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Randallyz450f
Up and Coming
August 1, 2025

anyone know how to navigate menus or apps in PCVR link without controllers?

  • August 1, 2025
  • 8 replies
  • 826 views

it seems that once i connect my headset to the PCVR link cable i can no longer yse hand tracking or navigate to anything on the virtual desktop.  

just to make sure we are on the same page. when i say virtual desktop i mean the gray grid world with the meta quest menu bar .

i'd like to navigate to open or start application wihtou my controller since i don't use them in flight sims.

is it even possible?

 

 

 

 

      8 replies

      RiverExplorer
      RiverExplorer
      Honored Contributor
      August 1, 2025

       With  many PC-VR games, or in PC-VR game mode, the XBox controller connected to the PC works for them. As it is really running on the PC, with the Oculus as the display.

       

       

      RiverExplorer.US]@gmail.com https://RiverExplorer.games
      Randallyz450fAuthor
      Up and Coming
      August 1, 2025

      thank you however i am not using xbox controller.  only my hotas for flight control.

      i do not care or i'm not asking about once you are in the game.   i am simply trying to navigate the Oculus display menu to start the game.

       

      if i could bind a key or something that would be great, but without the controller i have found no way to even launch a game, nor show desktop etc.

       

      RiverExplorer
      RiverExplorer
      Honored Contributor
      August 1, 2025

      And it does not work?           

      Does the game also run in PC only mode? If yes, those keys don't work - with the Oculus connected?

       

      RiverExplorer.US]@gmail.com https://RiverExplorer.games
      Randallyz450fAuthor
      Up and Coming
      August 2, 2025

      once again, i do not have any controllers so that means no Xbox, no meta quest. so i cannot test that out. if i can get the game started my hotas and all work.  

      so how do i get the game to run?  i take my headset off, then use a mouse to click on run the game. however this is if i have a monitor attached. 

      when i do not have a extra monitor, and just using the headset there is no way to start a game or navigate to anything unless you have a "meta quest controller"

      this is what i am asking, i'm trying to see if anyone knows how to navigate the menu once you plug the link cable if you do not have "controllers"

       

       

      RiverExplorer
      RiverExplorer
      Honored Contributor
      August 2, 2025

      hotas is not a controller?

      RiverExplorer.US]@gmail.com https://RiverExplorer.games
      Randallyz450fAuthor
      Up and Coming
      August 2, 2025

      which is back to my original point and my question.  

      >>i'd like to navigate to open or start application with out my controller since i don't use them in flight sims.

      >>is it even possible?

      at this point we can go on and on about what is a controller or not , the bottom line is i think you are forced to use meta quest controllers to navigate regardless. 

      given the menu option and screens are in the headset and not on the desktop. i'm not sure why meta quest has not provided quick button to navigate. Yes these might be on the controller but you could then use a keymapper to emulate the button, then tie that back to the hotas, or keyboard.  

      as i stated before the only way i can find to navigate and select things is to "point with the controller and trigger" 

      since you indicated that you though a xbox controller might work, i'm going to try and see if i can find one and test that out.   if so and that works, then one could map key bindings to the xbox controller.  but untill i find one, i was hoping somone found a way to navigate around without controllers of any type

       

       

       

      kojack
      Honored Contributor
      August 2, 2025

      The Link environment (Dash) doesn't have keyboard or hand tracking control.

      There are only three ways of controlling Dash:

      • Touch controllers
      • Xbox controller (must be an xinput device that appears as xbox, no others like PS5 controllers will work)
      • Oculus Remote (great little device, but it only works with the Rift CV1 headset unfortunately)

      The commercial Virtual Desktop app does support hand tracking to control it's environment.

      If it's just starting the game that you need, you could set up a keyboard macro to start the game using a program like AutoHotKey.

      For example here's an AutoHotKey script that starts No Man's Sky in VR mode on my PC when I press Control-Numpad0.

      ^Numpad0::
RunWait, "F:\games\No Man's Sky\Binaries\nms.exe" -HmdEnable 1

      I can go from my Quest 3 into Airlink, hit that key and SteamVR and NMS start up and I'm in, no controller needed.

       

      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
      Randallyz450fAuthor
      Up and Coming
      August 3, 2025

      sounds like a interesting option.   i have installed "voiceAttack" and though i would give that a try and speak a command to execute a run command on different applications.

      the thing however is this does not fix the issue of wanting to see my desktop.  in the nav buttons there is the "desktop" mode which i launch and then turn a bunch of things on/off before i play.  stuff like the motion rig , sound haptics etc.

      i have not tried using the remote desktop option that quest came out with yet so maybe that will allow me to accomplish the same things

      i'm still baffled why quest did not add hand gesture, or even a pointer that you could move around by your head, then press the headset power button to select.  

      my guess is they just don't care and with quest 4 now never happening i see their level of support really lacking and going down hill fast.

      thank for you thoughts. if any more popup let me know.

       

       

       

       

       

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