【VRChat】How Do You Do Facial/Face Tracking and Eye Tracking? 8 Methods Explained【Updated April 16, 2026】

What Are Facial Tracking and Eye Tracking?

　Full-body tracking is abbreviated as “full-body tracking,” and in general terms, it refers to tracking the entire body’s movements. In VRChat, body tracking is commonly referred to as full-body tracking. In contrast, eye and facial expressions are typically not tracked, but instead controlled via controllers. In VRChat’s full-body tracking, facial tracking and eye tracking are not included.
Commercially available avatars support full-body tracking, but very few support eye tracking and facial tracking.

　When we say “eye tracking and facial tracking compatible” here, we mean adding “face tracking” (facial tracking) and “eye tracking” to your avatar, making it compatible with both facial tracking and eye tracking, while also going beyond

conventional full-body tracking only
→ full-body tracking + eye tracking + facial tracking

That is what we are talking about adding.

The idea is to also track facial movements and eye movements.

There are desktop-based types and VR-based types. The VR-based ones are divided into external add-on types and built-in types.

I will introduce methods for facial tracking and face tracking, but the methods and setup procedures have already been tested by those who came before us.

The General Setup Process Is 3 STEPs

In this article, I will cover not only the Quest Pro case I tried and the Valve Index facial tracking case, but also various recent methods. The general setup process is 3 STEPs.

Step 1: Buy the hardware and adjust the software/drivers (described for each device)

To use facial tracking and eye tracking, you need to purchase several dedicated devices.
The requirements differ for each device, so please be careful.

Step 2: Install the face adjustment tool for commercially available avatars in Unity

You can purchase a commercially available avatar and simply install the adjustment tool to complete the setup. Separate instructions will be provided for original avatars and VRoid.

Step 3: Configure settings in VRChat

Settings are also required within VRChat.

 

【Head-Mounted Only】What Do You Need for Eye Tracking + Facial Tracking?

There are about 8 patterns.

Eye Tracking Is More Difficult Than Face Tracking

Facial tracking uses camera tracking, so there are quite a few external add-on options available. However, eye tracking needs to meet safety standards, which makes it quite challenging. For desktop mode, a standalone camera is sufficient. That said, since very few VR headsets have built-in eye tracking, choosing one is difficult.

“The ones I’d recommend are discontinued”

“The ones I’d recommend are discontinued” and “the ones I can’t recommend are either new or come with risks” — it’s a difficult situation. Many products were sold for years but were discontinued due to poor sales.

I recommend waiting for the Bigscreen Beyond 2e with eye tracking

Assuming you also want full-body tracking capabilities and are looking for official products, there are currently 5 well-known options. 【1】, 【2】, and 【4】 are discontinued. If you can get your hands on one, 【4】 is the easiest option and recommended as an HMD-only purchase, but it has been discontinued.

【1】”Vive Pro Eye” + “VIVE Facial Tracker” 【Both Discontinued】

Both have been discontinued. In terms of performance and usability, this combination is considered the best. I was unable to try it because the Vive Pro Eye is difficult to obtain.

【2】XR Elite + Dedicated Facial Tracker 【Not Recommended】

Compared to the Quest series and PICO series, VIVE’s non-Lighthouse headsets generally have lower build quality, so I simply cannot recommend them.

【3】Focus Vision + Dedicated Facial Tracker 【Not Recommended】

Not recommended for the same reasons as 【2】. Also, since it uses Fresnel lenses, you’ll be disappointed if you expect it to be on par with other HMDs. I’ve seen this happen to several people. I recommend trying it via rental first.

【4】Quest Pro 【Eye Tracking + Face Tracking — Was Recommended but Now Discontinued】

I don’t understand why Quest Pro only started becoming popular now, when there was a period when it was available for around 100,000 yen. The market overall is shrinking, so this was a device you should have bought when it was available.

【5】Purchasing Pimax Crystal, Varjo Aero, Pico 4 Enterprise, etc.

