PC-tethered like HTC Vive and Oculus Rift or PlayStation VR can easily share VR experience with people in the same room by showing a monitor or TV which is already connected to PC or game console. However, Oculus Quest is self-contained. It’s not connected to anything. How can you share your experience on Oculus Quest with your friends and family? The answer is to cast Oculus Quest gameplay to your phone or to a TV with Google Chromecast.
Please note that your phone, Oculus Quest, and Chomecast (if cast to a TV) have to be connected to the same WiFi network. And, there are some apps or games that are not allowed for casting. If you try, it will show a message and stops casting itself.
How to cast to your TV
You need a Google Chromecast to cast to your TV. The compatible Chromecast variation is the 3rd gen or Ultra.
- Open the Oculus mobile app
- Tap the cast icon on the top
- Select your Oculus Quest in the “Cast From” section
- Select your Chromecast device in the “Cast To” section
- Select “Video Quality” either “Standard” or “Low”
- Tap “Start” on the bottom
How to cast to your phone
- Open the Oculus mobile app
- Tap the cast icon on the top
- Select you Oculus Quest in the “Cast From” section
- Select “This Phone” in “Cast To” section
- Tap “Start” on the button
How to stop casting
- Tap the screen on the phone, and the “Stop” button will appear on the bottom
- Tap “Stop” to stop casting
or
- Through the headset, open the menu bar by pressing the Oculus button (the flat button on the right controller)
- Click “Sharing”
- Click “Cast”, and select “Stop Casting” in the popup window
How to cast to a TV without Chromecast
For those who don’t have Chromecast, there is a workaround to cast to your TV without it. If you have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, you can mirror the display with using Samsung Dex. First, you normally cast to your phone and connect the Dex device or cable to your TV. Similarly, iPhones can be connected to a TV with the Apple Lightning Digital AV adapter. If you have Apple TV, you can use the AirPlay feature to mirror the display wirelessly.
Please note that when you cast to your phone, the display’s quality is bad. It may be OK when you see a small screen of a smartphone. But when you mirror to your TV, you may not tolerate the quality. So, If you really want to see it on a big screen TV, I suggest buying Chromecast. Oculus Quest doesn’t support 4K. So, the display will be the same quality by using either the 3rd gen or Ultra. To choose one between the 3rd gen and Ultra, consider other factors, such as the resolution of your TV, other apps you use, and so on.