Set Display Refresh Rates
The display refresh rate represents how many times per second a headset’s screen refreshes. A higher refresh rate enables higher frame rates, brighter output, and improved color clarity. However, higher refresh rates require your app to perform its work in shorter amounts of time.
The default display refresh rate for apps is 72 Hz. If you want to run your app at a different refresh rate, you are responsible for ensuring that your app is performant enough to sustain that rate. Apps that can’t consistently render at the desired display refresh rate will fail Meta Horizon Store review. Such apps might exhibit judder, flickering black areas on the peripheries, and other performance-related problems.
Get refresh rates supported by the device
Some headset models are capable of higher display refresh rates than others. While the table below lists the currently available refresh rates, always confirm programmatically that the refresh rate you want is valid on the user’s device before attempting to set that rate.
| Device Model | 60 Hz | 72 Hz | 80 Hz | 90 Hz | 120 Hz |
|---|
Quest | Media
apps only | ✓ | - | - | - |
Quest 2 | Media
apps only | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Quest Pro | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - |
Quest 3 | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Quest 3S | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
60 Hz must only be used by media player apps. It is provided as a way to synchronize 30 FPS or 60 FPS video with the display refresh rate for smooth playback. Note that Media apps can use higher refresh rates, as long as the refresh rates are supported by the device and the app remains performant. Non-media player apps that set the display refresh rate to 60 Hz will fail the Store review.
To see the current refresh rate on your headset:
You can see the current refresh rate on your headset in real time with the following steps:
- Enable developer mode on the Meta Horizon mobile App. For instructions, see Enable Developer Mode.
- Use the Meta Quest Developer Hub desktop to:
- Install the OVR Metrics Tool. For instructions, visit the Meta Horizon Store.
- Configure the Metrics Performance HUD Settings in the Meta Quest Developer Hub to display the frame rate by choosing the settings gear icon, and then check the two boxes for Average FPS.
To get the list of refresh rates supported by a device:
Call OVRPlugin.systemDisplayFrequenciesAvailable to get an array of the available display frequencies.
For example:
float[] freqs = OVRManager.display.displayFrequenciesAvailable;
If you want to set refresh rates other than 72 Hz for your app, the supported devices section of your Android manifest must include a device that supports this rate. The Meta Quest Integration for Unity automatically adds Quest 2 support, <meta-data android:name="com.oculus.supportedDevices" android:value="quest|quest2"/>, in the Android Manifest file. However, if you are using a custom manifest file, this is something you must verify yourself.
To set a refresh rate:
Call OVRPlugin.systemDisplayFrequency with the desired refresh rate.
For example:
OVRPlugin.systemDisplayFrequency = 90.0f;
Considerations for changing refresh rates
If an app with a display refresh rate higher than 72 Hz experiences thermal events, dynamic throttling may change the refresh rate to 72 Hz as a first step. If thermal conditions worsen, dynamic throttling may take an additional step to change frame rate while maintaining the refresh rate (the equivalent of minVsyncs=2).
Handle refresh rate change events (Optional)
If you need your app to know if dynamic throttling reduces the refresh rate so that the app can respond in some way, you can register the OVRManager.DisplayRefreshRateChanged event using a function signature Func(float fromRefreshRate, float ToRefreshRate).
OVRPlugin.systemDisplayFrequency = 90.0f;
OVRManager.DisplayRefreshRateChanged += DisplayRefreshRateChanged
private void DisplayRefreshRateChanged (float fromRefreshRate, float ToRefreshRate)
{
// Handle display refresh rate changes
Debug.Log(string.Format("Refresh rate changed from {0} to {1}", fromRefreshRate, ToRefreshRate));
}
Testing how an app handles dynamic throttling You can simulate the dynamic throttling from a higher display refresh rate. While your app is running, broadcast an intent through the adb shell activity manager. For example, this command simulates throttling for 10 seconds:
adb shell am broadcast -a com.oculus.vrruntimeservice.COMPOSITOR_SIMULATE_THERMAL --es subsystem refresh --ei seconds_throttled 10
If you aren’t able to see a visible change in your app, you can verify the refresh rate change by using xrGetDisplayRefreshRateFB function.
