The Meta Quest 2 has a well-known issue: Even when you fully power it down, it can enter a deep sleep mode and continue to slowly drain battery. But why does this happen? Many users have reported the same problem, frustrated that their headset is completely drained after a few days of inactivity. In theory, a powered-off device shouldn’t run any background processes—yet it seems that certain activities continue even when the Quest 2 is turned off. It would be interesting to know exactly which processes remain active in the background and why the headset keeps consuming power despite being switched off. Have you tried identifying possible causes?
There are numerous reports from users on the internet complaining that the Meta Quest 2's battery drains even when the device is turned off. Many people share their experiences with this issue in various forums and on support websites.
@Nova2040 the quest headsets never properly power down, as there are clock/calendar functions that need be kept current and the headsets are regularly checking for updates when powered off. There are some options in the software update settings that stop the headset powering itself up to install updates when you've powered it off, but apart from that, you're stuck with the current situation.
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There isn't really a deep sleep mode, there's a 'display off' mode, where the headset remains on but display turns off after a specified time of inactivity (after you take the headset off), then there's a sleep mode, when the headset goes to sleep after a specified time of further inactivity after the display turns off.
You can make the headset sleep without waiting for these inactivity times by pressing the power button briefly. You can then wake the headset with a button press or if you have the 'automatic wake' setting selected, the headset should wake up when it senses movement. Long-pressing the power button also gives you the option of sleep, as well as power off.
So unless the headset is switched off, it will be using some power, more so if it's in the screen off mode, less if it's in sleep mode. It shouldn't however be using power if it's switched off.
So I'd first double-check the times you have set for both the display off and the sleep, these can be up to 4 hours each. I'd also consider switching off the automatic wake (this wakes the headset if it detects movement). Although I just tested my Quest 2 and the automatic wake wasn't working, I have to press the power button to wake regardless of this setting!
There's also an 'Automatically power headset to update' setting where the headset periodically powers on when not in use and installs updates if there are any, this should only happen when the headset is charging so shouldn't cause the problem you're having, but if I were you , I'd switch it off just to check if it makes a difference.
So, if you're definitely switching the headset off and it's still losing charge, then this is most likely a battery issue. It's normal for Li-ion battery to lose charge over time but only by a few percent. If you're sure the headset's off and it's losing large amounts of charge over a relatively short time, the battery could be reaching end of life or developed a fault.
VR headsets probably put more demand on Li-ion cells than most other devices, the worst contributor to shortening a batterie's life are repeated deep discharges. High temperatures being another possible problem.
My headsets batteries are pretty much the same as when new, but I tend to start charging well before they reach low and when doing PCVR, I pretty much always have them tethered and therefore topped up. I'm also not in a warm environment.
Do you still get a decent amount of play-time when it's charged?
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As I already mentioned, I have turned off the Oculus. Take a look online – many users are reporting the same issue.
When I turn off a device, it should not be running in the background in any way. However, that’s exactly what’s happening here. The manufacturer should step up and take appropriate action.
I also don’t understand why the Oculus uses a built-in battery. It’s a wear-and-tear component with a limited lifespan. I've seen how much effort it takes to replace it—an unnecessary hassle that could have been avoided with better design choices. And no, I’m not talking about a storage expansion. This feature is completely missing, unfortunately. As a result, the Oculus turns into a disposable product.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Oculus 2 and 3, but these are things that bother me.
Not quite, you mentioned 'deep sleep' which isn't a mode, that's why a spoke about the various setting and things to check. Just trying to be as helpful as I can.
Yes, I agree, replaceable batteries need to be a thing, not just for headsets but for all devices including phones.
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By "Deep Sleep," I refer to background activities that continue running despite being turned off and significantly contribute to battery drain. As a result, it means that you can never completely turn off the Oculus, even though you do. Believe me, although I am a woman, I have plenty of experience in turning things off.
I didn't say that you hadn't switched it off, I just listed the modes and the various things worth checking... regardless of whether it's on, off or in sleep mode.
This isn't just helpful to check for you but also for anyone else reading this thread, male, female or whatever. I also asked whether the headset showed normal battery live during play and some advice on maximising overall Li-ion longevity.
My headsets don't discharge when off so there may be battery issues rather than background process. Which as far as I'm aware are just the power detection for off-mode automatic updating.
Sorry if I'm being annoying as I'm just trying to be helpful. If you just want to have a go... the forum's great for that, I'll leave you to it.
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The Meta Quest 3 can be turned off in several ways. Here are the possible methods:
_ Using the power button (hardware method) _ Forced shutdown (hard shutdown) _ Via the Meta Quest app on a smartphone _ Automatic shutdown after inactivity _ Using a voice command (if enabled) _ Through a PC when using Link mode
And here’s my question again: Why is the battery being drained even when the Quest is completely turned off, and why is it completely empty after just a few days? That really shouldn’t be happening.
We're talking about 3,640 mAh.
If background processes, such as system updates or syncing, are running while the headset is turned off, that would be problematic. Each battery has a limited number of charge cycles / lifespan.
What do I want to point out: This means that after two or three weeks, we experience a deep discharge, which is known to drastically reduce the lifespan of lithium-polymer batteries.
Lithium-polymer batteries (LiPo) have a relatively low self-discharge rate, typically around 2–5% per month. However, this value can vary depending on temperature, age, and storage conditions.
If your 3,640 mAh battery drops below 3.0 V per cell, it risks irreversible damage. A complete discharge should be strictly avoided, as it can significantly shorten the battery's lifespan or even render it unusable.
