Solved: Issues with New Quest 3 and DCS Hand Controllers

[mkel2010]

I just got a Quest 3 (first time using VR.) I've connected to my desktop with both a link cable and AirLink. With the LInk cable, I only get the option of controllers or Disabled for Hand Controls and with Airlink I get the Hands option; neither works that I can see. I think Meta has changed their software and removed many settings, but the hand controllers work for everything else. Any suggestions? 

UPDATE: I figured out how to get hand tracking working in DCS. See my post further down for details.

Edited June 16 by mkel2010
Change Topic Title; add info on solution.

[DD_Crash]

not sure if hand controllers work with DCS

[mkel2010]

1 hour ago, DD_Crash said:

not sure if hand controllers work with DCS

Plenty of YouTube videos show it does, going back at least a year.

[Maddaawg]

Controllers have worked in the past but things change, and both Meta and ED have changed over this past year. So will they work, maybe. The better question is why bother? DCS is not designed with VR controllers in mind. My suggestion is get yourself an inexpensive HOTAS off eBay or use the keyboard and mouse.

[diego999]

47 minutes ago, Maddaawg said:

Controllers have worked in the past but things change, and both Meta and ED have changed over this past year. So will they work, maybe. The better question is why bother? DCS is not designed with VR controllers in mind. My suggestion is get yourself an inexpensive HOTAS off eBay or use the keyboard and mouse.

This.

Even when you get the controllers working inside the game, the experience is miserable.

Mouse is not elegant but just works.

[Hempstead]

On 6/14/2025 at 12:32 PM, mkel2010 said:

I just got a Quest 3 (first time using VR.) I've connected to my desktop with both a link cable and AirLink. With the LInk cable, I only get the option of controllers or Disabled for Hand Controls and with Airlink I get the Hands option; neither works that I can see. I think Meta has changed their software and removed many settings, but the hand controllers work for everything else. Any suggestions?

Quest Controllers work. I recently build a new 9950X3D machine, about two weeks ago, and reinstalled everything from scratch. My Quest Pro's controllers still work.

IMHO, Quest controllers are far superior than mouse. Of course, it's a very personal thing. So, try it out for yourself first and don't let others, me included, sway your decision without trying it.

[Draken35]

14 hours ago, diego999 said:

This.

Even when you get the controllers working inside the game, the experience is miserable.

Mouse is not elegant but just works.

How to control the mouse cursor in DCS is a very subjective experience and your overall setup matters. I have a dedicated simpit and I've tried using a traditional mouse, trackballs, trackpads, hand tracking, VR controllers (Quest 2 & 3)  and a set of PointCtrl...  For me, VR Hand controllers works best, but I echo @Hempstead advise, try then and form your own opinion.

 

[mkel2010]

I was finally able to get hand tracking within DCS to work. For anyone else going down this path, it is important to understand that hand tracking ONLY works in Meta's Virtual Desktop app; IT DOES NOT WORK when connecting directly to a computer via link cable or AirLink. Also, apparently it is important to create a Meta Developer account in order to activate Hand Tracking. All that is required for the account is identity verification and takes about 48 hours.

[sleighzy]

4 hours ago, mkel2010 said:

hand tracking ONLY works in Meta's Virtual Desktop app

Which app is that? Do you mean this Virtual Desktop https://www.vrdesktop.net/ ? This isn't Meta, it's a 3rd party developer, and doesn't require a development account. This is an alternative to Meta Link / AirLink.

Edited June 17 by sleighzy

[mkel2010]

1 hour ago, sleighzy said:

Which app is that? Do you mean this Virtual Desktop https://www.vrdesktop.net/ ? This isn't Meta, it's a 3rd party developer, and doesn't require a development account. This is an alternative to Meta Link / AirLink.

I'm referring to the Meta Virtual Desktop App available on the Meta web site for $25. The site you linked to provides the streamer app for Meta's Virtual Desktop to operate and the authors on that web site likely wrote Virtual Desktop, but the app itself is not free. The streaming app from this site runs along side Meta Link on the PC and allow the headset to connect to the PC with Virtual Desktop. 

[sleighzy]

2 hours ago, mkel2010 said:

I'm referring to the Meta Virtual Desktop App available on the Meta web site for $25. The site you linked to provides the streamer app for Meta's Virtual Desktop to operate and the authors on that web site likely wrote Virtual Desktop, but the app itself is not free. The streaming app from this site runs along side Meta Link on the PC and allow the headset to connect to the PC with Virtual Desktop. 

Yup, we're referring to the same thing. Virtual Desktop I linked to runs on the PC, and then you install the one from the Meta Store on the headset which connects to it. Note, the author of the PC streaming app and the headset app are the same people (not Meta), you need both things for it to work. This is the software I use as well. This does not run alongside Meta Link, they're different. You don't even need Meta Link installed.

[slughead]

Hand tracking has always worked via air link and link (i.e. usb cable) and also using Virtual Desktop (third party version of Meta’s Link). If it’s not working via Meta Link (cabled) then I would suspect that either you’re missing a setting or Meta has broken something again - they do it all the time. Virtual Desktop is far more reliable in that they don’t break their own app and it “just works” without the need to faff about with various settings.

With regards to using hand tracking in DCS, the DCS implementation of “hands” is painful to use. Often it takes multiple attempts to throw a switch by which time… you reach for the mouse or die. Stage right - the Slugmouse. A finger worn mouse or game pad button device. So rather than stabbing at controls in the cockpit, just move the mouse cursor over a control by moving your hand and then press the one of the buttons of the five-way hat switch to activate the cockpit control.

More details here:

https://forum.dcs.world/topic/344857-slugmouse-a-mouse-button-emulator-for-hand-tracked-cockpit-clicking/