Pico 4 Enterprise is for corporate use only and cannot be purchased by consumers. There is also a Pico 4 Pro, but it is for the Chinese market. There are various hurdles such as requiring real-name registration. In any case, since PICO-related devices end up being used in officially unsupported ways, we have decided not to cover them on this site. Be careful about the Radio Law and PSE Law when importing devices directly from overseas — especially the latter. Varjo Aero is discontinued and only available used. Pimax Crystal is still on sale, but at 1.5kg, it is quite heavy for an HMD. I recommend trying it via rental first.

【6】Bigscreen Beyond 2e 【Eye Tracking Only】

Since there are very few HMDs with eye tracking support, this is one that is available for domestic purchase. Since 【2】 and 【3】 are not particularly recommended, if 【4】 is unavailable, I recommend waiting for 【6】 before making a decision.

【7】Buy an External Face Tracker 【Face Tracking Only】

I will also introduce 【7】, but information is still limited. Currently, only the Quest 3 version is supported, but personally, I think it would be great if it could be combined with the Bigscreen Beyond 2e. There are options such as EF Tracker for Beyond 　https://vlugin.jp/2026/02/23/eftraforbeyo/. A Quest 3 version is also planned.

 

【8】DIY and Doujin Hardware 【Face Tracking Only】

Project Babble https://babble.diy/ and DIY/doujin (indie) methods are also available. Be careful about the Radio Law and PSE Law — especially the latter. I do not recommend this at all. An attachment for Bigscreen Beyond 2 has been made, and combining it with the 2e may enable facial tracking + eye tracking. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6193488
By the way, there are also DIY eye tracking solutions, but since eye tracking requires ensuring safety, I cannot recommend them at all. https://github.com/EyeTrackVR

There is also a method to create your own using Project Babble: Baballonia https://store.steampowered.com/app/4091970/Project_Babble_Baballonia/

 

【9】Wait for Steam Frame 【Eye Tracking Only】

It has been announced, but the domestic release date is undetermined. Not recommended if you need something immediately.

Valve　Valve Index後継機こと「Steam Frame」を含む他3種類のデバイスを発表

These are the available options. As of November 2025, the only ones available for new purchase are 【2】, 【3】, 【5】, and 【6】. First, I would like to introduce the currently available options: 【2】, 【3】, 【4】, 【6】, and 【7】. Our site’s stance is that we will continue to provide information as it becomes available, and each person will need to combine options and find their own solution. 【9】 is not recommended because domestic regulatory compliance will still take some time. Personally, since these products have been discontinued due to lack of popularity, I think it will be difficult for major device manufacturers to actively produce them for a while, so we may have to get by with doujin (indie) hardware.

 

Step 1:【Hardware】Setup Methods

【1】 Discontinued, described later

【2】XR Elite Guide 【Not Recommended】

XR Elite

The HMD software is incomplete for its high price, so I do not recommend purchasing it.
Rental is available, so I recommend that option instead.

VIVE XR Elite

For details, please check Kohalog. A friend of ours also owned one, but
they have already switched to a different device due to poor usability and fragility.
Based on stories from buyers around me, I know of someone who bought the unit with all the optional accessories but switched to purchasing a Quest Pro within a single day due to too many setup issues and problems, and others who switched because it was fragile and completely unsuitable for VR sleep.

Also, current owners reportedly reinforce theirs with 3D-printed parts.

実は微妙すぎる…？VIVEの新作VRヘッドセット「VIVE XR Elite」を予約購入したので所感レビュー！

STEP 1. What do you need to get?

Purchase the main unit and buy the dedicated facial tracker. Please note that it is a proprietary accessory.

 

STEP 2. Setup Method

The setup method is as follows.
Follow the VIVE Full Face Tracker Support manual

【3】Focus Vision Guide 【Not Recommended】

Focus Vision

Based on information from friends, the HMD software is incomplete, so I do not recommend purchasing it.
Detailed specs are as follows.

Some users have already switched to different devices due to poor usability.
There weren’t many reviews until now, but user reviews have started appearing, so I’m linking them here.

https://note.com/vrcuchan/n/nc9783fe16fcc

Overall, it seems to be more practical than the XR Elite…

STEP 1. What do you need to get?

