To set up SteamVR Chaperone, clear a safe play area, launch SteamVR, wait for your devices to show ready, and follow the Room Setup prompts to designate the space. To test it, slowly approach the virtual edge from inside the cleared area and check that the warning grid appears. Chaperone marks the boundary you set; it does not detect furniture, pets, ceilings, or other hazards.
Make the play area safe before setup
Move furniture, cables, pets, and other obstacles out of the intended play space. Check that you can extend both arms while holding the controllers without reaching a wall, ceiling, light fixture, or nearby object. Account for anything that projects into the space, not just objects at floor level.
For Valve Index room-scale use, Valve specifies at least 2 m by 1.5 m (6.5 ft by 5 ft) of clear space. That figure is specific to the Index guide, not a universal minimum for every headset. Seated-only and standing-only setups need less space; use the mode and play-area guidance shown for your headset. Valve Index setup guide
Set up SteamVR Chaperone
- Start SteamVR. Wait for the headset and tracking devices to appear ready in the SteamVR status window. Valve indicates that a ready device is shown as solid green.
- Open Room Setup. Follow the prompts displayed for your headset and software version. The workflow establishes the play area by having you designate it with the controllers; exact screen labels and steps can vary by device.
- Designate the area you actually cleared. Keep the outlined play space within the safe area and allow room for arm movement. Do not include a space that reaches into furniture or other hazards.
- Complete the prompts and return to SteamVR. The boundary you designated is what Chaperone will use to show its warning grid as you approach the edge. Valve’s SteamVR Chaperone FAQ
Test the boundary without putting yourself at risk
Begin well inside the cleared area. Move slowly toward each edge and confirm that the grid appears as you approach the designated boundary. This is a cautious practical check based on the documented warning behavior, not a formal Valve test procedure. Do not run, lunge, or deliberately collide with the virtual boundary: Valve warns that the grid may not appear soon enough for someone moving quickly.
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Chaperone is not a room-scanning safety system. It indicates only the boundary you designated; it does not detect or display physical tables, pets, the floor, ceiling, or overhead obstacles, and the grid is not continuously visible across the play area. Valve cautions that “Chaperone is not a substitute for a planning a safe play area or a spotter.” Keep the physical space clear and use a spotter when appropriate.
Choose the setup mode that fits your space
| Mode | Space and use | Setup consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Room-scale | For movement around a designated area. Valve’s Index guide specifies at least 2 m by 1.5 m (6.5 ft by 5 ft) of clear space for Index room-scale. | Ensure the whole designated area, including room for outstretched arms, is free of obstacles. |
| Standing-only or seated-only | Requires less clear space than room-scale. | Follow the tracking and Room Setup prompts supported by your headset; do not apply the Index room-scale measurement as a universal requirement. |
Fix a boundary that is wrong or missing
The virtual floor or forward direction is wrong
Run SteamVR > Run Room Setup and follow the prompts again. Valve’s Index troubleshooting guidance also describes advanced room setup options for changing orientation. Rerun setup if you have changed the room or tracking hardware. Valve Index troubleshooting
Rank #2
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The floor height is still incorrect
Rerun Room Setup. For Valve’s floor-calibration method, place the controllers on the floor with their triggers facing upward to reduce wobble. If the floor is particularly reflective, place a flat, non-reflective object beneath them. Valve also lists a quick calibration at SteamVR Settings > Developer > Room and Tracking. Valve floor calibration guidance
Tracking drifts or the headset appears to float
- Check that base stations are powered, visible, aimed toward the play area, and mounted on a stable surface, if your setup uses them.
- Cover reflective windows, mirrors, televisions, or monitor screens that may interfere with tracking.
- After changing the room or station positions, run Room Setup again.
Base stations are relevant only to compatible Lighthouse-tracked setups; they are not required simply to configure or test a software boundary. Valve tracking guidance
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A headset or tracking device is not ready
In the SteamVR status window, check whether the device is solid green. If it is not, check its connections and restart SteamVR before continuing with Room Setup. Valve Index troubleshooting
Quick Recap
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