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New Participant
January 27, 2022
Question

Can't disable Xbox controller from interacting with my headset

When a controller is connected to my PC while using (wired) Oculus Link and I am viewing my monitors from within the headset, there will be a dot on the screen that follows my head movements. If I press 'A' on my Xbox Elite 2 Controller, it will act as if I left-clicked where that dot is, 'B' brings up the In-Headset keyboard context menu, left-trigger moves my in headset window, and right-trigger seems to snap my cursor back to the dot.

 

The thing is, I don't want my controller interacting with my headset at all. I want to use my headset, with my computer viewing my monitors in headset and play a game with my controller without those inputs that were meant for the game, also interact with the headset.

 

Another example is that if I'm playing something like Elite Dangerous, which is (very!) VR capable, but needs more input capability like the mouse and keyboard or bunches and bunches of mapped buttons on a controller. To be honest, the controller is easier for games like Elite Dangerous for most tasks but I can't have my 'A' button interfacing with the headset. Not related to Elite, but I also don't need my left-trigger to suddenly start launching in-headset window that I'm currently looking at all over the place.

 

If I need input within my headset, I will grab my headset-controllers that I've set safely just off to the side, or if I can't find them, I can take off my headset to look for them. What's more, if I'm going to interface with my computer's monitors, I'll either be close enough to the computer to use the mouse and keyboard or I'll put back on and use the headset's controllers. I'm honestly not sure how this wasn't a user scenario when designing it. I've seen other posts from years ago and there hasn't been any change in this behavior to accommodate this scenario.  

I understand that this doesn't fit all persons because maybe the computer is far away from the Oculus and the only input you have in your hands is the controller but, in my situation, I need the ability to disable that. Is it possible to do this?

34 replies

New Participant
February 4, 2024

For everyone here if you still get alerts like I just did. My work around was literally just using "steam link" app. It did exactly what I wanted the oculus link to do. It can stream by app or monitors, on PC.

New Participant
March 12, 2024

I find it amazing and disheartening that after over 2 years, this is still an issue that doesn't have a resolution aside from using 3rd party software.  

long way of saying "I'm also having this issue and would really like a way to disable 3rd party controllers when using Quest Link"

 

MetaStoreHelp
Community Manager
March 14, 2024

Thank you for letting us know about your experience. We love getting feedback from our users because it lets us know what we're doing right and what we can improve. 

 

We recommend sharing your thoughts and requests on our Ideas Forum, where our product teams watch for the hottest ideas. We aren't always able to respond, but we do love hearing all your ideas!

If you're the author of a thread, remember to mark a reply as the Accepted Solution to help others find answers!
New Participant
August 4, 2024
I faced such a problem:
I can't disconnect the Xbox Gamepad from the headset when I use the Meta Link app for PC and connect the headset to the PC using Air Link. 
 
In the Meta Link app > Devices, there is a "connect" sub-item where you are prompted to connect a gamepad. As an experiment, I decided to do it. Now, when I use AirLink or a wired connection, the controller always sends commands to Meta Quest 2 and the PC at the same time. I cannot remove this device from the list in the desktop application. I've deleted the device from the system, reconnected it, downloaded the mobile app as advised in other similar threads, but there are no settings to disconnect the gamepad from Meta Quest 2. 
 
Uninstalling and reinstalling Meta Link didn't help. 
I can't use the gamepad properly because the keys I need are spilling over into Meta Quest and interfering with the game running on the PC
 
New Participant
November 2, 2024

Hey there,

Having just bought a meta Quest 3, to find that I'm now part of a growing number of annoyed users with this controller interfering issue. This is a big let down. I find it hard to believe there isn't any kind of fix for this, without directly hacking it. 

This has to be resolved soon, otherwise I might try and start a campaign against their software support and bug fixing priorities. Wouldn't surprise me if they have just 1 guy in charge of bug fixes who only works a few days a year on it. 

If any of you guys are keen I'd be up for signing some kind of petition to get this resolved. Or get my money back.

New Participant
January 26, 2025

this issue still exist 

New Participant
June 27, 2025

Same problem still. My nephew brought his headset during his summer visit. Decided to try it out to see if I wanted it. After seeing this persistent issue, with all responses from the company being some variarion, I will NEVER be buying anything from them. Glad I found out about this before buying

Honored Contributor
June 27, 2025

Idgaffta wrote:

Same problem still. My nephew brought his headset during his summer visit. Decided to try it out to see if I wanted it. After seeing this persistent issue, with all responses from the company being some variarion, I will NEVER be buying anything from them. Glad I found out about this before buying


For goodness sake, if you don't want your Xbox controller to interact with your Quest headset, just don't use it, lol!  If it's wired to your PC via usb then just disconnect it.  If it's connected via your PC BlueTooth then just temporarily disable BT.  With my Xbox wireless controller I just press and hold the top middle X button to turn it off.