You need the Facial Tracker and the main unit. Eye tracking comes built-in.

https://www.vive.com/jp/accessory/facial-tracker-for-vive-focus-series/

A demo of it in action:

STEP 2. Setup Method

The setup method is as follows.

Comparison with Pro Eye

The review states disappointment. For Japanese users, since their pupils are dark-colored, eye tracking tends to respond more easily, so
it’s hard to make the same judgment, but it seems certain that the Pro Eye is superior.

I’m not even going to lie, I have been extremely disappointed in the Vive Focus Vision..@htcvive when are you guys going to fix the eye tracking issues your headsets have?

Here is a comparison between the Vive Pro Eye compared to the Focus Vision. https://t.co/gh9bu09ZSZ pic.twitter.com/Beh04VHqFZ

— Meaty (@meaty_tw) October 23, 2024

【4】【Discontinued】Quest Pro Guide (Facial + Eye Tracking)

It has been discontinued, but it is kept here as it may be obtainable secondhand.

STEP 1. What do you need to get?

Buy a Quest Pro. Face tracking and eye tracking are built-in, so nothing else is needed.

STEP 2. Install VRCFaceTracking

Next, Step 4: Install VRCFaceTracking by following the settings below.
https://qiita.com/Kazu_Sack/items/14460dac1dd149bf1ff5

I also tried installing it myself. It was completed in about 2 hours using Virtual Desktop.
If it doesn’t work, restarting usually fixes it. This method works with any VRCFaceTracking-compatible device. (For VIVE PRO Eye, etc., it may not work due to driver compatibility issues.)

I completed the Quest Pro facial tracking setup. Here is a video of it tested with a compatible avatar.
I’m winking, opening my mouth, etc. without speaking. The rest is just avatar-side adjustments.

【5】Varjo Aero, Pimax Crystal

Varjo Aero

Rental is available, but the price is very high.

Varjo XR-3

https://note.com/aomitsu/n/n6390de3e88d9

Available as used units.

(Used) Varjo Aero

 

Pimax Crystal is heavy, so rental is recommended.

Pimax Crystal

【6】Bigscreen Beyond 2e 【Eye Tracking Only】

Bigscreen Beyond 2

世界最小・最軽量のVRヘッドセット「Bigscreen Beyond」を使って、VRChatを遊んでみて感じたこと【レビュー】

For impressions of the Bigscreen Beyond, please refer to Kohalog. The 2e is the eye tracking-equipped model, and the price is slightly different.
Bigscreen Beyond 2e will come with eye tracking functionality. For details, please check the official website.

 

「Bigscreen Beyond 2e」のアイトラッキング機構
フラッグシップモデルである「Beyond 2e」には、砂粒ほど小さいイメージセンサーによる世界最小クラスのアイトラッキング機構が搭載されており、最先端のAI＆コンピュータービジョン技術で処理されます。具体的には、イメージセンサーによって取得された画像はAMDやNVIDIAのGPUに送られ、NVIDIA社のCUDAによって学習＆構築された瞳孔位置推定モデルによって処理されます。他社のVRヘッドセットには見られないこの斬新なアプローチで、プライバシーを守りつつ精確かつ低遅延なアイトラッキングが実現しました。Bigscreen Beyondのローンチ以来のポリシー「1グラムでも減らせ」に準拠すべく、「Beyond 2e」モデルは「Beyond 2」に比べて、たった1.05グラムしか重くありません。

さらに、カメラと瞳孔の位置にアクセスできるAPIの提供により、ハードウェア開発者やMOD制作のコミュニティもサポートします。アイトラッキング機能はBigscreen社製のソフトウェアによって動作しますが、サードパーティ製のソフトウェアや、EyetrackVR(ETVR)のようなオープンソースのMODもサポートします。SteamVR、OpenXRやVRChatのような主要アプリをサポートするBigscreen社製のアイトラッキングソフトウェアのパブリックベータ版は、2025年夏の配布開始を予定しています。

Product Specs
Diagonal FOV: 116 degrees

Weight: 107 grams

IPD (Interpupillary Distance): Adjustable from 48mm to 75mm (physically 55mm to 70mm)

