Tip: Switch from VR to Monitor without restarting or exiting Elite

I've been surprised how many VR pilots I've mentioned this to didn't know you could do this. You can switch between VR and playing on your monitor(s). No tricks needed, just go into the graphics options and set 3D to "Off" instead of "HMD" (speakers or headphones) and set the proper resolution/window/etc. I use this often when doing things like jumping from system to system or simple missions for materials. When I do combat or pretty exploration I pop back into VR then when I need to jump a bunch and want to see my other monitors I switch out of VR. Works great.

Enjoy.

~X
 
Sure, a good tool for launching the game but doesn't help switching in/out of VR while in game (unless I missed something)
 
Last time I tried doing that, the game crashed :) I am running non-steam/non-oculus version. I now have problems getting the Oculus runtime to sod off ... even with the HMD disconnected it still launches and cannot be closed without force quitting ED. Bloody annoying.
 
Last time I tried doing that, the game crashed :) I am running non-steam/non-oculus version. I now have problems getting the Oculus runtime to sod off ... even with the HMD disconnected it still launches and cannot be closed without force quitting ED. Bloody annoying.

To stop the Oculus app from starting all the time you need to disable its Windows background service by following Alec Turner's advice here (see last paragraph, but I've copied the whole post because all of it is useful):

OK, first thing you should do is install drkaii's excellent EDProfiler which will allow you to configure different profiles (including graphics settings, key bindings and HUD colours) for your VR and non-VR gameplay.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...er-Robust-Settings-Profiler-Switcher-Detector!

The thing which determines whether you get VR gameplay is setting 3D to "HMD Headphones" so you'd create two profiles, one with that set and one with 3D set to "none" (or whatever the non-HMD option is, can't remember exactly). Then what you do is start EDProfiler, select whichever of the two profiles you want, hit Apply and then run the game from your desktop shortcut as normal.

Now ... that said, even when you're running a 2D profile, Oculus Home will still start up. You can prevent this happening if you want by stopping the OVRService Windows service. What I do is to have two desktop shortcuts, one labelled "Stop Oculus" (which is a shortcut to the command 'net stop OVRService') and another labelled "Start Oculus" (which is a shortcut to 'net start OVRService'). Stopping the service will also prevent the Oculus switching itself on if anything happens to come near it's proximity sensor (e.g. I store mine in a fleece bag which was always setting it off).

Alternatively rather than stopping/starting the service manually you can use the batch file functionality in EDProfiler to do it for you when you switch between VR and 2D (which is what I do).
 
Game always crashes for me if I try this. I have to really finagle it to get it to switch back to monitor from HMD. HMD to monitor is fine usually.
 
I've been surprised how many VR pilots I've mentioned this to didn't know you could do this. You can switch between VR and playing on your monitor(s). No tricks needed, just go into the graphics options and set 3D to "Off" instead of "HMD" (speakers or headphones) and set the proper resolution/window/etc. I use this often when doing things like jumping from system to system or simple missions for materials. When I do combat or pretty exploration I pop back into VR then when I need to jump a bunch and want to see my other monitors I switch out of VR. Works great.

Enjoy.

~X
Please could you confirm me that its still working this option?

It would be great , cuz its so practical, but i can not find that option now (switching screen and vr). May be it changed with the updates?

Thanks!
 
Please could you confirm me that its still working this option?

It would be great , cuz its so practical, but i can not find that option now (switching screen and vr). May be it changed with the updates?

Thanks!
You need to start the game with VR, and then you can switch it off/on. But if you start it in pancake mode, there is no way to turn on VR.
 
Thanks a lot , i tested it and as you said works fine. (No crashes with ED Odissey last version and win10)

Only i am curious if there is anyway to bind a key on my keyboard or joystick to Switch mode (vr to screen and back) so i have not the need to enter the configuration menu each time i want to change mode?

For example if i travel long distances to go to the last system planet i prefer to take my vr headset (hmd) off, switching to screen , till i am near , so i can do other things on the pc while my ship is traveling that time

Cheers and thanks again!
 
Thanks a lot , i tested it and as you said works fine. (No crashes with ED Odissey last version and win10)

Only i am curious if there is anyway to bind a key on my keyboard or joystick to Switch mode (vr to screen and back) so i have not the need to enter the configuration menu each time i want to change mode?

For example if i travel long distances to go to the last system planet i prefer to take my vr headset (hmd) off, switching to screen , till i am near , so i can do other things on the pc while my ship is traveling that time

Cheers and thanks again!
As far as I know, no at the moment. If I remember correctly, there were people asking for that here on the forum. But nothing :(
 
You could probably Voice Attack macro a command to switch from and to VR. I don't think that would be "disallowed"? It's not an automation to give you can advantage per se, just a QOL function? I've not actually tried using the menu functions via keyboard only, but if you can, that should (in theory) be possible.

Just to add to the VR to pancake switching thing; Yes, it works, but I've had issues switching audio devices. When I switch from my VR headset, the screen goes to regular, but the audio stays on the Quest 2 headset and nothing I do will change it. If I switch the audio beforehand it's fine, just not after.
 
Very useful information, thanks. I will try Voice Attack soon probably.
Sad ED has not that switch option implemented ingame, but at least VR works in this great sim.
Yep i also have had the issue that the game changes my screen resolution when i go from vr to screen.
Have a nice cosmoflight CMDr!
 
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