How to connect AirPods to Quest 3

Woman playing beat saber on the Quest 3.

Woman playing beat saber on the Quest 3.

Using the Metas Quest 3 is admittedly quite a seamless experience. But if you want ways to make using it feel completely immersive and private, you might be considering connecting your Quest 3 with a Bluetooth audio device, like the Apple AirPods.

The Meta Quest 3 supports Bluetooth 5.2, allowing users to connect their AirPods to the device with no trouble at all. The Airpods can help block out external noise while providing you with some pretty crisp audio quality. But there are downsides to using these with your Quest 3. Read on to learn how to connect AirPods to Quest 3, and also whether you should even do it at all.

Also, read on how to cast the Quest 3 to a TV and how to connect the Quest 3 to Mac and Macbook.

White Apple AirPods Pro in their case.
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How to connect AirPods to Meta Quest 3

Whether you're using regular AirPods, the AirPods Pro, or the AirPods Max, the process for connecting them to your Quest 3 is the same. You start by putting your AirPods in pairing mode.

For your AirPods and AirPods Pro, put them in their open case and hold the Setup button till it starts to flash white. For your AirPods Max, simply press and hold the Noise Control button for 5 seconds until the light next to its charging port starts flashing white.

Now that your respective AirPods are ready to pair with the Quest 3, just follow these steps:

  1. Open up the Universal Menu using your touch controller
  2. Float over the clock on the left side of the Menu and open the Quick Settings panel.
  3. Open up Settings from the top right corner
  4. Select devices and then pick Bluetooth
  5. Next, go to Bluetooth Pairing and select Pair
  6. Find your AirPods from the list of compatible devices that appear, then select them to create a Bluetooth connection

Just like that, your AirPods will connect to the Quest 3. To minimize any hiccups, you'll want to make sure the AirPods you're using are adequately charged amidst this process.

Quest 3 with labels for audio jack and volume buttons.
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Should you use Airpods with Meta Quest 3?

Now that you know how to connect the Quest 3 with Airpods, or with any Bluetooth audio device, a bigger question arises: should you?

When connected to a Bluetooth audio device, the Quest 3 struggles with latency issues between its audio and video. The discrepancy can be pretty jarring, and can ultimately ruin your overall immersion. This is why it's recommended you don't use Bluetooth audio devices like Airpods with the Quest 3.

Luckily, the Quest 3 also allows users to connect headsets or headphones directly through a wired connection by utilizing its 3.5mm headphone jack or USB-C port. This might not give you the futuristic wireless feeling you're looking for, but it's much preferred over dealing with the latency issues you'll face when connecting the Quest 3 with Bluetooth audio devices.

That's all you need to know about connecting AirPods to the Quest 3. You might also want to check out the best accessories for your Quest 3 and how to connect it to Xbox.