Device: Meta Quest 3OS: Windows 11GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5080Connection: Air Link and USB Link (same behavior)Quest Link (both Air Link and USB Link) was working normally for months and was working earlier today.After ending a session and starting another one, Link stopped working completely.The headset is detected, the session initializes, but it freezes on the grey/purple Link screen and never reaches VR Home. Eventually the session drops or returns to the headset home.This is not a USB issue, not a network issue, and not a headset pairing issue.Important factsSame hardware and setup working for ~4 monthsWorked earlier todayNo hardware changeNo Windows reinstallNo BIOS changeNo GPU changeWhat I already triedReinstalled Meta Quest Link multiple timesFactory reset the Quest 3Removed all Oculus / Meta registry entriesClean GPU driver reinstall with DDUDowngraded NVIDIA driverTested both Air Link and USB LinkRepair installationRestarted all Meta/Oculus servicesReconfigured the headset from scratchNone of the above resolved the issue.Observed behaviorPC app detects the headsetSession enters VR modeStreaming loop startsGrey / purple Link screen appearsNo image is ever presentedSession freezes or terminatesThis indicates the session is created, but the compositor never presents a valid frame.Relevant log behaviorFrom Service.log and LinkClient.log (same timestamps):VR session initializesStreaming startsFrames may briefly decodeCompositor or transport fails shortly afterErrors such as:Failed to read display driver informationGraphics adapter state UNKNOWNElevated Shared Memory failed to initializeError -1002Registry/config access failures after reinstallThis points to a runtime or compositor state failure, not user configuration.Key pointThis did not degrade gradually. It stopped working suddenly today after previously working normally.That strongly suggests a silent Meta runtime update or a runtime state corruption that reinstall does not fully reset.Request to MetaPlease confirm whether there was a Quest Link / runtime update todayClarify how to perform a true clean runtime reset (not just reinstall)Confirm if there is a known issue with Link compositor initializationProvide a way to roll back the Quest Link runtimeAt the moment, Quest Link is completely unusable despite supported hardware and exhaustive troubleshooting.I can provide full Service and LinkClient logs with timestamps if needed.

New Participant

Solved

Quest Link / Air Link suddenly stopped working today – session never starts

88 replies
8720 views

Device: Meta Quest 3
OS: Windows 11
GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5080
Connection: Air Link and USB Link (same behavior)

Quest Link (both Air Link and USB Link) was working normally for months and was working earlier today.
After ending a session and starting another one, Link stopped working completely.

The headset is detected, the session initializes, but it freezes on the grey/purple Link screen and never reaches VR Home. Eventually the session drops or returns to the headset home.

This is not a USB issue, not a network issue, and not a headset pairing issue.

Important facts

Same hardware and setup working for ~4 months
Worked earlier today
No hardware change
No Windows reinstall
No BIOS change
No GPU change

What I already tried

Reinstalled Meta Quest Link multiple times
Factory reset the Quest 3
Removed all Oculus / Meta registry entries
Clean GPU driver reinstall with DDU
Downgraded NVIDIA driver
Tested both Air Link and USB Link
Repair installation
Restarted all Meta/Oculus services
Reconfigured the headset from scratch

None of the above resolved the issue.

Observed behavior

PC app detects the headset
Session enters VR mode
Streaming loop starts
Grey / purple Link screen appears
No image is ever presented
Session freezes or terminates

This indicates the session is created, but the compositor never presents a valid frame.

Relevant log behavior
From Service.log and LinkClient.log (same timestamps):

VR session initializes
Streaming starts
Frames may briefly decode
Compositor or transport fails shortly after
Errors such as:

Failed to read display driver information
Graphics adapter state UNKNOWN
Elevated Shared Memory failed to initialize
Error -1002
Registry/config access failures after reinstall

This points to a runtime or compositor state failure, not user configuration.

Key point
This did not degrade gradually. It stopped working suddenly today after previously working normally.
That strongly suggests a silent Meta runtime update or a runtime state corruption that reinstall does not fully reset.

