Look, we've all been there. Maybe your headset is acting like a buggy mess, or perhaps you're finally handing it over to a friend because you upgraded. Whatever the reason, you're here because you need to know how to factory reset a Meta Quest 3S. It’s a "nuclear option," sure, but sometimes a fresh start is the only thing that actually fixes those weird tracking glitches or the dreaded black screen of death.
Before we dive into the buttons you need to mash, let’s get one thing straight: this wipes everything. Your save data, your locally stored screenshots of that one epic Beat Saber run, and your login info will be gone. Gone. If you haven't turned on Cloud Backup in the settings, stop right now and go do that. Meta's v64+ software is pretty good about syncing, but it's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your Resident Evil 4 progress.
The Quick Way: Using the Meta Horizon App
If your headset is still somewhat functional and paired to your phone, this is the easiest route. You don't even have to put the thing on your face.
Open up the Meta Horizon app on your phone. It’s the one you used to set the thing up in the first place. Tap on your avatar or the menu, find "Devices," and select your Quest 3S. If it’s connected via Bluetooth, you’ll see "Headset Settings." Deep in there—under "Advanced Settings"—is the "Factory Reset" button. Tap it. Confirm it. Watch the headset reboot.
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It's weirdly satisfying to watch it happen from across the room. Just make sure the headset has at least 50% battery or is plugged into a charger. Bricking a device during a reset because the battery died is a special kind of heartbreak you really don't want to experience.
The Hard Way: Using the Physical Buttons
Sometimes the app won't talk to the headset. Maybe the Wi-Fi is wonky or the Quest 3S is just frozen on a logo. In that case, you’ve got to use the "bootloader" menu. This feels a bit like hacking into a mainframe in a 90s movie, but it's actually just standard Android stuff.
- Turn off your headset completely. Hold the power button until the menu pops up and select "Power Off," or just hold it for 10 seconds if it's frozen.
- Hold the Power button and the Volume Down (-) button at the exact same time.
- Keep holding them until you see a screen that looks like a DOS menu from 1994.
- Use the volume buttons to navigate. You can't use the controllers here. The touch sensors don't work. It’s purely old-school buttons.
- Highlight "Factory Reset" and press the Power button to select it.
- It will ask if you're sure. Select "Yes" and press Power again.
The Quest 3S will then do its thing. You'll see the Meta logo, maybe a loading bar, and eventually, it’ll boot back up to the "pull the tabs out of your controllers" screen.
Why You Might Actually Need to Do This
Most people do a factory reset because they're selling the unit. That's smart. You don't want some stranger in another state browsing your "Recently Played" list or having access to your account. But there are technical reasons too.
Software updates on the Quest platform can occasionally "dirty flash," meaning bits of the old OS get tangled with the new ones. This leads to "stuttering," where the world jitters when you move your head. It’s nauseating. Honestly, if you’ve tried clearing your boundary history and checking your room's lighting, and it's still stuttering, a factory reset is the logical next step.
I've also seen cases where the "Guardian" system just stops working. It tells you it can't find the floor, or the pass-through cameras look like static. Usually, this is a software conflict. Wiping the slate clean fixes it 9 times out of 10.
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What Actually Stays on Your Account?
Don't panic about your money. Your games are tied to your Meta account, not the hardware. Once you log back in—or the new owner logs in with their account—those games are still yours to download whenever you want. The only real loss is "local" data. If you’ve sideloaded apps using SideQuest or have custom songs in Synth Riders that aren't cloud-synced, those are toast. Back them up to a PC first if you care about them.
Troubleshooting the Reset Process
What if the buttons don't work? It happens. Sometimes the Volume Down button gets stuck. If you're trying to get into the bootloader and it just keeps booting normally, check if your facial interface (the foam bit) is pressing against the buttons. It’s a common design quirk with the Quest 3S. Pull the interface off slightly and try the button combo again.
If the headset is stuck in a "USB Update Mode" loop, don't freak out. This usually happens if a button was held too long. Just select "Boot Device" from that menu to get back to normal, or proceed with the reset if that was your original plan.
Dealing with "Device Management" Locks
If you bought your Quest 3S used and it's asking for a PIN or says it’s managed by an organization, a factory reset might not be enough. This is Meta's version of an "Activation Lock." If the previous owner didn't remove the device from their "Find My Device" or Meta account, the headset might remain paperweight-adjacent. Always ensure the previous owner has "unpaired" the device from their app before you hand over the cash.
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Fresh Start Checklist
Once the reset is finished, you’re basically holding a brand-new device. You'll need to go through the whole "pairing" dance again.
- Clean the Lenses: Since you’re starting fresh, use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe the optics. No liquid!
- Update the Firmware: The first thing the Quest 3S will do after a reset is look for an update. Let it finish. Do not interrupt it.
- Check Your Boundary: Re-calibrate your floor level. The 3S uses infrared depth sensing, so make sure your floor isn't covered in reflective glass or deep black rugs, which can sometimes confuse the sensors during initial setup.
Essential Next Steps
After you've successfully completed the reset, you need to verify the state of your device. If you are keeping the headset, log back into the Meta Horizon app and begin the re-pairing process. This will prompt the headset to re-sync your library. Navigate to the "Storage" section in the headset settings to see your available space and begin re-downloading your most-used apps first.
If you are selling the device, ensure you have also removed the Quest 3S from your Meta account online. Go to the Meta "Devices" portal on a web browser and click "Delete Device Data" to ensure your account is fully detached from that specific serial number. This prevents any "device already registered" errors for the next person. Finally, take a damp (not wet) cloth to the outer shell and head strap to ensure the hardware looks as clean as the software now is.