How to play SteamVR games with the HTC Vive XR Elite?

In this article you will learn how to play SteamVR games with the HTC vive XR Elite.

What is needed:

• HTC Vive XR Elite
• HTC Vive XR Elite Controllers
• VR-ready PC or laptop
• 5 GHz Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi 6/6E connection

Minimum PC requirements

• Operating System: Windows 10 or later
• CPU: Intel Core i5-4590/AMD Ryzen 5 1500X equivalent or better
• RAM: 8 GB or more
• Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, AMD Radeon RX 580 equivalent or better

To play Steam VR games with the HTC Vive XR Elite, two softwares are required that have to be downloaded and launched on your computer.

Required software

• Vive Streaming Hub
• SteamVR

How to download Vive Streaming Hub

1. If you don’t have Vive Streaming Hub installed on your computer, you need to download it.
2. Click here to download Vive Streaming Hub.
3. After the download an installation window will appear. Agree to the Terms of Use and click on Install at the bottom right.
4. Launch the Vive Streaming Hub on your computer.

How to download SteamVR

1. If you don’t have SteamVR installed on your computer, you need to download it.
2. Visit Steam in your browser on your pc.
3. Click on the blue “INSTALL STEAM” button to start the download.
4. After the download you will be asked what language you want to use for the installation.
5. Select the desired language and click on the “Next” button.
6. Click on the “Install” button at the bottom of that window.
7. The installation of Steam will start.
8. After the installation is finished, click on the “Finish” button at the bottom right corner.
9. Steam will launch.
10. If you already have a Steam account, sign in by entering the account name and password and skip to step 11.
    1. If you do not have a Steam account you need to create one. 
    2. Click on the “Create a Free Account button” at the bottom right corner.
    3. There you have to fill in your E-Mail address and select the country of residence.
    4. At the bottom of that window you will have to tick the box to confirm that you are older than 13 years old and you agree to the Steam Subscriber Agreement and the Valve Privacy Policy.
    5. Click on the blue “Continue button” located on the bottom of that window.
    6. After creating the account you have to verify the E-Mail address. Click on the blue “Verify my E-Mail Address button”.
    7. Open the link that is sent to the E-Mail address you entered.
    8. Your E-Mail address is now verified. Now fill in your desired account name and your Password.
11. In the search bar on the left side, search for SteamVR. If you already have installed that tool, launch it. If not, click on it and then click the blue “INSTALL button” that will appear on the right side.
12. On the left side under the segment tools you will see SteamVR turning green, indicating that it is running.

How to Play SteamVR games on the HTC Vive XR Elite

1. Launch SteamVR and Vive streaming Hub on your computer.
2. Make sure your computer and your headset are connected to the same Wi-Fi.
3. Put on your headset.
4. Go to the main lobby. To do so press the Vive Button on the right controller and click on Back to Lobby on the bottom right corner.
5. In the dock which is located at the bottom of your view, click on Settings.
6. On the left side of the Settings window click on Connectivity.
7. Under the Wi-Fi section you will see the name of your computer, click on it to connect.
8. This will activate passthrough on your headset.
9. On your computer a QR code will appear. Look at the QR code through the headset to connect.
10. If the connecting process was successful a green checkmark icon will appear inside the headset.
11. Now go back to the main Lobby and click on the Library icon which is located on the left side of the dock.
12. Inside the library click on the toggle at the top right to switch from the VR icon to the PC icon.
13. All the PC VR games will now be displayed in the library.
14. Select a game to start it. 

You will now know how to play SteamVR games on the HTC Vive XR Elite.