Getting Started

From VRChat Wiki
Revision as of 18:22, 19 August 2024 by DAG-XR (talk | contribs) (Added official Getting Started resource.)
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V · EThis is an official VRChat information page!
It is written and maintained by VRCWiki Team.

This page will help you get started with VRChat. You’ll be up and running in a jiffy!

Reading this page will easily explain:

  • What devices are necessary to run VRChat
  • Where to install VRChat from
  • What to expect during your first few minutes of using VRChat
  • Bonus video guides to help with your first experience

If you are unfamiliar with any Unofficial Community Source Terminology, or subjects, feel free to click on any of the blue highlighted hyperlinks that lead to other pages of the VRChat Wiki.

System requirements / recommendations

Standalone devices

VRChat runs on the following standalone headsets:

  • Meta Quest 2
  • Meta Quest 3
  • Meta Quest Pro
  • Vive XR Elite
  • Pico 4
  • Pico 4 Pro

Mobile phone

VRChat can be played on any Android 10+ device with at least 6GB of system RAM, and is connected to Wi-Fi or over 4G/5G cellular networks.

Any recent mid-range or higher Android device should meet these specifications.

Steam Deck

Valve's testing indicates that VRChat is Verified on Steam Deck. It is fully functional on Steam Deck, and works great with the built-in controls and display.

  • All functionality is accessible when using the default controller configuration.
  • VRChat shows Steam Deck controller icons.
  • In-game interface text is legible on Steam Deck.
  • VRChat's default graphics configuration performs well on Steam Deck.

PC minimum requirements and OS

  • CPU: Intel® i5-4570k/AMD FX 8350 equivalent or greater
  • Memory: 8GB or more
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 970/AMD Radeon™ R9 290 equivalent
  • Disk Space: 21.5GB of storage (~1.5GB for application, remaining for content cache).
  • Internet Connection: 25Mbps+ download
  • OS: Windows 10, Windows 11

These are the absolute minimum requirements to run VRChat on desktop mode. Although the application will run, you may encounter performance issues. VRChat has lots of user-created content, some avatars and worlds may cause your performance to drop more than you might expect from a typical game! It is recommended adjusting Safety Settings for the most optimal experience.

One can download the Are you ready for Valve Index? application to see if their device is compatible with running VRChat in VR mode.

Recommended PC hardware

Last Updated: 15 Apr, 2024

  • CPU: AMD 5800X3D or 7800X3D, or 12th Generation Intel® i5 or later

Ideally, you'd want to get a 7800X3D, as AMD swapped to a new socket (AM5) with this generation.

  • Memory: 32GB or more
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce® RTX 3060 12GB
  • Disk Space: >21.5GB of storage (~1.5GB for application, remaining for content cache).
  • Internet Connection: 100Mbps+ download speed
  • OS: Windows 10,Windows 11

For your CPU, the AMD X3D series of processors perform unusually well in VRChat and other games due to their very large onboard cache. As for the GPU, aiming for the graphics card with the most VRAM available is best.

Installing VRChat

Installing on Meta Quest

Either search for VRChat on the Meta store, or install from the Meta Quest Store page.

Installing on Pico

Either search for VRChat on the Pico store, or install from the Pico Store page.

Installing on Steam

On the Steam Store page, you may either search for VRChat, or click here.

Installing on Viveport

On the Viveport Store page, you may either search for VRChat, or click here.

Installing on Android

You can search for VRChat on the Google Play Store, or tap this link on your mobile device.

Account creation

When you launch VRChat, you will be presented with a log in screen. You will have options on changing languages, reading Official VRChat source Terms of Service and Official VRChat source Privacy Policy, and primarily signing in with a VRChat account, or create a device account via Steam, Meta, Google, Pico, or VIVE, depending on the device being used. To log in to a VRChat account, you must first Official VRChat source register on VRChat's website. Creating a VRChat account will grant you access to the VRChat application, a web version of your VRChat profile, friend list, browse worlds, and generate impostors. You will also be able to access VRChat's Software Development Kit, Official VRChat source Feedback Forums, Official VRChat source Ask Forums, enroll in the Creator Economy Program, and edit the VRChat Wiki.

Creating a device account via Steam, Meta, Google, Pico, or VIVE, will only grant instantaneous access to the VRChat application. It is also possible to merge accounts if you wish to generate a device account now, and later create a VRChat account. After merging your account, choosing to log into the device account will transfer your login to the VRChat account.

Learning how to use VRChat

When you log into VRChat, you’ll start in a private Home world! Here, you can explore at your own pace to learn the controls, adjust settings, find your first avatar, and go to your next world! The default Home world is the VRChat Home, a welcoming place to begin your session. You can choose to go back to your private Home instance at any time by opening up the Quick Menu, and choosing the Go Home tile.

When meeting another user in VRChat, you can open up your Quick Menu, and learn more information about a user. To do this in VR, point the laser in your off-hand at them. A capsule will appear, and you click the trigger button to bring open a separate menu. On desktop, you can either click the Select User tile, or hold the Shift key and hover over the capsule. Use the left mouse button to open the new menu. On mobile, simply tap on the user to bring open the menu.

On any device, you can also open the Quick Menu, and click on the Here tab, which looks like a GPS pin. The Here tab will bring open a list of users in the same instance as you! From here, you can read their biography, request to add them as a friend, change their microphone volume, mute them, hide their avatar, clone their avatar if available, or block them.

Community resources

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V · ECommunity-written content
The following was created by the community. It may contain material not directly endorsed by the VRChat team. To learn more, consider reading Contributing to the VRChat Wiki.

Our community has created many great guides on getting started in VRChat. Here are a few videos that you can check out to learn how to use VRChat, and also some additional guides and context.

Thank you to PHIA and the Virtual Reality Show team for creating the videos below.

  • The Best VR Setup for YOU! - This guide for 2024 reviews the current VR hardware landscape and gives a good picture of what VRChat players use as they upgrade their equipment.

Official resources

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V · EGetting Started in VRChat
Getting StartedMenusControlsSafetyVRChat+TroubleshootingResourcesFAQ