The most common reason panels don't appear is a firewall blocking the connection. Here's how to fix it.
When Ethereal Host installs on Windows, it creates Windows Firewall rules to allow streaming traffic. However, in versions before v1.1.7, these rules were only applied to Private network profiles.
If your WiFi network is set to "Public" in Windows, the firewall blocks Ethereal's streaming connection entirely — and your panels won't appear in Ethereal Planes on your Quest.
This was fixed in v1.1.7, which applies firewall rules to all network profiles automatically. Update to the latest version first — that alone resolves the issue for most users.
Go to ethereal.glass/releases and download the latest version of Ethereal Host. Version 1.1.7 and later apply firewall rules to all network profiles automatically, so you won't hit this issue again.
If updating didn't resolve the issue, make sure your WiFi is set to Private in Windows:
Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi > your network > Network profile type > Private
After updating or changing your network profile, restart both Ethereal Host on your PC and Ethereal Planes on your Quest. The firewall changes take effect after a fresh connection.
Your PC and Quest must be on the same WiFi network. If your PC is on Ethernet and your Quest is on WiFi, make sure both are connected to the same router. Double-check that you haven't accidentally connected one device to a guest network or a different access point.
VPNs can block local network traffic, preventing your Quest from discovering or connecting to Ethereal Host. Disable your VPN while using Ethereal Planes. If you need a VPN for work, check if it supports split tunneling so local traffic can bypass it.
Many corporate, university, and hotel networks block device-to-device communication for security reasons. Ethereal Planes needs to communicate directly with your PC on the local network. If you're on a restricted network, use a personal mobile hotspot as a workaround — connect both your PC and Quest to it.
On macOS, Ethereal Host needs Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions to capture and stream your windows. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security and make sure Ethereal Host is enabled under both Screen Recording and Accessibility.
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