On a Windows PC, the software many people still call “Oculus software” is now the Meta Quest Link app. Meta says existing Oculus PC app installations update automatically; its published instructions do not provide a complete consumer uninstall-and-reinstall recipe. Controller re-pairing is a separate process in the Meta Horizon mobile app, not a step in reinstalling Link.
What “Oculus software” means now
Meta renamed its PC companion app Meta Quest Link. In a March 6, 2024 announcement, Meta said, “If you previously had the Oculus app installed on your PC, this will automatically update to the Meta Quest Link app.” The announcement also directs new users to Meta’s download page.
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Meta’s announcement establishes the app’s current name and automatic update behavior, but it does not describe a full consumer uninstall-and-reinstall procedure. For installation instructions that match the current app, use Meta’s official download and support pages rather than relying on unverified cleanup steps.
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How to reinstall the Meta Quest Link app
Meta’s published materials support downloading and installing the Link app, but do not specify a complete uninstall sequence for consumers. They do not establish particular Windows cleanup, driver-removal, registry-editing, or restart steps. Avoid deleting system files or changing the registry based on generic instructions; consult Meta’s current download and setup flow and support for your PC and headset.
#1 Best Overall
- This is the same left controller included in-box with every Quest 3/3S purchase.
- Compatible with Quest 3S & Quest 3
- What’s included: Touch Plus controller, Wrist strap / lanyard, Safety and warranty guide
- Input Features: A/B/X/Y, Thumbstick, Thumbrest (all with capacitive touch), Two Stage Trigger, Precision Pinch
- Innovative design: Each controller is designed with an ergonomic button layout and advanced haptics for more realistic feedback — transporting you right into mixed reality worlds.
Meta’s Link developer documentation, updated April 21, 2026, describes this setup flow: download and install Link on a Windows machine, turn on Quest Link in headset settings, then select Launch Quest Link. It lists Quest 3S, Quest 3, Quest 2, Quest Pro, and Meta VR Glasses as compatible devices. The documentation is for developers; it is useful for confirming platform and connection context, not a substitute for consumer uninstall instructions. See Meta’s Link documentation.
How to unpair and pair Quest controllers again
Controller pairing uses the Meta Horizon mobile app and the headset’s device settings. The following is Meta’s documented flow; follow the app’s prompts if labels have changed.
Rank #2
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- 【Complete Repair Kit】Package include –2 x Replacement joystick, 4 x Thumb Stick Caps, 1 × Tweezer, Pry Tool, 1 × Metal Pad Tool, 1 x T5 Screwdriver, 1 x T5 Small Screwdriver.
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- Turn on the headset. Open the Meta Horizon app on your phone.
- Tap Menu, then Devices, and select your headset.
- Open Headset settings, tap Controllers, select the controller, and choose Unpair controller.
- Return to Controllers and choose Pair new controller. Select the controller you want to pair.
- Put that controller into pairing mode: hold Meta (or Oculus on older hardware) plus B on the right controller, or Menu plus Y on the left controller.
- Keep holding the buttons until the LED blinks and then lights up, as Meta’s support instructions describe. Follow any additional prompt in the app.
Meta says a paired controller connects automatically when the headset is turned on and nearby. The documented instructions appear in a Meta-hosted support community response; app labels may evolve.
If Link or pairing still does not work
For a wired Link connection
Connect the headset to the PC with USB-C and run the connection test in the Link app. Meta advises trying another USB-C cable if the test reports an incompatible connection or low bandwidth. Check that the cable and PC port are compatible and that the cable is in good condition; a Meta Horizon Link Cable is one option, not a requirement for installing software or pairing controllers. Meta’s documentation mentions a 2 Gbps threshold specifically for color passthrough, not as a general minimum for every consumer Link connection.
Rank #3
- Each controller is designed with an ergonomic button layout and advanced haptics for more realistic feedback — transporting you right into mixed reality worlds.
For a Link detection problem
Meta’s investigation page records one case in which the Link app did not detect a Quest and says a fix shipped October 31, 2025. That addresses the reported issue, not every present-day detection failure; it does not establish reinstalling as a universal fix. See Meta’s Link detection investigation.
For a controller that will not pair
If the app’s pairing flow fails, or the controller seems physically damaged or has a persistent button or trigger problem, contact Meta support instead of repeating the pairing process indefinitely. Re-pairing is a troubleshooting step, not a guaranteed fix for hardware or firmware faults.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- This is the same left and right controllers included in-box with every Quest 3/3S purchase.
- Compatible with Quest 3S & Quest 3
- What’s included: Touch Plus controllers (Left & Right Pair), Wrist strap / lanyard, Safety and warranty guide
- Each controller is designed with an ergonomic button layout and advanced haptics for more realistic feedback — transporting you right into mixed reality worlds.
- Input Features: A/B/X/Y, Thumbstick, Thumbrest (all with capacitive touch), Two Stage Trigger, Precision Pinch
Rank #4
- ✅Right hand
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