Meta Quest HDMI Link Lets You Connect HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C Devices to Meta Quest 3
Meta Quest 3 is a “standalone” headset, which means you can catch a live concert or comedy show, play immersive games, and hang out with friends from around the world—no wires required. But we like to think of it as part of a broader ecosystem, too.
That philosophy extends all the way back to 2019 when we launched the Link Cable, enabling VR enthusiasts to connect the original Quest headset to their PC, if they wanted. In the years since, we’ve made that PC connection easier with Air Link, which lets you wirelessly stream PC content to your Meta Quest headset, and we doubled-down on mixed reality so you can blend the physical and virtual worlds.
Today, we’re excited to announce and release Meta Quest HDMI Link for Meta Quest 2, 3, and Pro. Our goal is to once again enable you to connect your headset to a whole new category of devices.
HDMI Link lets you connect your Meta Quest headset to devices with an HDMI or DisplayPort output, including handheld PCs or consoles, laptops, and more. With HDMI Link, you can then display this 2D content in VR on a massive low-latency “screen,” similar to the Theater View we released in our recent v67 software update.
Roommate using the TV? Staying in a hotel and want to play games on a big screen? No problem—with HDMI Link, your favorite games are there in your headset. HDMI Link outputs games at 1080p with near-zero latency on a screen that you can resize and reposition as needed.
Like we said, it also works with laptops and phones. Trapped on a flight and want to watch a movie, or maybe get some work done without anyone looking over your shoulder? Most content should display seamlessly through HDMI Link, whether you want to play or be productive. (Note: Certain apps—especially streaming apps—utilize built-in copy protection software that may interfere with HDMI Link.)
There are other options that are easier to use under ideal circumstances. Air Link, for instance, is great if you have reliable WiFi. The same goes for Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), which is an excellent option for 2D gaming on Quest when available. HDMI Link is great for situations where the WiFi is spotty, though—and the only option when there’s no internet at all. It also supports many devices that would otherwise be unavailable on Quest.
Setup
Now, some caveats. HDMI Link does require additional third-party hardware—specifically, a UVC and UAC compatible capture card and any associated cables (USB 3.0 recommended, see below). It’s basically plug-and-play, but not quite as easy as setting up Air Link, for instance, so we’re releasing HDMI Link on App Lab for now.
That said, the setup process isn’t too difficult. All you need to do is:
- Install Meta Quest HDMI Link on your headset.
- Connect your source device to your capture card using a simple HDMI cable, a USB-C to HDMI cable, or a Lightning to HDMI cable, depending on your device’s outputs.
- (Optional) Run USB-C power to your capture card, if available, to keep your headset charged during use.
- Connect your headset to the capture card using a USB-A female to USB-C male cable.
- Turn on the headset, grant the necessary permissions, and enjoy.
More Options for Everyone
We’re very excited to get HDMI Link into the community’s hands and hear how people use it—be it for gaming on the go, work, entertainment, or something we haven’t even predicted. We’ve long envisioned VR as a general computing platform, and that means ensuring Quest works and communicates seamlessly with the other devices you use and rely on daily.
HDMI Link is our latest step to make the next computing platform a reality—and we’re confident that Meta Quest 3 remains the best value in both VR and MR at just $499.99 USD.
You can download Meta Quest HDMI Link on App Lab to get started—though remember, you’ll also need a compatible capture card and the associated cabling to connect your devices to your headset.
The app streams video and audio content to Meta Quest devices from a USB Video Class (UVC) compatible USB Video Capture Card accessory.
This feature supports Meta Quest 2, 3, and Pro.
UVC (USB Video Class) compatible USB Capture cards which support 1080p capture and output resolution. USB 3.0 cards are recommended.
You can install the app on your Meta Quest headset from the Meta Quest Store.
Capture cards do not display video if the HDMI signal has HDCP protection enabled.
UVC-compatible USB Capture cards which support 1080p capture and output resolution. We recommend USB 3.0 cards for the best experience.
Android apps that communicate directly with USB devices require the same camera permissions to access UVC devices as with any regular camera app.
The screen resolution is 1920x1080. For optimal experience, it is recommended to specify the source resolution to be the same by using a capture card which can capture 1080p content at 60fps.
Try disconnecting and reconnecting the capture card to your headset. Some capture cards have more than one HDMI and DisplayPort ports. Make sure you are using the right input port. Also, capture cards do not display video if the HDMI signal has HDCP protection enabled.
This could happen due to a poor quality capture card or USB 2.0 cables. USB 3.0 speed (SuperSpeed) setup is recommended.
Try disconnecting and reconnecting the capture card to your headset. Make sure the capture card is UVC compatible. Check the user manual for correct input connection, as some cards have multiple HDMI and DisplayPort ports. Also, note that capture cards won't display video if the HDMI signal has HDCP protection enabled. If this doesn't work, contact the manufacturer of the capture card.
