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hobyvh
Up and Coming
September 5, 2024
Question

Quest 3 Hand Tracking not reliably starting

Since upgrading to the Quest 3 I'm having trouble getting the hand tracking to start when I wake the headset and when I start an app that uses hand tracking. Frequently when I put on the headset, waving my hands in front of the cameras does nothing. Also at times when the hand tracking is working in the main interface, when I launch an app that can use hand tracking, the app doesn't show my hands being tracked.

The only thing I've found so far that seems to work is picking up one or both controllers so they become active and visible--then putting them down when I see the hand tracking is in effect. Unsuccessful things I've tried are changing the hand tracking delay setting, putting it in and out of sleep, and restarting the headset. Continuing to wait and wave does nothing.

Previously with the Quest 2, I could just put on the headset and wave my hands, then the hand tracking would start reliably and stay active as long as I didn't start moving a controller around. Everything else about the Quest 3 seems to be better except for this.

Is this a new bug that's cropped up in a system update? Something that only effects the Quest 3? A weird change in the OS that expects us to pick up our controllers before hand tracking will start? Is there a fix for this?

    30 replies

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    CarpeGato
    New Participant
    June 29, 2025

    I have the same issue. My error occurs when i reboot the quest, i had to do a reboot because when i thought i could connect a device through the usb c, the quest wouldn't charge anymore and fortunately a reboot solved it, but then only the controllers worked, i tried everything and the only thing that solves it is a factory reset that i have to do almost EVERY TIME I REBOOT THE QUEST 3.

    Elohin
    New Participant
    June 30, 2025

    The hand tracking stop working 2 months ago after meta did another of its unnecessary and annoying updates. The update only made hand tracking stop working. I didn't see any more changes.

    ironsavior
    New Participant
    July 4, 2025

    I also have this problem, after link connection (which by the way is very unstable and prone to disconnect now) hand tracking is not re-enabled. 

    NeonChipmunk8563
    New Participant
    September 14, 2025

    I have a similar problem. What have you done with hand tracking? When will you fix it? I can't play VR games where I need hands. After connecting the AirLink, my hand tracking completely disappears, the headset only tracks the controllers, and if you pull out the batteries, nothing happens. Resetting does not help. After restarting, my hands work until I log back into AirLink😭

    Xypheron
    Inspiring
    September 16, 2025

    Are you on the PTC? I just got an update to a newer version of 81 and that seems to have resolved the issue of hand tracking not working after you connect to link.

    hobyvhAuthor
    Up and Coming
    October 31, 2025

    I've had a couple sessions since the v81 update where it's woken up to start tracking my hands before I even reach for the controllers. So that's a nice development.

    After using controllers, switching to hand tracking has seemed slightly better but still not reliable.

    I'll see how it continues to go, if it keeps behaving better or gets worse again.

    bhasvicvr
    New Participant
    December 8, 2025

    Super glad to find this thread and realise that this issue has gone unresolved for more than 2 years! Things like this and the hostile MDM launch makes me think our college needs to be looking at alternative devices.

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