This issue can be frustrating as it keeps you away from enjoying your VR games and other content on your system. If you are one of the affected users, try the fixes we have mentioned in this post.
Why is my SteamVR headset not detected?
Here are the potential causes why your SteamVR headset is not detected on your system:
The problem is most likely to be caused due to loose connection. So, make sure your headset is properly connected to your PC to avoid this issue.Lack of due administrator privilege to run the Steam app can also cause the issue at hand. Hence, if the scenario is applicable, run the Steam client as an administrator to fix the issue.It can also be caused because of the outdated and corrupted monitors and USB drivers. So, try updating your device drivers and then connect your headset to your PC.In case you have enabled the USB power management feature in SteamVR, it can cause the headset detection issue. Hence, turn off USB power management to fix the problem.
You can try a suitable fix based on the scenario best suited to you.
Fix SteamVR Headset Not Detected issue
Here are the fixes you can try if your Steam VR is not detecting the headset on your Windows PC:
1] Reboot your headset and PC
The first thing you should do to fix the issue is to restart your headset and PC. In multiple cases, a simple restart works wonders. So, before trying your hands at advanced troubleshooting methods, try restarting SteamVR and then see if the issue is fixed or not. If that doesn’t work, reboot your headset as well as your computer and then check if the problem is fixed or not. To restart your headset, follow the below steps: If restarting the devices doesn’t work, try the next potential fix to resolve the problem.
2] Run Steam as an administrator
The next thing you can do to resolve the issue is to relaunch the Steam client as an administrator. In multiple instances, a lack of essential permissions to run Steam can prevent SteamVR to work properly. And, this can also result in the “SteamVR headset not detected” issue. So, if the scenario is applicable, try running the Steam app with administrator rights. You can simply navigate to the shortcut of Steam on your desktop and then press the right-click on it. After that, click on the Run as administrator option from the appeared context menu. Next, launch SteamVR and see if the headset is detected or not. If yes, you can make Steam run as an administrator whenever you open it. For that, you can try the below steps: If this scenario is not applicable to you, try the next potential fix to resolve it. Read: Fix Steam App Configuration Missing or Not available error.
3] Check if the headset is properly connected
If your headset is not properly connected to your computer, you will face the problem at hand. Hence, double-check your connections and make sure the headset is properly connected. You can try connecting your device to some other USB port and see if it resolved the issue. Try using the UBS 2.0 port to make the connection as the problem might be caused by some USB 3.0 and 3.1 chipsets. Additionally, try connecting your SteamVR headset directly to your computer. Another thing you can try is power cycle your Link Box. To do that, here are the steps to use: If the problem persists, you can move on to the next potential fix to resolve the issue. Read: Fix Shared IPC Compositor Connect Failed 306 on SteamVR.
4] Update your device drivers
This issue could be caused due to outdated device drivers on your PC, especially monitor and USB drivers. Hence, if the scenario is applicable, you can fix the issue by updating all your device drivers. Here are the methods to update your drivers: If you are facing the issue even with up-to-date device drivers, move on to the next potential solution to fix the problem. See: Shared IPC Compositor Invalid Connect Response (307) SteamVR error.
5] Turn off USB power management
The problem might be caused if you have enabled the SteamVR Power Management feature. This feature is a useful feature that basically turns off your USB devices when not in use, But, it may affect the headset detection and cause the issue at hand. Now, to disable the SteamVR Power Management feature, follow the steps: Try the next potential fix if the issue is not resolved yet. Read: How to fix SteamVR Error Code 436.
6] Opt into SteamVR Beta
You can consider using the beta version of SteamVR if the issue still persists. SteamVR Beta has many new features and is enrolled with bug fixes that might fix the issue at hand. You can try the below steps to opt into SteamVR beta: In case the problem still persists, we have one more fix for you. So, try the next potential fix to resolve the issue. See: An error occurred while installing or updating the Steam game.
7] Reinstall SteamVR
If none of the above solutions worked for you, try uninstalling and then reinstalling the SteamVR app. The problem might be caused due to an issue with the app itself. Hence, uninstall SteamVR via the Steam client. In the Steam app, go to LIBRARY and right-click on SteamVR. Then, press the Uninstall option from the context menu. Once the uninstallation is complete, reinstall SteamVR and then connect your headset. Hopefully, this will work for you if nothing else did. Hopefully, this helps you fix the problem.
Why is my VR headset not connecting?
Your VR headset might not be connected to the USB port properly. Hence, check your cable connections and make sure the headset is properly connected. You can also try some other USB port to connect the device as there might be an issue with the current USB port.
How do I add VR headset to Steam?
To add the SteamVR headset to Steam, firstly, launch the Steam client and install the SteamVR app. After that, plug in your VR-compatible headset to the PC and then wait until your SteamVR headset is detected and appeared. You can then try searching for your game on SteamVR and play it.
How do I fix Steam VR not working?
If your SteamVR is not working fine, try running the Steam app as an administrator. Other than that, try changing the PC power plan, updating your graphics driver, and disabling the SteamVR add-ons. In case the issue still persists, try opting into SteamVR beta or disabling the in-game overlay feature on Steam. Now read: SteamVR keeps telling to update the Graphics driver.