Request to Meta

Please confirm whether there was a Quest Link / runtime update today
Clarify how to perform a true clean runtime reset (not just reinstall)
Confirm if there is a known issue with Link compositor initialization
Provide a way to roll back the Quest Link runtime

At the moment, Quest Link is completely unusable despite supported hardware and exhaustive troubleshooting.

I can provide full Service and LinkClient logs with timestamps if needed.

D

DarkNinjaaAnswer

New Participant

For anyone using their Quest over Wi-Fi, I’ve found a temporary workaround that should get it working until Meta fixes the issue.

You’ll need to modify your firewall’s outbound rules to block two specific connections. I’ve attached an image below highlighting exactly which two connections need to be set to Block.

Make sure to allow the connections again before shutting down or restarting.

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A

aRchMaGe333

Participant

I have a double (tripple?) issue - first BitDefender started detecting parts of Meta Link software as malicious, sending files to quarantine. Then as you noted, Link hangs on the entry screen. I tried to Repair/Reinstall via a freshly downloaded Setup.exe for Link. It keeps failing and telling me to restart. The workaround probably won't solve my problem since it needs to be connected to the internet to install itself. What the HELL do I do?

O

ohommes

Participant

I have the same issue and the network disconnect works! Such a shame that phone home code breaks PC Link on a long weekend. Reddit has a nice explanation why it broke with the latency for the LibraryManager GraphQL. I am just very surprised that a phone home call to Meta is even needed for playing local PC VR games. The scares me that if that back-end server ever gets yanked or Meta decides to stop support in VR then it is Game Over! Why the need for this connection to their back-end?

W

willmodo

New Participant

Far too often we have to deal with crap like this from meta

C

Compando

New Participant

Agreed!

C

Compando

New Participant

Thank you for this sir!!! Customer support is so useless for meta they just told me to wait for a new update or buy a new headset. They really need to make it possible for users to choose which software version they want to run since new releases completely break so so frequently. I will never recommend a meta product to anyone

T

turnipswede

New Participant

100% I'm switching to a different headset next time.

B

bryannewport7

New Participant

same issue!!! sad that they break more than they fix sh** now days.

D

DarkNinjaaAnswer

New Participant

For anyone using their Quest over Wi-Fi, I’ve found a temporary workaround that should get it working until Meta fixes the issue.

You’ll need to modify your firewall’s outbound rules to block two specific connections. I’ve attached an image below highlighting exactly which two connections need to be set to Block.

Make sure to allow the connections again before shutting down or restarting.

L

luizeduardoguaraldiAuthor

New Participant

This works very well!! No need disconnecting from wifi or ethernet cable! Perfect!

Well done!

D

DarkNinjaa

New Participant

Make sure to allow the connections again before shutting down or restarting, I ran into a little issue because I didn't lol

T

TheRealNinjaKid

Participant

they are pushing out a fix right now

B

Baron210815

Up and Coming

I'm having the same issue today. hadnt tried Link since a December update. I hope this can be patched. Seems I tried everything. Nothing works for me.

T

TirtaKart

New Participant

just tried again a few seconds ago, it still do not work.

very dissappointing.

to make the matter worse, I have emailed customer service and they seem to not aware of this problem.

and no I do not get the ten dollars credit.

up to their 3rd reply, they keep asking me to:

Restart your headset and computer.
Update your Meta Quest software and drivers.
Disable any firewall or antivirus software that might be interfering with your Link connection.
Uninstall and reinstall the Meta Horizon Link app on your computer.
Log out of the Meta Horizon Link app and then log back in.
Update your NVIDIA or AMD graphics drivers to the latest version

eventhough I have explained the problem and point them to this discussion and I have already told them I am on the latest fw and do not have this problem up to last week.

I suspect they have changed their CS with AI.

I definitely thinking more than twice to buy another META product again.

.

O

ohommes

Participant

This week an update was pushed to my machine for the Meta Link software and with that I can connect again like normal without doing the Network disable and enable step. So for me it looks solved with the latest Meta Link software from this week.

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