Tracker Won't Pair
Work through these in order. Most “won’t pair” reports turn out to be one of the first three.
1. Is the tracker actually on?
Press the button once. The LED should light. If it doesn’t, the tracker is dead or empty — drop it on the charging dock for 10 minutes and try again.
If it still doesn’t light after charging, see Charging Issues.
2. Is the receiver plugged in and recognized?
- Receiver in extension cable, extension in PC USB port?
- Other trackers in the same kit working?
If no trackers are visible (not just this one), the receiver is the issue. Jump to Receiver Not Detected.
If other trackers are connected fine and only this one isn’t, continue.
3. Is the SlimeVR Server actually running?
Open the SlimeVR window. It should list connected trackers in real time. If the window isn’t open, nothing will appear there.
4. Power-cycle the tracker
Hold the button to power off. Single-press to power back on. Wait ten seconds.
This fixes most “stuck in a weird state” issues, including trackers that have entered pairing mode by accident.
5. Re-pair it
If the tracker has somehow forgotten its pairing (or you’re using a new receiver):
- In SlimeVR window, trigger receiver pairing mode (see Pairing)
- On the tracker, press the button 3 times quickly — LED starts flashing rapidly
- Wait for the rapid flash to stop. The tracker should appear in the SlimeVR list.
6. Range check
Stand near the receiver (within 1-2 meters) and retry. If it pairs up close but not from your playspace, the receiver placement is killing your signal — see Range & Placement.
7. Try a different USB port
Some USB ports (especially front-panel ports on older PCs) are unreliable. Move the receiver’s extension cable to a different port.
8. Conflict with another receiver
Are there other SlimeVR-compatible trackers or a second receiver in the room (yours, a roommate’s, a borrowed setup)? In rare cases trackers can latch onto a different receiver. Power off other receivers and re-pair.
Still stuck
Post in Discord with:
- Which kit you have
- LED behavior on the affected tracker
- What you’ve tried from this list
- Whether other trackers in the kit are working