Oculus Quest 2 is undoubtedly one of the most popular choices when it comes to quality VR headset standalone units.
It is effortless and convenient, and you can fully control it via your Oculus app without needing to connect it to your PC or laptop.
However, if your Oculus Quest 2 headset won’t turn on, there could be something wrong with the Oculus software, cables, or the battery.
Keep reading to learn how to troubleshoot and fix Oculus Quest 2 headset.
Why won’t your Oculus Quest 2 turn on
Most potential issues preventing your Oculus Quest 2 from turning on properly are related to the software.
However, other problems (mostly related to hardware) could affect your Oculus Quest device.
Software code error
It could be that you’ve downloaded corrupted software (which usually happens if you haven’t downloaded it from the official website) or installed a corrupted VR game.
Either way, your virtual reality headset may not turn on due to corrupted software code.
Pending or canceled software update
While most of the Oculus Quest software updates occur while the headset is off and take place in the background, without interrupting your games, some updates could occur while the headset is off.
If your Quest headset won’t turn off, one of the possibilities is that you’ve tried to turn it on as these updates were taking place, interrupting the updating process.
Another issue that will certainly affect your Quest 2 headset is a pending system update that keeps getting canceled or delayed.
There can also be a problem with the installed update. For instance, in January of 2022, some Oculus Quest users reported that the monthly update made their vision blurry.
That being said, a bug in the software system caused by a recent update could stop your Oculus device from turning on.
Battery is empty
In many cases, Oculus users forget to charge the device after their VR game. It might be critically low if you hadn’t checked the battery status before you turned the device off.
In this case, the virtual reality device will not be able to boot up until you’ve charged it enough.
Also, in case you left your Oculus Quest 2 headset in the case, this could be the reason why your battery is low even though you haven’t drained it during the gaming session.
This happens due to the proximity sensor, which “awakens” the device when there is movement nearby.
Charging port is damaged or clogged
Another reason your Oculus Quest headset battery could not get charged could be an issue with the charging port.
The charging port could be damaged or clogged with accumulated dirt and debris.
In both cases, something limits the contact between the charging cable and the electric flow, which means the battery won’t get enough power to charge fully.
Faulty charger
The issue could also be in the Oculus charger or the charging cable. If these components are damaged, the headset won’t get enough power – hence the drained battery.
The problem could also be in damaged or worn-out internal wires.
Faulty battery
A Quest 2 headset may be unable to boot up because the battery is dead. In this case, the battery cannot be charged as it is damaged and malfunctioning.
In this case, the battery would have to be replaced.
What to do if your Oculus Quest 2 won’t turn on
Luckily, fixing an Oculus Link or Oculus Go device shouldn’t be too hard, especially if you’ve successfully pinpointed the core issue.
1. Hard reset Oculus Quest
One of the most effective ways to get rid of bugs in Oculus software is to reset Oculus Quest.
That being said, there are two kinds of reset: a hard reset and a soft reset (power cycle).
If you’ve noticed a black screen on your device and cannot turn it on, it may be better to go with a soft reset that will end all the processes affecting the Oculus software.
To perform this reset, you want to press and hold the power button on your Oculus device for about 30 seconds, or until the LED lights turn on, then release it.
After the resetting process, your VR headset should boot up automatically.
2. Charge the device
The first step would be to check the charging cable. If there are no visible signs of damage, you should use it to charge the Oculus headset.
You also want to check the charging port and remove any clogs using a handheld vacuum cleaner or a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol.
Cleaning the charging port should become a regular practice when maintaining your Oculus Quest 2.
Plug the charging adapter into the device, and see if this triggers the charging light. If the light turns on, the device is currently charging, and you should be able to use it as soon as it charges.
3. Launch the Bootloader
The Bootloader’s role in your Oculus software is to load all the data into the memory before booting the system.
However, if your Oculus Quest is not booting up, this could mean that the data didn’t load correctly, causing the system to ignore the attempts to turn it on.
In this case, you will need to force the Bootloader to sort the data to boot up the device properly.
To do so, hold the power and the Volume Down buttons simultaneously for about 10 seconds.
Once a menu appears on the screen, use the volume buttons to navigate to the Exit and Boot device option.
Now press the Power button to confirm your choice, and the booting process should commence. It can take some time, but the device should boot up automatically once the data is sorted and loaded.
4. Check and clean the proximity sensor
As we’ve mentioned, the proximity sensor is one of those factors that could be draining the battery. If you leave the device in the case, the proximity sensor will turn the device on every time there is any motion around it, as it is extremely sensitive.
On the other hand, a dirty proximity sensor could be the reason why your headset is not booting up, as the device may not be able to recognize your face.
Grab a dry microfibre wipe or cloth and wipe the proximity sensor clean (it is located between the two lenses on the top portion of the headset).
Ensure there are no smudges or blockages on the sensor before attempting to boot up the device again.
5. Perform a factory reset of your Oculus Quest 2 headset
Finally, a hard reset, better known as a factory reset, of your Oculus headset may be the answer to all your problems when it comes to booting the Oculus Quest headset. It may also erase any configuration bugs and system issues.
If the headset is turned on, make sure to turn it off. Now press the power and the Volume Down buttons and hold them simultaneously until a start-up screen menu appears on the display.
Use the volume buttons to navigate to Factory Reset, then press the power button to confirm the selection. Now use the volume buttons to select Yes, Erase, and Factory Reset and confirm by pressing the Power button.
