Meta's working on a fix for Oculus Air Link on Windows 11

What you need to know:

• Oculus Air Link is Meta's wireless alternative to plugging a Quest into a PC to play VR games.
• Windows 11 introduced a number of performance issues for Air Link, including frame rate drops.
• A developer from Meta has promised that a fix is on the way.

Initially released in 2021, Oculus Air Link (opens in new tab) allows players to wirelessly connect their Quest headset to a gaming PC, making cordless PC VR a reality. It wasn't without its issues, especially since the service hinges entirely on the user's router speed, but Windows 11 has been causing a number of issues for Air Link users.

A VR indie studio by the name BattleAxeVR (@BattleAxeVR), Tweeted about the issues some of its team were facing, specifically citing frame rate and stuttering. John Carmack, a consulting CTO at Meta, responded, saying that there was a fix in the works, but didn't provide any specific details about when those fixes would come for the Quest 2 (opens in new tab).

Some timing details changed in Win 11. We think we have a handle on it, and an update is in the pipeline, but I can't say exactly when it will land. Sorry it has taken so long.May 18, 2022

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Carmack didn't provide details about a specific release date or window, so it's tough to say when exactly players can see these stability improvements, but it's safe to assume that this is a priority for the development team, considering how serious these issues are.

Accessing the broad catalog of PC-exclusive VR games through Steam and Oculus without using a single cord feels incredibly liberating. Air Link stability's only becoming more important now that Meta's no longer selling its other wired headsets like the Rift S anymore. Air Link is now one of the only ways new players can get access to both Quest-exclusive games and PC-exclusive VR games.

If you've recently upgraded to Windows 11 and want to play games like Star Wars Squadrons or Half-Life: Alyx using your Quest 2, but don't want to deal with Air Link's stability issues, you'll need a solid Quest 2 Link Cable replacement (opens in new tab) or can also purchase Virtual Desktop, an Air Link alternative, to keep things wireless.

Meta Quest 2

The Meta Quest 2 is the best and most affordable way to get into VR.