Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
Need to troubleshoot your Meta Quest 3 or want to restore the device to its original out-of-box software settings? We’re going to be showing you how to factory reset your Meta Quest 3 headset. Anyone with the Occulus Quest 2 or 3 should find these instructions handy.
In a nutshell, to factory reset your Meta Quest, hold down the Power button and Volume Down button for at least 10 seconds until you hear a vibration. Not to be confused with a general reboot that clears the headset’s active memory, a factory reset clears literally everything. So, make sure you’ve saved everything that you don’t want to lose!
Other than general performance improvements and troubleshooting, a factory reset is important to perform if you’re selling your headset secondhand. It wipes all your personal data, frees up storage and helps the OS run smoothly again.
Things to do before the factory reset
Here are some suggestions and very strong recommendations to minimize potential drama and faff time following your factory reset. If you’re factory resetting your Meta Quest 2 and thinking about an upgrade, you may like our hands-on Meta Quest 3 review where we discuss what’s new with Meta’s latest headset.
Finally, restart your Meta Quest headset before proceeding
Shut down then restart your headset for a clean factory reset. In case there are any bugs, resetting your Meta Quest will clear the most recent data and ensure the software is running smoothly.
Finally, restart your Meta Quest headset before proceeding
Shut down then restart your headset for a clean factory reset. In case there are any bugs, resetting your Meta Quest will clear the most recent data and ensure the software is running smoothly.
Make a note of control settings, interface options and any other personal configurations
Save some screenshots of any custom settings you’ve made. It might include custom texture settings and other display settings. It’s not an essential step, but might save you some time.
Make a list of games, apps and media you’ve purchased
Another time-saving suggestion: Make a list of all the media you’ve downloaded so you can re-download everything quicker (don’t worry, you don’t have to buy anything twice).
Finally, restart your Meta Quest headset before proceeding
Shut down then restart your headset for a clean factory reset. In case there are any bugs, resetting your Meta Quest will clear the most recent data and ensure the software is running smoothly.
How to factory reset the Meta Quest headset
You’re on the home straight! Now that you’ve completed the preparatory steps, the actual reset process should be much quicker.
Time needed: 2 minutes
- Fully switch off the headset.
Select the “Power
- Wait 60 seconds after shutting down before proceeding.
This avoids any corruption from incomplete processes.
- Then, hold the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously.
Keep holding both buttons until the boot-up sequence begins.
- Hold the buttons for a further 10 seconds until the headset vibrates.
Once you see the Meta boot logo appear on screen, you can receive both buttons as the reset request has been received. You can now release both buttons.
- Wait for the reset to complete. This is a critical step.
The headset is now wiping all user data. This step can take up to a minute
- Wait for the “Welcome” screen.
Simply follow the on-screen instructions to reconfigure your freshly reset Quest 3 from scratch.
How to log back into Occulus after factory reset
Once you’ve followed the on-screen instructions (pairing your controllers, reconnecting to Wi-Fi), you’ll be prompted to log back into your Meta account. Once you’ve done this, you can start the process of redownloading your installed applications and games. You may also be interested in our roundup of the best Meta Quest 3 games.
Frequently asked questions
Do you keep your games if you factory reset an Occulus?
You don’t have to buy anything again, but you’ll have to redownload everything after the reset. We recommend making a list of every game and application you have downloaded to reduce faff time.
Should you factory reset a Meta Quest headset before reselling it?
Yes, factory resetting your VR headset is important for data security and minimising the risk of software bugs. Meta also recommends deleting your Meta account after the factory reset for extra security.
