How to Fix Meta Quest 3/3s Keep Turning Off

Thanks to its large lineup of Meta Quest VR headset models, Meta has made access to virtual reality content easier. However, one single issue has been bothering many users who own the Meta Quest 3, 3s, and even the Meta Quest 2. What is this issue?

Can you imagine how annoying it would be if your Meta Quest headset suddenly decided to turn itself off in the middle of a gaming or interactive session? If this is something you are facing or going through, let’s take a look at why it keeps turning off itself, and also take a look at any ways you can solve this issue with your Meta Quest VR headset.

Why Does My Meta Quest 3/3s Keep Turning Off?

Let’s now take a look at a few reasons why your Meta Quest 3/3s seems to keep turning itself off.

  • Software Issues: Sometimes a few bugs or conflicts in the software could be triggering the Meta Quest 3/3s to keep switching itself off
  • Weak batteries: The Meta Quest3, 3s, and almost all Quest VR headsets run on batteries. If the batteries are not capable of holding a charge like before, the headset will simply power down.
  • Possibility of Oculus Guardian enabled.
  • Hair or clothing covering up the sensors of the headset.
  • Diet or dust on the Proximity sensor.

Troubleshooting Methods to Solve Meta Quest 3/3s That Keeps Turning Off

Now that you have a good idea of why your Meta Quest 3/3s/2 keeps turning off, here are some of the troubleshooting methods that you can follow to solve the restarting issue. Do try these methods and see if they work for you.

Keep the Meta Quest Headset Clean

The Meta Quest VR headset has a lot of sensors around it. If one of these sensors is blocked, the headset tends to simply stop working or power itself off.  So, to avoid such issues, it is advisable to take a soft, clean, and dry cloth and give the headset a nice wipe through.

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Ensure the Power Button Is Not Stuck or In Contact With Anything

If the power button on your Meta Quest 3/3s/2 has some dirt on and around it, it could be possible that it gets pressed automatically every time you move your headset. This can cause the VR headset to automatically switch itself off. The best way to solve this issue is by cleaning it up and removing any dirt and grime that might be causing the button to be pressed, thus forcing the headset to shut itself down.

One more thing you need to look for is anything touching the power button. Something like any cable or the headband. If they come in contact with the power button, it might tend to get pressed simply when you make a slight movement when using the headset. So always ensure that the power button on your Meta Quest is free from any obstructions.

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Charge and Check Your Batteries

If the batteries for your Meta Quest 3/3s/2 are weak and have a low battery lifespan, the batteries need to be replaced. If you have noticed that your Meta Quest headset is no longer holding charge like it previously used to, it’s a sign to replace those batteries. A fresh set of batteries for your Meta Quest VR headset can prevent your headset from switching itself off.

Check for Software Updates

Outdated software on your Meta Quest headset can cause certain apps and games to not function properly, resulting in the Meta Quest headset turning itself off automatically. If you think there might be an update available that solves this issue, you can follow these steps to update your Meta Quest VR headset.

  1. Power up the Meta Quest headset and grab the right-hand touch controller.
  2. Using the controller, hover over the clock panel on the left.
  3. When the Quick Settings panel appears, select the Settings option.
  4. Choose Settings followed by System.
  5. Finally, click on Software Update. This is present on the left side of the screen.
  6. Download the update to your Meta Quest and install it right away. Keep your Meta Quest headset plugged in at all times.

Turn Off the Auto Wake Feature

If you are using the Meta Quest 2 VR headset, the Auto Wake feature lets your headset power up from its sleep mode whenever the headset detects that it is being worn. Sometimes, this feature can cause your headset to put itself to sleep and then wake itself automatically. The solution? Turn Auto Wake off. Here are the steps.

  1. Download the Meta Horizon app on your Android or iOS device.
  2. Login with the same Meta account used on your Meta Quest 2 headset.
  3. Once you have signed in, tap on Menu.
  4. Now, choose Devices, followed by your Meta Quest headset, and then Headset Settings.
  5. Choose Power Settings and then switch the toggle to off where it says Auto Wake-Up.

Disable or Turn Off Guardian in Meta Quest

Guardian is a virtual boundary that you need to draw using your Meta Quest headset. While this feature helps you to create a safe boundary, users have also stated that with Guardian enabled, there have been times when the Meta Quest headset has switched itself off. However, if you plan on turning this feature off, you will require a developer Meta Account. You can create a developer account by clicking here.

Once you have created a developer account, link your Meta Quest headset to the account. Once this is done, you can use the Meta Horizon app to disable Guardian. Here is how you can enable Developer Mode to disable Guardian.

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  1. Launch the Meta Horizon app on your smartphone.
  2. Tap on the Menu icon. It has three horizontal lines.
  3. Select Devices to choose your Meta Quest headset.
  4. Once you have selected your device, scroll down and tap on Developer Mode.

Now, go back to your Meta Quest headset to disable Guardian.

  • Open the Settings menu using the controllers of your Meta Quest headset.
  • Navigate and select the Developer option.
  • Finally, you will see the Guardian option. Select it to switch it off or disable it.

Perform a Hard Reboot Of Your Meta Quest Headset

A hard reboot will simply force the headset to power down, clear anything from its RAM, and then restart. Here are the steps.

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  1. Press the Power button and the Volume Down button for 30 seconds.
  2. A boot-up sound should be played from the Meta Quest headset
  3. The Meta Quest hard reboot has been performed.

However, if you do not hear the boot-up sound when you press the power and volume-down buttons, you can follow these steps.

  1. Press the power and volume down buttons until the boot screen appears on your Meta Quest.
  2. Using the volume buttons, highlight the boot Device option.
  3. Select Boot Device by pressing the Power button.
  4. Now, using the volume buttons, select Yes and press the Power button.
  5. Your Meta Quest headset has been forcefully rebooted.

Perform a Factory Reset of your Meta Quest 

The last and final method to solve this issue is by performing a factory reset. Do note that you will lose all of your data associated with the Meta Quest headset. However, once you sign back in with your Meta Account, you will be able to restore everything. You can follow this guide on how to perform a factory reset of your Meta Quest 3. This method also works for the Meta Quest 3s and the previous generation Meta Quest 2 VR headsets.

Closing Thoughts

This concludes the guide on how you can solve the issue of your Meta Quest VR headset randomly turning itself off. Now, a few of these troubleshooting methods have worked for many users, so first, give them a try before you plan to reset your Meta Quest headset.

If, even after you perform a factory reset, the issue continues to persist, it probably is time to hand the device over to Meta and see if they can solve or repair it.

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Joshua D'souza

Enjoy games, 90's hip-hop, and tech. Loves exploring the infinite world of laptops and food. Every ready to provide assistance in anything that rocks his boat. Will gladly enjoy capturing memories through various lenses. Worked previously at PiunikaWeb as an author and researcher.

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