Resolution: 2,560 x 2,560 pixels per eye

Refresh Rate: 90Hz, 75Hz

6DoF Tracking Method: SteamVR Tracking
Required for Tracking: Base Station 1.0 or 2.0 (not included)
Eye Tracking: Only available on “Beyond 2e”
Full-Body Tracking: Compatible with VIVE Trackers and Tundra Trackers (not included)
Controller: Compatible with various SteamVR controllers such as Valve Index (not included)

Audio Input: Dual microphone array
Audio Output: On-ear earphones via official audio strap (not included)
Accessory Port: 1x USB-C
PC Connection: 5m fiber optic cable with dedicated link box
Minimum PC Specs
GPU: NVIDIA RTX2070 or AMD RX5700XT or higher (DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC required)
CPU: Quad Core Intel or AMD
Ports: 1x DP1.4 port, 2x USB3.0 ports
OS: Windows 10 or Windows 11

The above information is from the official source: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000021.000045966.html

 

【7】Using the FT1-TYPE F (Spec 2) Wired Face Tracker

This is a wired face tracker. Since the Quest 3’s ambient noise microphone position overlaps with the clip attachment position, please confirm that any interference is acceptable before purchasing.

[Contents]:

Face tracker unit (Warranty: 2 years, up to 4 replacements)
Clip (for attachment, 2-year warranty, up to 4 replacements)
Extension cable (2-year warranty, up to 4 replacements)
[Warranty Information]:

Peace-of-mind 2-year warranty: Covers damage from VR usage accidents (excluding intentional disassembly).
Return policy: Full refund within 1 week of receiving the product, no questions asked (shipping costs borne by the customer).

[Important Notes]:

This product requires a “VRCFT”-compatible avatar and software.
If you need support with avatar modification or software setup, please consult via the official Discord.

https://gamielf.com/

[暫定発送時期:2026/1/26より]FT1-TYPE F(Spec 2)有線フェイストラッカー(税込)

【8】Doujin (Indie) Hardware 【Face Tracking Only】

I generally do not recommend doujin hardware, but since supply shortages are expected going forward, I am listing it here.

Kuchitora (Mouth Tracker)

https://booth.pm/en/items/7569957

 

Step 2:【Avatar Setup】

After completing the hardware setup in Step 1, you need to upload your avatar. The setup method is as follows.

Easy Method for Commercially Available Avatars Like Ria Alice

Everyone’s idol, Nishii Rii-san, purchased a Quest Pro and tried facial tracking.

According to her:

Step 1: Buy Ria Alice (or a similar compatible avatar)
Step 2: Buy the face adjustment tool (described below)

I knew this method was possible with Quest Pro, but in the case of Ria Alice, tools that make the face move are also being sold. She referred to these for implementing facial expressions. As expected from Nishii-san. Amazing.

It seems like you can easily set up facial tracking for popular VRChat avatars by following the steps below. Not limited to Ria Alice, in Nishii-san’s case, the overall flow is as follows. After getting everything together, you proceed with the settings. Start by purchasing an avatar and the face adjustment tool.

Nishii-san’s recommendation is this:

This site sells tools not only for Ria Alice, but also for Mafuyu-chan and others.

https://shopyk.booth.pm/items/5100830

Tools for other avatars are also available.
A well-known creator is echothenekoさん (echotheneko-san):
https://echotheneko.booth.pm/

And Jerry’s Face Tracking is also well-known.

https://adjerry91.booth.pm/

These shops sell compatible avatar tools for Manuka-chan, Kikyo-chan, Moe-chan, Mamehinata-chan, Koyuki-chan, Youko-zoku no Onee-sama-chan, Lopolycon-chan, Karin-chan, Rusk-chan, Chiffon-chan, Cyan-chan, and many more, so please check them out. Since each shop has different movement characteristics, I strongly recommend checking the demo videos to confirm the movements.

For Unsupported Avatars

Using FaceTra Shape Creator, you can automate the process to some extent.

FaceTra Shape Creator: A Unity Editor tool that creates face tracking blend shapes for avatars by morphing meshes. The original mesh asset is not modified, the process is non-destructive, and it automates most of this labor-intensive process.

https://docs.hai-vr.dev/docs/products/facetra-shape-creator

Double Hip Tracker　　This creator is also well-known for other tools.

