META QUEST ON MAC
Your Quest, your Mac, no PC in between.
Meta's PC streaming is Windows-only, so a Quest owner with a Mac has usually been stuck with standalone games. MoltenVR runs PC VR games on your Apple Silicon Mac and streams them to Quest 2, Quest 3, Quest 3S or Quest Pro over a USB-C cable or Wi-Fi.
The MoltenVR headset app
MoltenVR has its own native app for Quest. Your game library shows up in VR: browse, launch, and land back in the library when a game quits, without taking the headset off. It finds your Mac over USB, Bonjour or the local network, and pairs once with a PIN shown on the Mac.
Install it from the Mac with the headset plugged in (Settings → Headsets → Install on headset), or sideload the APK attached to each MoltenVR release. The installation guide covers every step.
USB-C cable or Wi-Fi
Over a cable you get the steadiest stream, plus PyroWave, an optional low-latency codec for USB. Over Wi-Fi you get to move freely; a 5 GHz or 6 GHz network is the way to go. Either way the stream runs HEVC or H.264 at up to 120 Hz, with Quest 3's extended refresh rates on top. Not sure what your setup can handle? Press Find best settings: it tests your Mac and connection and picks resolution, refresh rate and codec for you. Change settings mid-game and you stay connected. See USB streaming and Wi-Fi streaming.
Sound and voice chat
Game audio streams to the headset with nothing to install. The Quest's microphone appears on the Mac as MoltenVR Microphone, so Discord and other apps can hear you.
Which Quest works best?
Quest 3 is the reference headset the MoltenVR team tests on, and it gets extended refresh rates on top of 120 Hz. Quest 2, Quest 3S and Quest Pro run the same app. PICO 4 and PICO 4 Ultra are supported experimentally too. The headset compatibility list has the details.
What you can play
Windows VR games through Wine, Linux builds through Inversa (one way to play Half-Life: Alyx), Mac-native VR apps, and Minecraft through Vivecraft. The community keeps a running list on the game compatibility page. For the bigger picture, read VR on Mac.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a Meta Quest with a Mac?
Yes. MoltenVR runs PC VR games on an Apple Silicon Mac and streams them to Quest 2, Quest 3, Quest 3S or Quest Pro through the MoltenVR headset app, over a USB-C cable or Wi-Fi. No Windows PC or SteamVR is needed.
Do I need a gaming PC to play PC VR on my Quest?
No. The games run on the Mac itself, and the Mac streams them to the headset. The headset app only receives the stream and sends tracking and controller input back.
How do I install the MoltenVR app on my Quest?
Plug the headset into your Mac with a USB-C cable and use Settings → Headsets → Install on headset in MoltenVR. You can also sideload the APK, which is attached to every MoltenVR release. Then pair once with the PIN shown on the Mac.
Should I use a USB-C cable or Wi-Fi?
Both work. A cable gives the steadiest connection and unlocks PyroWave, an optional low-latency codec for USB. Wi-Fi gives you freedom to move; use a 5 GHz or 6 GHz network. Find best settings tests your connection and picks resolution, refresh rate and codec for you.
What refresh rates does the Quest get?
Up to 120 Hz, and Quest 3 gets its extended refresh rates on top. MoltenVR Free streams HEVC at 60 Hz; MoltenVR Pro unlocks every resolution and refresh rate.
Does game audio play in the headset?
Yes, with nothing extra to install: macOS records the system audio and MoltenVR streams it to the headset. The Quest's microphone also shows up on the Mac as an input called MoltenVR Microphone, so Discord and other apps can use it.
Which Mac do I need?
Any Apple Silicon Mac from an M1 with 8 GB of memory, on macOS 14 Sonoma or later. An M3 with 16 GB, an M2 with 24 GB, or any Pro, Max or Ultra chip is recommended.
Free to download with a 7-day Pro trial. See Free and Pro.