---
weight: 200
title: Pairing
---

# Pairing Lighthouse Controllers or Trackers

To pair lighthouse-tracked hardware such as the Valve Index "Knuckles" Controllers,
HTC Vive Wands, HTC Vive Pro controllers, Tundra Labs Trackers or VIVE Trackers you'll
need enough receivers (generally one for each device).

Receivers can be:
- Watchman dongles (plugged in your computer, preferably not on a USB hub)
  - Tundra Labs "SW"-series dongles (now discontinued) can theoretically connect
  3 or even 4 (depending on the version) devices. However stability leaves
  much to be desired when connecting more than 2 (respectively 3) devices.
- If you have a lighthouse-tracked HMD (e.g. Valve Index, HTC Vive, Bigscreen Beyond),
two receivers (for the controllers) are already built in.

## Assigning Trackers

After pairing Trackers, you need to assign roles to each tracker.

This can be done through SteamVR _Settings > Controllers > Manage Trackers_

Alternatively you can also edit the settings-file `$HOME/.steam/steam/config/steamvr.vrsettings` by adding the following section:

```json
"trackers" : {
      "/devices/lighthouse/LHR-xxx" : "TrackerRole_LeftShoulder",
      "/devices/lighthouse/LHR-xxx" : "TrackerRole_RightShoulder",
      "/devices/lighthouse/LHR-xxx" : "TrackerRole_Waist",
      "/devices/lighthouse/LHR-xxx" : "TrackerRole_LeftFoot",
      "/devices/lighthouse/LHR-xxx" : "TrackerRole_RightFoot"
   }
```
Replace LHR-`xxx` with the Serialnumber of each tracker.
Serialnumbers can be obtained (after pairing) from `$HOME/.steam/steam/config/lighthouse/lhr-xxx`

TrackerRoles are formatted `TrackerRole_<yyy>` with `<yyy>` one of:
- None
- Handed
- LeftFoot
- RightFoot
- LeftShoulder
- RightShoulder
- LeftElbow
- RightElbow
- LeftKnee
- RightKnee
- Waist
- Chest
- Camera
- Keyboard

## Pairing via SteamVR

You can follow the normal pairing process by launching SteamVR, and opening the
pairing window (in the Devices menu).

If however for some reason this does not work (in particular, if the pairing window
[does not render](https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamVR-for-Linux/issues/531)),
you can work around it by doing the pairing process via `lighthouse_console`.

## Pairing via `lighthouse_console`

In a terminal, launch `lighthouse_console` by running
```
~/.steam/steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/tools/lighthouse/bin/linux64/lighthouse_console
```

### Identifying available receivers

You'll be greeted by a shell which starts by listing the serial number of attached receivers (both
dongles and built-in, if your HMD is connected).

Selecting a receiver is done by running `serial <serialnumber>` in the opened shell.
When pairing new devices, you'll want to find a receiver that isn't paired with a device already.
After a receiver is selected, you can run `identifycontroller` to check if the receiver
is paired with a device (assuming the device is on).

In general, built-in HMD receivers will have longer serial numbers than dongle
ones.

If either you want to *replace* previously paired devices (e.g. when changing
controllers) or you're struggling to identify which receiver to use, run
`unpairall`. This will unpair all lighthouse devices!

### Pairing a device

Once you have selected an available receiver with `serial <serialnumber>`:

1. Turn on your device
2. Put it in pairing mode (e.g. hold System+B for Valve controllers), the LED
   should be blinking blue
3. Run the `pair` command

After a few seconds, the LED should turn green, and the device is now paired.

Do this for each device you want to pair (remember to use a different receiver
for each device), and exit the shell by running `quit`.
