I put up a post on reddit about this too but sadly haven't found a solution yet.My friend recently gave me his old oculus rift s, he'd been meaning to sell it but just never got around to it. Itd been sitting in his car for a couple months but theres no visual damage. It also didn't come with any instructions and he doesnt remember how to set it up because he hadnt used it in ages.I updated all my drivers on my pc and graphics card (nvidia geforce 3060) and it keeps getting stuck on the Headset Sensor Check. This model didn't come with external sensors.My pc recognised the oculus as two separate audio outputs but no video outputs. Ive paired the controllers just fine but Ive tried EVERYTHING to get it through the sensor check.Tried all my usb ports (two 3.0 ports and even my 2.0 ports just out of desperation and to say I had tried)tried all display ports (including the one normally reserved for my monitor)Updated windowsupdated graphics card driversUSB port drivers are up to dateI have no background recording software like nvidia shadowplay that would impact itdeleted and reinstalled the meta link app three times, restarting my pc each time.bought a powered USB 3.0 hub that has a data cable that plugs into my 3.0 slots in the hopes that it just needed more juice than my chipset was providing (the sensor tests lasted much longer since I've been using this, but otherwise no change in result)What else can I do before I just give up and chuck it in the eWaste? The display port test came up with no errors and its happy that im using the correct usb port and type.This last window sometimes tells me that the DisplayPort is not connected but the initial screen always gives me the green ticks even if I don't change anything. Is there no way to find an error code or more detail than just "sensors can't track headset"?I've skipped the device setup and tried to just go into guardian setup to see if I can get more information and when I put on the headset I see two coloured lines on the floor that appear or disappear depending on how I interact with the controllers, and there's a small loading symbol in the centre of my view. those two coloured lines appear on the floor and when I move my head it tracks the movement perfectly, but just won't display anything more than that.I'm running Windows 11 and my Rift S firmware version is 2.2.0 if that helps anything.

New Participant

Question

Oculus Rift S Failing Headset Sensor Check

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
July 18, 2025
33 replies
3102 views

I put up a post on reddit about this too but sadly haven't found a solution yet.

My friend recently gave me his old oculus rift s, he'd been meaning to sell it but just never got around to it. Itd been sitting in his car for a couple months but theres no visual damage. It also didn't come with any instructions and he doesnt remember how to set it up because he hadnt used it in ages.

I updated all my drivers on my pc and graphics card (nvidia geforce 3060) and it keeps getting stuck on the Headset Sensor Check. This model didn't come with external sensors.

My pc recognised the oculus as two separate audio outputs but no video outputs. Ive paired the controllers just fine but Ive tried EVERYTHING to get it through the sensor check.

Tried all my usb ports (two 3.0 ports and even my 2.0 ports just out of desperation and to say I had tried)
tried all display ports (including the one normally reserved for my monitor)
Updated windows
updated graphics card drivers
USB port drivers are up to date
I have no background recording software like nvidia shadowplay that would impact it
deleted and reinstalled the meta link app three times, restarting my pc each time.
bought a powered USB 3.0 hub that has a data cable that plugs into my 3.0 slots in the hopes that it just needed more juice than my chipset was providing (the sensor tests lasted much longer since I've been using this, but otherwise no change in result)

What else can I do before I just give up and chuck it in the eWaste? The display port test came up with no errors and its happy that im using the correct usb port and type.

This last window sometimes tells me that the DisplayPort is not connected but the initial screen always gives me the green ticks even if I don't change anything.
Is there no way to find an error code or more detail than just "sensors can't track headset"?

I've skipped the device setup and tried to just go into guardian setup to see if I can get more information and when I put on the headset I see two coloured lines on the floor that appear or disappear depending on how I interact with the controllers, and there's a small loading symbol in the centre of my view. those two coloured lines appear on the floor and when I move my head it tracks the movement perfectly, but just won't display anything more than that.

I'm running Windows 11 and my Rift S firmware version is 2.2.0 if that helps anything.

S

SnizzlingtonAuthor

New Participant

UPDATE

it's now telling me the usb connection isn't working and I haven't moved anything an inch since I uploaded my initial post.

Is there any way I can just get a replacement cable? it seems like that might be the issue based on it throwing up errors and warnings after ages of being just fine when I don't change or move anything.

steve40

Honored Contributor

If you haven't done this yet, try unplugging the optical USB cable from the headset itself, then plug it back in to the headset. The connection problem might be on the headset end rather than on the PC end of the cable.

The Rift S cable is optical and it is imperative not to bend, stand on, or kink it in any way, otherwise the headset becomes useless. Unfortunately, Meta stopped selling replacement cables for Rift S several years ago. I've seen one or two cables being sold online at highly inflated prices - about the same price as a new Quest 3S 🤪!

MetaStoreHelp

Community Manager

Hey Snizzlington!

We understand you're having trouble getting your PC to track your Rift S and we certainly don't want anything going in the eWaste, so we're here to lend a hand!

Here are some more steps you can try:

1. Reseat USB cable from the computer (as prompted by the error message) if you haven't already
2. As steve_40 suggested, it's a great idea to reseat the cable from the headset, too
3. Reboot your computer
4. Check your lighting (is your play location well-lit, but not too bright? Is there enough contrast between objects in the room?)
5. Check your Windows camera settings:

Open your Windows settings.
Click Privacy.
Click Camera.
Change the Allow apps to access your camera setting to On.
Once you have updated your settings, unplug the headset cables from your computer and plug them back in

If those steps don't resolve your issue, let us know and we'll be here to help!

