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To display VR gameplay on a monitor, use the mirror or casting method supported by the headset and by the device running the game. Meta documents OculusMirror for Rift PC VR and a wired ADB-and-VLC method for Quest; for other PC VR setups, check the runtime or game for a spectator view. These methods are not interchangeable, and there is no universal setting that mirrors every headset and game.
First identify where the VR game is running
The right route depends on whether the experience runs on a standalone headset, a PC, or a console. Headset mirroring shows VR content to a spectator; casting or streaming moves content between devices; using a headset as a display for a PC desktop is a different task. A connection that sends a PC game to a headset does not necessarily mirror a standalone headset game to a monitor.
- Standalone Quest app: Meta documents wired mirroring through ADB and VLC.
- Rift PC VR: Meta’s Compositor Mirror can show headset content on the computer monitor.
- Other PC VR: Look for a mirror or spectator view in the runtime or game, then follow its current instructions.
- PS VR2 on PC: Follow Sony’s PC adapter and software requirements; this is a PC-connected VR setup, not a universal casting feature.
Choose the display route that matches your setup
| Setup | Documented route | What appears on the monitor | Important constraints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Rift PC VR | Meta Compositor Mirror | Rift headset content, including Home, Guardian boundaries, notifications, and transition fades. | Windows tool for Meta PC VR; not a general Quest or SteamVR mirroring utility. |
| Meta Quest standalone app | Wired ADB and VLC mirroring | By default, both eye views appear as two lens-shaped circles; VLC zoom can crop a region. | Requires a USB data connection and setup with ADB. Meta says audio mirroring is unsupported and expects a 2 to 4 second delay. |
| Other PC VR games and headsets | Runtime or game mirror/spectator view | Depends on the runtime or individual game. | Availability and controls vary; the SteamVR Direct Mode troubleshooting page addresses headset detection, not general spectator mirroring. |
| PS VR2 connected to a Windows PC | Sony’s PC setup | PC VR content, subject to the game and software’s display options. | Requires the PS VR2 PC adapter, DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.0, Steam, SteamVR, the PlayStation VR2 App, and a compatible PC. |
Mirror a Rift PC VR view with Compositor Mirror
Meta’s Compositor Mirror displays content shown in a Rift headset on its connected computer monitor. The documented Windows executable is C:Program FilesMeta HorizonSupportoculus-diagnosticsOculusMirror.exe. Open it on the PC running the Rift experience. Meta’s documentation describes this as a PC-VR tool for content built with the native PC SDK or a game engine; it should not be treated as the general solution for Quest or SteamVR.
Adjust the view for an audience
The default mirror window is 1366 × 768 pixels and shows a rectilinear right-eye view, with Guardian and notification layers. The default field of view is narrower than the headset wearer’s view. Meta documents command-line options for changing what is shown:
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--LeftEyeOnlyor--RightEyeOnlyselects an eye.--RectilinearBothEyesshows both eyes in rectilinear form.--PostDistortionselects the post-distortion view.--Size width heightsets the window dimensions.
Meta also documents FovTanAngleMultiplier for widening the field of view. Consult the Compositor Mirror documentation for the supported syntax and behavior before changing launch options.
Mirror a Quest headset to a computer with ADB and VLC
Meta’s wired method streams the Quest display to VLC on a PC or Mac. It requires developer mode, ADB installed where needed, a USB cable that supports data for the headset and computer, and VLC. Follow Meta’s current Wired Mirroring with ADB instructions for the setup and stream procedure; the exact connection and software details depend on the computer and headset.
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- Enable developer mode for the headset and install ADB if it is not already available.
- Connect the headset to the computer using a compatible USB data cable.
- Confirm the computer can see the headset by running
adb devicesand accepting any device prompt shown in the headset. - Start the screen-record stream using Meta’s documented procedure, then open the stream in VLC.
- If the default two-eye image is awkward for viewers, use VLC’s interactive zoom to crop one region.
This method does not mirror audio. Meta suggests connecting the headset’s headphone output to the computer as a workaround. Meta also says to expect a 2 to 4 second delay, and notes that the image may become pixelated if the stream remains connected but unused for a while.
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On a PC VR setup, check the game and runtime for a mirror or spectator window; not every game provides one, and the headset’s direct display connection does not guarantee that its view is duplicated on the monitor. SteamVR’s black headset display troubleshooting page explains Direct Mode, which keeps a headset from being recognized as a monitor. It also advises checking that the monitor and link box connect to the same GPU and to working ports. Those are headset-detection and display-troubleshooting checks, not instructions for creating a spectator mirror.
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Do not confuse Steam Link with headset-to-monitor casting
Meta’s Steam Link listing describes wireless streaming of a Steam library from a PC running Steam and SteamVR to supported Quest headsets. It lists Quest 2, Quest 3, and Quest Pro, with a 5 GHz Wi-Fi 5 router as the minimum and Wi-Fi 6 or 6E plus a wired PC network connection as recommended. This is PC-to-headset streaming; it is not a universal way to put a standalone Quest app on a monitor.
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Sony documents PS VR2 PC use through the PlayStation VR2 PC adapter, a DisplayPort 1.4 connection, USB 3.0, Steam, SteamVR, and the PlayStation VR2 App. Compatibility depends on the PC’s hardware and specifications, so check Sony’s current PS VR2 support requirements before buying an adapter or connecting the headset. Sony also lists PC-use differences from PS5: HDR output, eye tracking, headset feedback, and adaptive triggers are unavailable on PC.
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Make the monitor view easier to watch
- Choose one eye or a crop when appropriate. A full two-eye image can look like two separate lenses; Rift mirror options and VLC zoom provide ways to change the presentation.
- Set expectations about delay. The Meta Quest ADB method has a stated 2 to 4 second delay, so it is not a real-time substitute for the wearer’s view.
- Plan audio separately for Quest ADB mirroring. The method has no audio mirroring; Meta’s suggested workaround is a cable from the headset headphone output to the computer.
- Check the exact platform instructions. A mirror available in one runtime, game, or headset does not establish support in another.
Troubleshoot the most common mismatch
- The mirror tool will not open or show the game: Check that the tool matches the platform. OculusMirror is documented for Rift PC VR, not as a universal headset mirror.
- The Quest stream is not visible: Confirm the headset is connected over USB data, developer mode and ADB are set up, and
adb devicesrecognizes the headset. Follow Meta’s current procedure for starting the stream. - The Quest image looks like two circles: That is the documented default two-eye presentation. Use VLC’s interactive zoom to crop a region.
- The SteamVR headset is black or not detected: Use the Steam troubleshooting steps for Direct Mode and verify that the monitor and link box connect to the same GPU and working ports. This will not, by itself, create a spectator view.
- PS VR2 does not work with the PC: Check the adapter, DisplayPort, USB, software, and PC compatibility requirements on Sony’s support page.
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