Which VR headsets work with Microsoft Flight Simulator?
On PC, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024 work with OpenXR headsets, including Meta Quest in PC mode, Valve Index, HTC Vive, Pimax, Varjo and legacy Windows Mixed Reality devices on supported Windows versions. Xbox has no VR support. MSFS 2024 is due to gain PSVR2 support on PS5 through a free 2026 update.
Which PC VR headsets are compatible?
A PC headset is compatible when its software exposes a working OpenXR runtime to Windows. The simulator’s Steam or Microsoft Store edition does not dictate the headset: either edition can use the active system runtime.
| Headset family | PC connection | Compatibility notes |
|---|---|---|
| Meta Quest 2, 3, 3S and Pro | Wired Link or supported wireless PC streaming | Compatible in PC VR mode through Meta’s OpenXR runtime. The simulator does not run natively on the headset. |
| Valve Index and other SteamVR headsets | SteamVR | Compatible when SteamVR is selected as the active OpenXR runtime. This also covers headsets such as Bigscreen Beyond. |
| HTC Vive family | SteamVR, Vive Console or the model’s PC streaming software | PC-capable Vive models work through their appropriate OpenXR or SteamVR route. |
| Pimax PC headsets | Pimax software and OpenXR | Compatible where the installed model and runtime provide OpenXR. Their high resolutions can impose a heavy GPU load. |
| Varjo PC headsets | Varjo software and OpenXR | Compatible models such as the Aero work through Varjo’s runtime, subject to continuing driver and operating-system support. |
| Pico and similar standalone headsets | Supported PC streaming through SteamVR or OpenXR | They can work when the manufacturer’s streaming software presents the headset correctly to Windows; standalone mode is not enough. |
| HP Reverb G2 and other Windows Mixed Reality headsets | Windows Mixed Reality and OpenXR | Legacy compatibility only. They require a Windows installation that still contains WMR; Windows 11 24H2 and later removed it. |
| PSVR2 on PC | Required PC adapter and software through SteamVR | Can operate as a SteamVR/OpenXR headset on a suitable PC, although some PS5-specific headset features are unavailable in PC mode. |
Older Oculus Rift-class headsets may still function where their PC drivers remain usable, but discontinued hardware and software support make them poor choices for a new setup. Our PC VR connection and launch checklist explains the basic hardware and software requirements.
Does Meta Quest run Microsoft Flight Simulator without a PC?
No. Quest headsets display Microsoft Flight Simulator VR by streaming the rendered image from a VR-capable Windows PC over a USB connection or supported wireless link. The Quest does not run the simulator as a native standalone VR application.
Cloud gaming or displaying the Xbox version on a virtual screen is also not true VR: it produces a large flat image rather than a tracked stereoscopic cockpit.
Does PSVR2 work with Microsoft Flight Simulator on PS5?
Native PSVR2 support applies to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PS5 and PS5 Pro through the free VR update scheduled for 2026. The console copy must have that VR-enabling update installed; Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released for PlayStation.
PSVR2 on PC is a separate route using the required PC connection hardware and SteamVR. Xbox Series X|S has no compatible VR headset and runs both simulator versions only in conventional screen mode.
Why is my VR headset not detected?
The wrong active OpenXR runtime is the most common reason Microsoft Flight Simulator opens only on the monitor or reports that no headset is available.
- Verify the headset outside the simulator. Open its vendor software and confirm that head tracking and the headset display work.
- Select the correct OpenXR runtime. Quest normally uses Meta’s runtime, Index uses SteamVR, and Pimax or Varjo headsets use their respective software. Only one runtime can be active at a time.
- Start any required background software. SteamVR, headset streaming software or a vendor console may need to be running before entering VR.
- Launch Microsoft Flight Simulator normally. Enter VR with the assigned
Toggle VR Modecommand, commonly bound toCtrl+Tab. - Remove software conflicts. If VR previously worked, temporarily disable third-party OpenXR layers, overlays and injectors, then update the graphics and headset drivers.
- Check the physical or wireless link. For Quest, rule out a charge-only USB cable, an overloaded wireless connection or a headset connected to the wrong PC streaming session.
Which VR headset should you choose for MSFS?
Choose by connection type, cockpit clarity, comfort and GPU load rather than panel resolution alone.
- Meta Quest: choose it for flexible wired or wireless PC use. Wireless freedom comes with image compression, battery management and possible network latency.
- DisplayPort or SteamVR headset: choose one for a consistent PC connection without wireless compression. Some models require external tracking stations or additional cables.
- High-resolution Pimax or Varjo headset: choose one when instrument readability and a wide field of view take priority, provided the PC can render the extra pixels. Our explanation of how headset resolution affects VR graphics-card requirements will help set realistic expectations.
- Windows Mixed Reality headset: keep using one if it already works on a suitable Windows installation, but do not plan a new system around WMR because modern Windows releases no longer include the platform.
- PSVR2: consider the native PS5 route for MSFS 2024 once the required update is installed, or the separate SteamVR route on PC if its adapter requirements and PC feature limitations are acceptable.
Motion controllers are optional for normal flying; a yoke or joystick, throttle, pedals, mouse and keyboard remain practical in VR. After confirming compatibility, use our MSFS 2024 VR tuning process to balance render scale, reprojection and cockpit readability for the chosen headset.