Like many users complaints, these can be fixed with a little google research imho.

i9 13900K water cooled, RTX4090, Z790 MB w/wifi6e, 64Gb 6400 ram, 2x2TB SSD, 1000W PSU, Win 11, QPro, Q3, w/Link and Air Link, Vive Pro1 with 2x2.0 base stations, Etsy lens mod and Index Controllers
New Participant
August 12, 2025

Yeah because disabling the Xbox control is going to fix the problem. Just play Xbox games on quest 3 with mind control like everyone else! 🤦‍♂️

New Participant
July 4, 2025

I’m incredibly frustrated by how Meta Quest 3 hijacks Xbox controller input when playing non-VR games through Air Link. I’m using a regular USB Xbox controller plugged directly into my PC to play a racing game. Every time I touch the analog stick, instead of steering the car, the view shifts or the virtual screen resizes. It's as if the headset thinks I want to adjust the VR environment... while I’m clearly trying to play a fullscreen PC game.

Some buttons work as expected, but crucial ones like the stick and triggers behave as VR UI controls instead of going to the game. This ruins the experience and makes some games totally unplayable. I’ve spent a lot of money on this headset and software, and I just want to use it as a display without interference. Xbox controller support is part of the advertised Quest ecosystem, so why does it break under such a common setup?

Please add an option to disable VR input handling for non-VR games during Link/Air Link sessions, or at least allow us to whitelist applications that should receive exclusive controller access. I shouldn’t need to buy third-party software or hack around this just to play a PC game in VR.

New Participant
July 26, 2025

Three years and still no solution.  No help.

I should be able to stream a game and use my gamepad to control the game, instead Meta Quest Link takes over the gamepad and causes its input to do weird things and makes the game unplayable. There is still no way to disable the "controller" device on MQL. There should be a simple toggle to disconnect it from MQL so the game can use the gamepad normally.

Honored Contributor
July 27, 2025

One way around this is to use a non xinput device like a PS5 controller instead. The Meta software explicitly searches only for xinput controllers, not general gamepads (which use DirectInput). I just tested the current software, my gamesir cyclone 2 (in xinput mode) is picked up by quest link, but my PS5 controller isn't.

There REALLY should be an option to ignore certain devices though.

TomCgcmfc wrote:

For goodness sake, if you don't want your Xbox controller to interact with your Quest headset, just don't use it, lol!

No, that's not the issue here. They want to use the controller to control flat screen games viewed through the remote desktop without the Quest software intercepting the controller and messing with the remote desktop. I've run into this myself.

 

 

Author: Oculus Monitor , Auto Oculus Touch , Forum Dark Mode , Phantom Touch Remover , X-Plane Fixer Hardware: Threadripper 1950x, MSI Gaming Trio 2080TI, Asrock X399 Taich Headsets: Wrap 1200VR, DK1, DK2, CV1, Rift-S, GearVR, Go, Quest, Quest 2, Reverb G2, Quest 3
Honored Contributor
July 27, 2025

Ya, I guess because I always have my touch controllers off to the side, easily accessable, when I go from games that use my Xbox 1 wireless gamepad (BT to my PC), this automatically swings back to controllers.  Same thing with flight sim flight sticks.   Wxactly the same thing with SteamVR with games that use Xbox controllers.

This has worked perfectly for many years, for me anyway.  Pretty hard to make every situation perfect for all I guess, lol!

i9 13900K water cooled, RTX4090, Z790 MB w/wifi6e, 64Gb 6400 ram, 2x2TB SSD, 1000W PSU, Win 11, QPro, Q3, w/Link and Air Link, Vive Pro1 with 2x2.0 base stations, Etsy lens mod and Index Controllers
New Participant
July 29, 2025

You are very clearly not understanding the issue.

This problem has a very simple solution: allow users to disable gamepad input on the headset. 

And while they're at it, they need to let us disable gaze cursor crap. 

New Participant
September 4, 2025

Hello. I see still no solution for it. Tried PC game and when using controller its moves around  and zooming picture. Cant remove controller from quest link app.

New Participant
September 12, 2025

Hey kojack​ , check it out: XInput Blocker, it worked for me