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Desktop Control Center

vrOS is designed to stay operable from the desktop even when the headset is off or SteamVR is not the active thing on screen.

What the desktop surface is for​

  • Starting and verifying the runtime
  • Managing overlays before you put the headset on
  • Checking settings, integrations, and support-relevant state
  • Recovering from overlay issues without debugging everything from inside VR

Use it for these tasks first​

Overlay setup​

Create or re-open a capture surface, dashboard, tool, HUD, or keyboard from the desktop before trying more complex layouts in VR.

Integration checks​

OBS, Twitch, and VRChat OSC are easier to reconnect and validate from the desktop control center than from inside a live VR session.

Support workflow​

When something breaks, confirm whether it fails in desktop control, in the VR presentation layer, or both. That distinction makes bug reports far more useful.

Best practice​

Set up the layout from desktop control first, then move into VR to position, refine, and use it.