How to Play Minecraft on Meta (Oculus) Quest and Quest 2

Play either Bedrock or Java Minecraft in VR on Quest

What to Know

  • To play Minecraft on your Quest, you need a VR-ready computer and a link cable.
  • You can play both Bedrock and Java versions of Minecraft using the link cable.

This article explains how to play Minecraft on your Oculus Quest or Quest 2 virtual reality headset. We include instructions for both Bedrock and Java versions of Minecraft.

Can You Play Minecraft on Meta (Oculus) Quest or Quest 2?

There is a native version of Minecraft Bedrock edition for the Rift VR headset, but Minecraft isn’t available for Quest or Quest 2. You can still play Minecraft on this platform, but only if you have a VR-ready PC and a link cable. Your computer runs the Minecraft app and sends visual data to the headset, allowing you to play Minecraft in VR as long as you remain tethered to your PC.

It’s possible to play some versions of Minecraft on your Quest, but the processes are a bit different. If you don’t own either version yet, you’ll have to purchase one or the other before you can play on your Quest.

Here are the versions of Minecraft you can play on Quest:

  • Windows 10 (Bedrock) edition: This is the version of Minecraft that you can purchase from the Microsoft store. It has VR capabilities built into it and is easy to get up and running, but this version can’t be modded in the same way that the Java version can.
  • Java edition: This is the original version of Minecraft that has tons of free mods available online. It’s a little more complicated to get this version running in VR, as you need to install Java, Steam, and Steam VR if you haven't already done so, but the implementation is more interesting. For example, you can mine bricks by physically swinging your controllers.

How to Play Minecraft Bedrock Edition on Meta (Oculus) Quest or Quest 2

The Bedrock Edition is easy to get running in VR. All you need is the Minecraft app installed on your computer, the Meta Quest app on your computer, the Oculus Rift Minecraft app installed on your computer, and a link cable to connect your Oculus to your computer.

Here’s how to play Minecraft Bedrock Edition on your Quest:

  1. Launch the Meta Quest app on your computer.

    The Oculus app running on a PC.
  2. Search for Minecraft, and select it from the results.

    Searching for Minecraft in the Oculus app.
  3. Click Free or Install.

    Install button on the Oculus Minecraft app.

    This is not the full Minecraft app, it's just a free program that allows Minecraft Bedrock Edition to run in VR on Meta/Oculus hardware.

  4. Put on your headset, and connect it to your computer via link cable.

  5. Select Enable to enable Oculus Link.

    Enabling Oculus Link in an Oculus Quest 2 headset.
  6. Locate Minecraft in your apps or search for it, and select Start.

    Starting the Minecraft app from within a Quest 2 headset.
  7. Minecraft will launch in VR.

    Minecraft on an Oculus Quest.

How to Play Minecraft Java Edition on Meta (Oculus) Quest or Quest 2

You can also play Minecraft Java Edition in VR on your Quest, but it’s more complicated. It requires a mod called Vivecraft, which enables the Java edition of Minecraft to operate in VR. The VR implementation here is more robust than the Bedrock version, providing you with many movement and interaction options to customize your experience.

To play Minecraft Java Edition on Quest, you need to install Java, install Steam, and install Steam VR. If you don’t already have all three installed, make sure to install them before proceeding.

Here’s how to play Minecraft Java Edition on a Quest:

  1. Navigate to Vivecraft's download page and click the latest version of Vivecraft.

    The Vivecraft website with Vivecraft 1.16.x highlighted.
  2. Click vivecraft-x.xx.x-jrbudda-x-x-installer.exe and download the file.

    The Vivecraft installer highlighted on the Vivecraft Github.
  3. Launch the file when it finishes downloading, and click Install.

    Install button on Vivecraft

    The installation will fail if you haven’t installed Java on your computer.

  4. Click OK.

    Ok the Vivecraft installer confirmation window.
  5. Launch the Meta Quest app on your computer.

    The Oculus app on PC.
  6. Put on your Quest headset, and connect it to your computer with a link cable.

  7. Select Enable.

    Enable button for Oculus Link from an Oculus Quest 2 headset.
  8. On your computer, locate Steam VR in your Steam library and click Launch.

    Launch button for SteamVR from the Steam library.
  9. In the Steam VR interface in your headset, select the monitor icon.

    Selecting the monitor (virtual desktop) icon in the Steam VR interface.
  10. If you have multiple monitors, select the one Minecraft will run on.

    Selecting a monitor for the virtual desktop in Steam VR.

    If you select the wrong monitor, Minecraft will not appear on your virtual desktop after the next step. In that case, you can either repeat this step to choose the correct monitor or take your headset off and move the Minecraft window to your other monitor.

  11. Using the virtual desktop, launch the Java version of Minecraft.

    Launching Minecraft with the virtual desktop in Steam VR.
  12. Select Vivecraft from the Minecraft version selection menu.

    Selecting Vivecraft in the Minecraft launcher selector.
  13. Select Play.

    Play button in Minecraft in the Steam VR virtual desktop.
  14. Check the box, and select Play.

    Play button on the Minecraft modification warning in VR.
  15. Minecraft will launch in VR on your headset.

    Minecraft starting up in VR on an Oculus Quest 2.
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