VR Oculus Quest 2: How to Troubleshoot Hand Tracking Issues

Written By Steven Arends

Virtual reality is a remarkable technology, and the hand tracking system revolutionized VR.

Using your hand as a VR controller is cool, and the coolest part is that you already know how to use it — super easy, no need to charge, and completely natural.

But it feels awful when the hand tracking is lagging or not responding accurately to your movement. And it feels utterly frustrating when it doesn’t appear at all.vr-oculus-quest-2-how-to-troubleshoot-hand-tracking-issues

In this article, I will tell you the reason behind the case and the most effortless resolutions to the matter.

Keep reading the entire article to fix your issue asap.

Why is My Hand Tracking Not Working?

Tracking your hand may not work because of being disabled from the settings, blocked camera vision, hands being out of range, too fast movements, or using VR in a crowded or dark place. Also, some additional reasons can cause not working hand tracking on your Oculus Quest 2.

Hand tracking is useful when you are using virtual reality. It gives you a natural sensation. But not working when you need it feels disappointing.

Continue reading the article to know the reasons for this issue.

Here are the reasons behind my hand tracking not working:

Hand tracking is disabled

You may be disabled hand tracking from the settings. It won’t work in your Oculus Quest 2 if the option is disabled.

Check out our separate post on How Much does CPU Affect VR.

Blocked cameras

One or multiple cameras of your Quest 2 can be blocked by your hand or some object. Your hand can partially block the camera while playing or using the VR.

Hands are out of the range

Oculus Quest 2 has a range of detecting hand movement. Your hand can be far from the camera range. For that reason, VR does not identify your hand motion correctly.

Dirty headset

Oculus Quest 2 uses the outside camera to detect hand gestures. If the outer lenses aren’t well cleaned, they will obstruct the camera while observing your hand.

Quick hand motion

If you move your hand very fast, VR can’t detect your hand instantly. Moving your hand too quickly confuses Oculus Quest 2 of what you are doing.quick-hand-motion

Movements in the surroundings

There can be a lot of people around you. If someone or something moves around you, it troubles your VR to identify your hand accurately.

Insufficient lighting

Oculus Quest 2 is dependent on its camera to detect hand movements. If you are in a dark place, the camera faces difficulty finding your hand, let alone the movements.

Also, check our exclusive tutorial on how to fix Oculus Rift S DisplayPort not working.

How to Fix Hand Tracking Issues in Oculus Quest 2?

You can solve hand tracking issues by enabling the proper setting, restarting, and calibrating the system, using inside the camera range, controlling the hand motion and movement, and using under adequate light. Additionally, taking some safety measurements can solve your problem with hand tracking.

This problem also happened to me once. I’ve fixed my issue by doing broad research on this topic. Today, I will share my experience with you to solve your problem.

Before jumping into the fix, restart your Oculus Quest 2. Users said a restart fixes many problems with bugs and glitches. If you still have issues after restarting, consider following the fixes below.

Here are the ways to fix hand tracking issues in Oculus Quest 2:

1. Enable hand tracking

Enabling hand tracking will allow you to use your hand as a controller. You can scroll and navigate using your hand. Consider enabling this option from the settings.

Here are the steps to enable hand tracking:

  • Go to Settings.
  • Tap on Devices.
  • Scroll down and press on Hands and Controllers. hands-and-controllers
  • Enable Hand Tracking.enable-hands

2. Run the hand tracking tutorial again

Running the tutorial will reset all the settings related to hand tracking. It is a good choice if you have any issues in the settings or need to calibrate again.

Here is the procedure to run the hand tracking tutorial:

  • Go to the Library options.
  • Scroll down and tap on Tutorial.
  • Play Use Your Hands in VR.

All you have to do is go through our latest how-to clean VR headset foam.

3. Re-insert battery

Remove your battery and re-insert it. Make sure to turn off your device before doing the process. Change the battery if it’s too old. The hand tracking should work again if you have a battery issue.

4. Ensure no camera blockage

While using your hand as a controller, sometimes it can block the view of the camera. Maintain a minimum distance from the camera so that it can focus on your movement.

Objects inside your room can block the view of the VR. Keep a distance from the object or furniture inside your room.

5. Keep your hand in the range

Oculus Quest 2 has a maximum range of 15 meters to detect the hand. If your hand is out of range, it can’t find your hand correctly.

Lean your head towards the hand or bring your hand closer to the VR, so it can easily detect the hand in its range.

6. Clean headset

There are multiple cameras on the outside of an Oculus Quest 2. With time, dust can sit on the camera lens and block its vision.

Clean the lens carefully with soft clothing. A scratch on the lens can cause issues with your VR.

7. Control hand motion

Moving your hand faster can give VR a hard time. Move your hand slowly and precisely. It won’t detect your hand if you move your hand a lot.

8. Limit movements

If many people around you or something is moving beside you, it can conflict while identifying your hand motion.

Go to an empty place and use your VR so it won’t be confused by the surroundings.

9. Ensure sufficient lighting

Lighting is vital for tracking hand motion. Using hand tracking in a low-lighting area may not give enough information to the camera.

If you are using it at night time, turn on the room light or go to a place where it has sufficient light.

Colorful room lights can conflict with VR. Don’t use any colorful light as the light source. Instead, use normal light as the source in your room when using VR.

10. Contact support

I hope you’ve already fixed your issue following the procedure. But, if you still haven’t managed to solve your problem, contact Oculus support. They will provide the best for your issue and will guide you forward.

But, before that, do check our latest post on the Watch 3D Movies on Gear VR

FAQs

Does Quest 2 support hand tracking?

Yes, Oculus Quest 2 has advanced features compared to other VR and it supports a hand tracking system.

How do I get Quest 2 to recognize my hands?

To get Oculus Quest 2 to recognize your hands, go to Settings > Devices > Hands and Controllers > Enable hand tracking.

How to fix Oculus Quest 2 keeps losing guardian?

To fix the Oculus Quest 2 keeps loosing guardian issue, go to Settings > General > Clear Guardian History.

Final Thought

Hand tracking is an excellent feature in Oculus Quest 2. It got even better after the hand tracking 2.0 update.

But, it feels unsatisfactory when you are playing or communicating with your friends and family and can’t use your hands.

In this article, I’ve shared my experience regarding hand tracking not working in Quest 2. I firmly believe you’ve already fixed your problem without any difficulties.

Cheers!

About The Author
Steven Arends is a computer science graduate and tech enthusiast with over 10 years of experience in the field. He has a vast collection of computer hardware and loves exploring the latest advancements. As a contributing author to 10Scopes, Steven shares his expertise to make the world of technology more accessible and easier to understand for all readers.

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