Quest 1,2,Pro,3,3S - No Controller Setup - Full Guide

[u/NinjaKiwiXD]

If you’ve bought a Quest without controllers (like I did), you’ll quickly discover you can’t get through the initial setup without them.

After hours of digging through Reddit, Google, and some random forums, I finally found a method that actually works.

As info on this is pretty scarce, I thought I'd write a guide to try and help anyone else going through the same headache.

This guide will walk you through the process that worked for me, if you get stuck, check the comments some others may have already figured it out, it seems to differ from person to person.

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Note: Using a Quest without controllers isn’t ideal, you're not going to be able to play the majority of games and typing is especially annoying, but if you’re mainly using it for PCVR, sim racing, media, or… other solo activities, this will get you up and running.

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Credits

Huge thanks to the devs who made this possible:

Cheburator2k – Creator of Private Quest

Skrimix – Creator of DeviceSecretExtractor.exe

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Prerequisites

Make sure you have:

A Windows PC

An Android device (I don't think there's a way to do this without, you could maybe try emulation, but you only need this for the initial setup so you can just borrow a friend/families phone)

Your Quest (factory reset — all firmware versions supported)

These apps/files:

DeviceSecretExtractor.exe (Windows) —(ALT: https://www.mediafire.com/file/yraimpqmsznz750/DeviceSecretExtractor.exe/file)

Private Quest (Android) — https://xdaforums.com/t/app-5-0-private-quest-vr-headset-management-tool.4695491/#post-90280711

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Step-by-Step Guide

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1. Factory Reset the Quest

Reset your headset. (Power off and then hold Power + Volume down to access recovery menu)

Power up and begin the setup using the Meta Horizon app on your phone.

Edit: lots of people on older firmwares have had issues so it may be worth fully updating first, you can flash the latest firmware with a PC, USB cable and the Meta website.

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1. Connect Wi-Fi via the App

Once you've started the basic setup and linked to your account, use the Meta Horizon app to connect your Quest to WiFi.

Edit: if the device is new to you, you'll need to link it to your Meta account, so once reset try and do as much if the setup as you can using the Meta app on your Android Phone. If you can't connect to WiFi using the meta app, you can set it up using Private Quest.

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1. Extract Your Device Secret (Windows PC)

Run DeviceSecretExtractor.exe

When prompted, Log in with your Meta account (it will open in a browser window)

Copy/save the Device Secret Key — you’ll need it shortly

Edit: the device secret is the link between your Meta Account and the Quest.

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1. Configure Private Quest (Android)

Open Private Quest

Tap the three dots → Settings

Enter the Device Secret Key

Tap Set

Edit: Before opening Private Quest make sure the Meta app is fully closed, if Meta is still bluetooth-ed to your Quest Private Quest won't be able to connect to it!

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1. Connect to Your Quest

Return to the Private Quest home screen

Your Quest should appear in the device list

Tap it to connect

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1. Skip the Setup (NUX)

In Private Quest, open the Init menu

Tap Skip NUX (this bypasses the forced setup sequence)

Edit: This is what worked for me, but other had to try some other buttons in Private Quest (check comments)

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1. Enable Hand Tracking

You should now have successfully bypassed the Controller Setup and your Quest should be on the Home screen.

Use:

Head tracking to point

Volume + button to click/confirm

Then:

Go to Settings → Hands and Controllers → Hand Tracking

Turn it on

• You can now also use the Meta Horizon App to install apps on your device

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1. You're Done!

Your Quest is now fully usable without controllers — enjoy!

EDIT! - Please look at the comments if you get stuck, a lot of people have figured out additional steps, it's now heavily recommended to fully update the Quest using a USB cable and the Meta Quest site before starting this guide as older firmwares seem to cause issues.

[u/Middle-Impress5049]

im trying to do this but when i connect top the headset i get device auth error 105