If you're the author of a thread, remember to mark a reply as the Accepted Solution to help others find answers!

V

VinCulprit

New Participant

Tried this out too, no go for me. Funny thing it was working just fine till the meta link software updated. Then it lost head tracking at each startup on steam.

MetaStoreHelp

Community Manager

Hey VinCulprit, we appreciate you letting us know about your Rift S issue!

We're keen to get you back online, and so we can take a closer look at what's going on, please get in touch over Private Message by selecting our name to get to our profile page, and click "Send a Message" to get in touch!

Please remember, you must be signed into the community first to send us a private message.

We hope to hear from you soon!

If you're the author of a thread, remember to mark a reply as the Accepted Solution to help others find answers!

V

VinCulprit

New Participant

Check the lighting:

lighting is good bright lights and set up in the same area it was at before the issue started.

Check your Windows camera settings:

confirmed camera settings are set to allow no changes here.

Reseat USB cable from the computer.

Reseat usb cable, no difference, ports were working before, tried different ports and plugs.

Reseat cable from the headset.

Reseated from headset, no difference

Make sure your GPU is compatible.

Vega card compatible, was working before

more info

Went ahead and did a clean reinstall of windows no difference

on windows 10 unable to update to 11.

dont have another windows computer to test it with.

was working fine before but picked it up to use after maybe 2 months and lost tracking reinstalled drivers and software and wouldn’t pass sensor check or set up

P

Pepzki

New Participant

I have exactly same problem. Tryed figure it out 1,5 years for now..

MetaStoreHelp

Community Manager

Hey there,

We saw your post and wanted to lend a hand!

Experiencing issues with your Rift S headset failing on the sensor check can be far from ideal, especially when you've just got home after a long day and all you want to do is to relax and enjoy some of your favorite games! We would love to provide you with necessary troubleshooting steps to fix this issue so you can get back into the Metaverse issue free! Please follow the steps below:

1. Reseat USB cable from the computer.

2. Reseat cable from the headset.

3. Restart the computer (if on chat, do this last after gathering log files)

4. Check the lighting:

Is the play location well lit? (Turn on more light)
Is the play location too bright? (Adjust the intensity, or amount of light.
Texture is also a factor with tracking. If there is not enough contrast between objects in the room, this could lead to tracking issues.

5. Check your Windows camera settings:

Open your Windows settings.
Click Privacy.
Click Camera.
Change the Allow apps to access your camera setting to On.
Once you have updated your settings, unplug the headset cables from your computer and plug them back in.

If the above steps don't work please don't hesitate to get in touch with us privately! Please select our name to get to our profile page, or click here: https://metaque.st/CommunitySupport.

Next, click "Send a Message" to privately message us!

Please remember, you must be signed into the community first to send us a private message.

We hope to hear from you soon!

If you're the author of a thread, remember to mark a reply as the Accepted Solution to help others find answers!

K

knightmareni

New Participant

hi i am having trouble with it failing sensor checks on my new pc but the old pc it works on with no issue i have tried unplugging restarting reseating but it wont work

B

bigtuffnhairy

New Participant

I, too, am having the exact same problem. I haven't used the headset for about a year, and when I tried it this morning, I encountered the same issue: Heatset Sensor Check. Cant find a replacement cable anywhere online.

T

telpenar

New Participant

Same exact issue, haven't used Rift s in a while, now with link app updated get the failing sensors check message. Used to work on exactly the same system. Tried all the variants of unplugging, reinstalling etc.

B

bigtuffnhairy

New Participant

To a MetaStoreHelp Community Manager - please advise as to how I can make direct contact, as I and many others still do not have a solution to this issue that seems to be relatively recent. You mention that we must be signed in to the community to send private messages. Am I not already if I'm logged into this forum? Regards, a very frustrated Oculus RIFT S now not user.

Choleni

Honored Contributor

Hi bigtuffnhairy 🙂

MetaStoreHelp is absent from the forum since months, sending private messages makes no sense, they won't reply.

You can contact Meta support via email, chat or WhatsApp HERE

B

bigtuffnhairy

New Participant

Hi Choleni,

Thank you, though annoying, help has left the forum. That link is very helpful. 👍

Y

YeOldeRustyElf

New Participant

Exact same issue here - was working just fine, then the software was updated to Meta Horizon Link and the sensors suddenly don't detect anything. Tried all troubleshooting issues listed on here: driver updates, cable reseating, software reinstallation, different USB/display ports, checked camera privacy settings, lighting changes. Headset definitely has power, as I can both cables have ticks, and I can see the display showing the three loading dots, but sensors won't detect anything.

T

Trav392

New Participant

Any resolution here, having the same experience today.

S

SDUBZ

New Participant

would be nice if meta would give us the old rifts setup exe before it was meta quest link
was working before i had to reset windows but now fails everything thanks meta for giving us rift s users junk software that is built for quest not rift headsets

T

Trav392

New Participant

I've opened a support case, I'll try to report back the resolution.

T

Twoforthepink

New Participant

I tried everything in this thread and nothing worked. I've been dealing with this since a meta update nearly 2 years ago. We were told we wouldn't need to link account. Meta lied about that. Then they can't figure out an error that started when they rolled out an update.

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