Google Daydream is a few weeks old and we have had lots of time to play with Google’s Daydream View headset. Google has done a great job with the headset, trying to go new ways by using fabric instead of plastic and in general making it as approachable for the general public as possible.

However the headset does have its drawbacks. It’s not as comfortable as it looks, the field of view (FOV) is only around 90°, there is no focus wheel for users who suffer from near- or farsightedness and the interpupillary distance (IPD) cannot be adjusted. Heck, let’s get rid of our rose-colored glasses, that’s quite a lot drawbacks!

That would be a big problem if Daydream users would be forced to only use the Daydream View headset. Few people know that this actually is not th case! The Daydream VR platform is fully compatible to any 3rd party headset! And that 3rd party support is directly baked into the platform. In this article we will show you how to pair any 3rd party headset, like for example the brilliant Bobo Z4 with Daydream VR! And it is sooo simple!

Follow these steps to pair any 3rd party Cardboard VR headset with Daydream VR:

Open the Daydream app on your phone. If the app asks you to insert your phone into your viewer, don’t do so but click on the back button until you are in the Android Daydream app. Once you are in the app, click on the hamburger menu item on the top left.

2. In the slide out menu that appears, click on “Settings”.

3. Since you had only used your Daydream View headset so far, under “Headset” it should say “Daydream View”. Click on “Headset”.

4. Your camera starts and the app will ask you to find the headset’s QR Code.

5. Now find your headset’s QR code. In this example, we found it in the headset’s manual, but it could also be printed directly onto the headset or on the manufacturer’s website.

6. Scan the QR code!

7. Success! A pop up will tell you that you have successfully paired your headset with Google VR.

8. And indeed! The name of your paired headset should now show.

9. Now how to use your headset? It’s simple. In the Daydream app, click on the headset symbol on the bottom right.

10. You might get a warning message that this headset is not compatible. Ignore it by clicking on “Got it”. This dialog will appear next which asks you to put your phone into the headset. Do not do so! Instead, tap on the screen at least 5 times in a row!

11. After you have tapped on the screen in quick succession, the two VR pictures for the right and left eye will appear. Success! You can now put your phone into your own 3rd party headset and use Daydream VR just as if you were using the Daydream View headset!

Of course you will still need the original motion controller to do so, but you totally do not need the beautiful but flawed Daydream View headset anymore.

Hopefully you enjoyed this tutorial! Let us know what third party headsets you like to use for Daydream!