Meta Quest: Finally No More Lag

Meta Quest VR users have experienced performance issues on SteamVR for years, often referred to as stutter, judder, or lag. Fortunately, a solution is finally here! This guide will walk you through the steps to enhance your VR experience and eliminate these frustrating performance hiccups.

TLDR;

SteamVR games are basically running two Asynchronous Spacewarp (ASW) at the same time!

Open C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\config\steamvr.vrsettings and under "steamvr" : { add "motionSmoothing": false,

The Problem

In recent years, PCVR gamers have increasingly reported performance issues with Meta Quest VR headsets, specifically stuttering in Steam VR. This problem has persisted into the next generation of headsets, including the Quest 2 and Quest 3, and is commonly referred to as stutter, judder, or lag.

Over the past five years, numerous solutions have been proposed, with claims attributing the issue to various factors such as Windows 11, GPU driver settings, Oculus Debug Tool configurations, and Oculus OVR task priority. Unfortunately, most of these solutions have provided only limited, temporary relief, and none have proven to be a permanent fix.

Until now...

There is finally a lasting solution to this mystery.

In 2018, Valve Software Corporation introduced Motion Smoothing in their Steam VR app, which was designed for VR headsets connected to PCs via HDMI or DisplayPort cables. However, the landscape changed in 2019 with the release of the Oculus Quest, the first VR headset to utilize a proprietary USB-C data cable connection known as Quest Link. This innovation shifted the connectivity approach for PCVR.

The root cause of the stuttering in Steam PCVR games lies in Steam's own Motion Smoothing feature. This feature is enabled by default in Steam VR, but for reasons unknown, it does not function properly with Quest headsets when enabled. Compounding the issue, the Steam VR app lacks an option to disable Motion Smoothing when a Quest headset is connected, whether through Quest Link USB or Air Link.

It's worth noting that stuttering does not occur in Quest's own Rift and Rift S PCVR games purchased through the Meta Quest Link app; the stuttering issue is specific to Steam VR.

Recently, Steam released Steam Link for Quest, which appears to bypass the Motion Smoothing issue, minimizing re-projection and dropped frames. Additionally, Virtual Desktop has shown limited success in improving Steam VR performance, though these Wi-Fi connections come with their own set of limitations compared to the more stable USB connection.

While the Steam VR app does not allow Quest users to disable Motion Smoothing, other headsets that utilize DisplayPort connections, such as the PlayStation VR2, do offer this option, allowing users to disable the feature directly in the app.

The Solution

Let's now disable Motion Smoothing in Steam VR for Quest headsets, you'll need to edit a configuration file located in the Steam folder. You can use VSCode, Notepad++, or just normal Notepad to make these changes.

We will do this by:

• Copying the line from the 'Default Configuration File' to the 'User Configuration File' file, ensuring it is placed in the Steam VR section in the exact same format.
  
• Changing the 'true' setting to 'false'. This will effectively disable Motion Smoothing for Quest headsets.

File Locations:

• Default Configuration File:
  This file contains all the default settings for Steam VR. Be careful not to change this file, as it gets updated regularly. Instead, use it as a reference as needed.
  

  C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SteamVR\resources\settings\default.vrsettings

  
  
• User Configuration File:
  This is where your personal settings are saved. It overrides the Default Settings file and allows you to customize your experience. Edit this one, and make a backup of the original.
  

  C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\config\steamvr.vrsettings

How to Modify:

• Locate the following line in your User Configuration File:
  

  "steamvr" : {

  
  
• Insert a new line somewhere beneath it and add the following:
  

  "motionSmoothing": false,

  
  
• As an example, my configuration now looks something like:
  

     "steamvr" : {
        "background" : "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\workshop\\content\\250820\\736074035\\Mandelbox Fractal constant factor 09.png",
        "blockOculusSDKOnAllLaunches" : true,
        "haveStartedTutorialForNativeChaperoneDriver" : true,
        "lastVersionNotice" : "2.9.4",
        "lastVersionNoticeDate" : "1733878647",
        "motionSmoothing": false,
        "showAdvancedSettings" : true,
        "showMirrorView" : false
     }
  

  Important Note: Make sure the last line in the User Configuration File file does not have a trailing comma, which is different from the previous lines.
  
  
• Now save the file and you're done!

The Goodbye

Once this change is made, you should notice that stuttering in Steam VR games should be eliminated, aside from normal performance variations in specific areas, rather than the constant interruptions that previously made games unplayable.

With stuttering finally addressed, you can now focus on optimizing other aspects of Steam VR, the Oculus settings, GPU settings, and per-game settings to achieve the best performance tailored to your individual computer specifications.

[GoodyBoyo 😋]

Thanks , but is not working for me, because for any reason steamvr is removing the line of text ("motionSmoothing" : false) after starting the program

[thegreatj74]

@Jellybean, just switch it to true and get steam link for the quest instead. This did the same for me as well.

[Jellybean]

I'm having a issue with the pixels, Never had this issue until the update

[koyamaichisake]

an additional fix outside of using Ethernet to additionally increase your fps/ decrease stutters
Using your pc's Mobile Hotspot (which is not the same as your phone's, I'll explain) to connect your headset directly to your pc instead of using your internet/ router
How your pc's Mobile Hotspot works: it shares it's own Wi-Fi connection with devices connected to your computer, essentially turning it into a 2nd router (for free. No, this mobile hotspot isn't paid for, it doesn't use phone service)
When using it with your headset, it essentially acts as a direct 2-way communication between your headset and pc, allowing your headset priority communication (instead of it having to compete with your phone, your tv, even the computer itself for bandwith)

[raw]

Another fix: Use Ethernet if experiencing lag and stutters when not using a link cable.
while using wireless Wifi the computer needs to send 2 signals 24/7 creating stutters and graphical issues. when using Ethernet it gets 1 signal through a cable consistently so it doesnt need to send 2 signals only 1 being the VR headset.

[RockDad]

Fixed my issue! Thank you so much! Works great now

[[ F I B E R P U N K ]]

Please keep comments friendly and constructive, thanks.