with an NVIDIA board without running the cleanup utility leaves driver files behind that trigger error 309 when SteamVR starts.

    Evidence: PC Error Code 309 · How to troubleshoot your PS VR2 on PC

  • Corrupted NVIDIA graphics driver, SteamVR installation, or PlayStation VR2 AppPossible

    An incomplete NVIDIA driver installation or damaged files in SteamVR or the PlayStation VR2 App prevent the virtual reality runtime from initializing properly.

    Evidence: PC Error Code 309 · How to troubleshoot your PS VR2 on PC

  • Disabled Direct Mode or unstable DisplayPort 1.4 and motherboard USB connectionLess common

    Using a cable that does not comply with DisplayPort 1.4, an unstable motherboard USB port, or leaving Direct Mode disabled in SteamVR Developer settings blocks startup.

    Evidence: PC Error Code 309 · How to troubleshoot your PS VR2 on PC

Virtual technician

Does 309 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.

Start diagnosis

Sources and technical references

  1. 1

    PC Error Code 309

    PlayStation Support · 2026 · official_doc

  2. 2

    PC: código de error 309

    Atención al cliente de PlayStation · 2026 · official_doc

  3. 3

    How to troubleshoot your PS VR2 on PC

    PlayStation Support · 2026 · official_doc

  4. 4

    Cómo resolver los problemas de PS VR2 en un PC

    Atención al cliente de PlayStation · 2026 · official_doc

Sources: PC Error Code 309 · PC: código de error 309 · How to troubleshoot your PS VR2 on PC · Cómo resolver los problemas de PS VR2 en un PCreviewed 2026-10-18 · verified

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