 

Step 3:【VRChat Settings】

Install VRCFaceTracking
Configure settings in VRChat
Verify operation

After uploading the pre-purchased Ria Alice avatar,
simply follow the instructions that come with the face adjustment tool. This also took about 1 hour to complete.

Since Ria Alice is uploaded to VRChat, go to the Expression Menu and
turn ON the facial tracker and eye tracking.
Then it will work.

 

There are several shops selling face tracking tools for other avatars as well,
so please check them out. Popular avatars like Maya-chan and Celestia-chan have multiple options available.
https://fermat.booth.pm/items

Verifying Operation

What I learned from testing Quest Pro’s facial tracking + eye tracking with Ria Alice is that
actions such as closing eyes, winking, puffing cheeks, and eyelid movements were confirmed to work. The VIVE Facial Tracker is discontinued and makes it very difficult to drink beverages, so the Quest Pro is lightweight and very user-friendly, which makes it recommended.

Mafuyu-chan also worked properly.
https://shopyk.booth.pm/items/5151544

That completes the setup.

 

【Avatar – VRoid Guide】

If You Want to Create a Completely Original Avatar

Import VRCFacialOSCAvatarTool and Shiro-chan (avatar) into Unity.
Then, use VRCFacialOSCAvatarTool to set up facial expressions.
After that, as Yutanii CH. explains in the video, the important part is matching the names of “animation” and “animator” files.
When you convert using VRCFacialOSCAvatarTool, the names don’t match, so you need to align them here. (Around the 10:20 to 12:00 mark.)
As for the VRChat-side settings, watching from 10:20 onward will give you an overview of the entire flow from upload to getting the mouth to move.

After that, the mouth should start moving.

That covers how to set up facial tracking.

I created this as a reference note, so I plan to add and revise content over time.

 

【If You Want to Add It to VRoid, etc.】

I found a video, so I’ll introduce it here.

You Need to Make Your Avatar Perfect Sync Compatible

However, the first part is for people who can work with Blender comfortably, so I went with a Perfect Sync-compatible avatar instead. I purchased mine from this shop:

https://endof.booth.pm/items/4276261

Then, I watched the second part of the video and set it up. (Note: the Quest Pro guide above also covers methods for making regular avatars compatible.
When purchasing the store’s compatible tool, please confirm that the software is compatible.)
That said, creating everything from scratch was quite tedious, so I installed the following software and used that approach.

VRoid users, please refer to the following.

 

If Your PC Specs Are Insufficient

Eye tracking and facial tracking very often use cameras, which demands significant processing power. Depending on the case, you may need to upgrade your PC specs. If VRChat crashes when taking photos, it is often due to insufficient specs. I have introduced the full journey from full-body tracking to eye tracking + facial tracking here, so please refer to it. In my case, I needed to add more RAM and upgrade my graphics card.

顔も体もトラッキングしたい！！　究極の無線HMD＋指トラ＋11点フルトラ＋フェイシャル＋アイトラッキングになるまでの流れを紹介！【無線フルトラ＋アイトラ＋顔トラ】【2025年7月版】

Discontinued Hardware Section

【1】VIVE Facial Tracker Guide (Facial Tracking Only)

By attaching the VIVE Facial Tracker to the eye tracking-capable VIVE PRO Eye, you can enable both eye tracking and facial tracking. It can also be unofficially attached to the Valve Index (which lacks eye tracking), enabling facial tracking only. Rentals are reportedly still available.

VIVE Pro Eye

 

The Facial Tracker itself will work if the driver can recognize it, but please note that using it with devices other than the manufacturer’s officially supported ones constitutes unofficial use. Below, I will introduce how to unofficially attach it to the Valve Index, which lacks eye tracking.

What Is the VIVE Facial Tracker?

The VIVE Facial Tracker is a camera-based tracking device.

Something I recently learned is that the Facial Tracker has been discontinued. That’s unfortunate.
This was the go-to choice for mastering face tracking, and our site has been recommending it, but it seems we’ll have to use Quest Pro for a while.
Also, I recommend following Tona-san. They always provide useful information.

