Home › Guides › Side-by-side 3D

How to use side-by-side 3D on AR glasses in Windows

Applies to XR display glasses with an SBS mode, on Windows 10 (19041+) and 11.

Side-by-side (SBS) 3D sends a separate image to each eye: the left half of the frame goes to your left eye and the right half to your right eye. Most current AR/XR display glasses support it, and on a Windows PC it's the way to get real stereoscopic 3D from movies, games and apps.

Step 1: Switch the glasses into SBS mode

Each brand does this differently. Often it's a long press on a button or a menu option. Check your glasses' manual. In SBS mode, Windows usually sees the glasses as a wider display.

Step 2: Set the right resolution

Open Settings › System › Display, select the glasses and choose the SBS resolution, commonly 3840×1080 (full SBS).
Some glasses run SBS at a lower refresh rate than 2D mode, such as 60 Hz.
Use a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode, or the adapter your glasses require.

Step 3: Use SBS content

3D movies: use a video player that supports SBS files, and choose full SBS rather than half SBS when possible.
Games: some games and emulators have SBS output. For flat games, see how to make 2D games look 3D.

Step 4: Fix common SBS problems

Squashed image: you're watching half SBS stretched across the full width. Change the player's mode.
Double vision or eye strain: the two images may be misaligned. See our misaligned image fix.
Windows desktop is unusable: normal 2D apps look split in SBS mode. Switch back to 2D for desktop work.
Stutter: SBS doubles the pixel count. Lower game settings or close background apps.

How Complete VR Studio helps

Complete VR Studio is a Windows PC app with an SBS mode for XR glasses, combined with per-eye tuning:

Per-eye perspective/tilt, stretch/curvature and color, so the two halves line up and match.
A 2D-to-3D depth effect that slightly enlarges or warps one eye's image, or tilts the lead eye, so ordinary 2D content gets layered depth.
Edge fade and gyro controls.

On the developer's PC, SBS ran at about 60 FPS at 3840×1080, and 2D at about 120 FPS at 1080p/120 Hz. RayNeo Air 3 is fully tested; XREAL/Nreal, VITURE and Rokid use manual profiles that aren't validated yet, and Quest/OpenXR is experimental.

Trial, price and how to get it

Complete VR Studio is a Windows 10 (version 19041 or newer) and Windows 11 x64 app, currently at version 1.0.0-preview.10. Premium features are included in a 7-day trial from install, and basic viewing keeps working until day 90. Activation costs about $5 in Bitcoin during the trial, or about $25 after it, paid in Bitcoin only. It's built security-first. See trial & pricing and compatibility for details.

Request your installer

FAQ

What resolution is SBS on AR glasses?

Full side-by-side is commonly 3840×1080, with each eye getting 1920×1080.

What is the difference between full SBS and half SBS?

Full SBS keeps full resolution per eye; half SBS squeezes both views into a normal-width frame, halving horizontal resolution.

Does Complete VR Studio have an SBS mode?

Yes, with per-eye tuning and a 2D-to-3D depth effect. Performance was about 60 FPS at 3840×1080 on the developer's PC.