 

What Do You Need to Get? (Hardware & Driver Installation)

For hardware, you need the VIVE Facial Tracker, and in my case, since I have a Valve Index,
I prepared a mounting solution. I referred to Nemu-chan’s article.

https://note.com/nemchan_nel/n/nb39ffd9ebef2

VIVE Facial Tracker

If you follow the instructions in that article, you should have no issues with the hardware side.

【Hardware】【1】Step 1: Purchase the Facial Tracker and Attachment for Your HMD

【1】Step 1: Facial Tracker
【1】Step 2: Doujin (indie) holder (for Index)
【1】Step 3: USB adapter (USB-C to A for Index)
are required. The USB adapter is not needed if your HMD already has a USB-C port.
Nemu-chan’s article mentioned earlier is primarily for Neos, so it needs to be adapted for VRChat.

There is an important note from the official source. If you use a USB-C adapter, it is at your own risk.

2 免責事項:

1. Pro でのみパフォーマンスを保証できます。それは、最初に認識をトレーニングした正確な位置だからです。
2. USB A (m) ～ C (f) は、実際には USB-IF 仕様に反しています。これらのアダプターには準拠する仕様がないため、自己責任で試してください。
Shen氏のツイート内容より翻訳

 

【Driver】【1】Step 2: Driver for the Facial Tracker

The driver location is documented on AkaneFacialOSC’s page,
but please install it from the official source.

What Do You Need to Get? (Software)

Next, you need to set up the avatar and install software.
If you can create avatars in Blender, please refer to the following.
If you’re experienced with both Blender and Unity, watching the front and back half of this video should be enough.

 

 

【Software】Install VRCFacialOSCAvatarTool and AkaneFacialOSC

VRCFacialOSCAvatarTool
https://booth.pm/ja/items/3718123

AkaneFacialOSC
https://azw.booth.pm/items/3686598

I learned how to set up facial tracking by watching Yutanii CH.’s video.
(If this method doesn’t work, try VRCFaceTracking as introduced in the Quest Pro setup section.)

 

 

 

How Do the Different Hardware Options Compare?

Differences Between Quest Pro and Vive Pro Eye 【Discontinued】

There are several things Quest Pro cannot do:
– Tongue tracking depiction is inaccurate or doesn’t work well.

And so on. For tracking performance alone, the VIVE Pro Eye + Facial Tracker is better. Considering availability, the Quest Pro is probably the better choice.

On the accuracy of Vive Pro Eye:

https://bop.unibe.ch/JEMR/article/view/8286/11878

On the performance of various HMDs:

https://www.circuitstream.com/blog/high-end-vr-headsets-comparison-pimax-varjo-xtal-starvr-htc-focus-3-and-hp-reverb-g2-omnicept

Differences Between Quest Pro and Vive Pro Eye (After Update)

Availability Status

As of May 10, 2025, here is the status of hard-to-find items and items available for new purchase.

Discontinued and Hard to Find (Need to Search Secondhand, etc.)

VIVE Pro Eye, VIVE Facial Tracker, Quest Pro

Available for New Purchase

XR Elite, Focus Vision

 

Upcoming Eye Tracking/Facial Tracker Product Releases

FocusRay

Please note that this is a crowdfunded product, so caution is needed.

https://www.aoharunext.co.jp/news/focusray-release

 

Nare Facial Tracker

This product is being purchased and sold by a domestic import distributor, so you can feel secure from a regulatory standpoint. The “Nare Facial Tracker” is an eye tracking and mouth tracking device for the Quest 3 series and Pico 4 series, developed, manufactured, and sold by Korea’s Nare Motion. Here is a hands-on trial of the prototype:

Quest 3やPICO 4で顔トラッキングできる！韓国発・NARE FACIAL TRACKER試用レポート

 

 

 

 

Photos of the Actual Quest Pro

HMDs with eye tracking + facial tracking support are limited. For details, see here:

 

Photos of the Actual Index Controllers

Hand tracking support varies by controller type. For details, see here: