Oculus Quest 2 comes with the latest features. One of these features is the Developer mode which allows you, the Oculus user, to perform additional functions such as file transfer from your PC or computer to your VR device and vice-versa. This gives you an advantage of exploring and installing a wide range of non-oculus apps and games. This will make your gaming and VR experiences wonderful as you are not restricted to Oculus apps and games only.
There are many procedures that you are required to follow before you put your Quest 2 on developer mode such as creating a developer organization on the Oculus Dashboard. In this article, we will take you through all these procedures.
How Do I Create An Organization?
As earlier stated, creating or joining an organization is vital for you to enable developer mode. Creating a new organization is simpler than you thought. Click here to create a new organization and follow all the steps to complete the process.
You might want to join an existing organization without creating an organization. Use these steps to join an organization:
- Send a request to an admin of an already existing organization.
- An email of invitation will be sent to you; accepting this invite will make you a member of the organization.
How Do I Enable Developer Mode?
Enabling the developer mode is very easy. Membership of a developer organization makes your work very easy. If you are a member of a developer organization or you have created an organization, follow these steps to enable developer mode:
- Using Quest/Quest 2 headset, log in to the developer account that you want to use for development.
- Move to Devices using the Oculus mobile app.
- Choose your headset from the list of devices and give it time to pair.
- Choose Developer Mode.
- Put on Developer Mode.
- Fasten your headset straps around your head with it connected to PC/Computer using USB-C cable.
- You will be prompted to allow, Allow USB Debugging and Always allow from this computer, allow these features.
How To Install ADB Drivers For Windows Users?
When using a windows device when developer mode is in use, you will need Android Device Bridge. Installing the ADB is not a hard task:
- Click here to download a zip file that has the driver.
- Unzip the file that you have just downloaded.
- To install the file, right-click .inf file then choose select and install.
Pushing builds on your windows device will be easy once the ADB Android Debug Bridge is installed.
Why Do I Need Oculus Developer Mode?
Oculus developer mode is an amazing feature that will enable you to enjoy using Oculus devices beyond default apps and games. Oculus developer mode has the following major advantages:
- Unlocking your device that is on Oculus developer mode is very easy, you don’t need the controllers. Unlocking is done using the volume buttons.
- You can sideload non-oculus apps. This is the major advantage. Oculus store may not have all the apps that you want to use for your VR experiences and this feature allows you to sideload external apps.
However, developer mode has one major disadvantage that has many people drop the option of using it. This disadvantage is that it requires a lot of procedures to install such as joining a developer organization which can be tiresome to many users.
What Other Activities Does Oculus Developer Mode Do?
The development mode has been allocated specific activities. These activities are mainly development oriented such as:
- Testing apps.
- Running apps.
- Debugging apps.
You cannot perform tasks other than these. Other actions may result in your developer account being closed or suspended. Prohibited activities are content that gratify sex and pornography, Apps directed to children below 13 years and many other activities. You can find more content guidelines here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Sideloading?
You must have come across this term while reading this article. Well, sideloading is where you upload software applications from another source other than the official platform of that device, in this case, Oculus Store. Sideloading allows you to run applications which are in .apk format.
Oculus has a streamlined app (Sidequest) that you can use for sideloading. Sidequest performs the same task as the Android Debug Bridge.
What Do I Need To Sideload?
If you have used the Oculus headset before, this will be familiar. You will need:
- PC/Computer that has Windows (10), Linux or macOS.
- Another device for controlling the Quest/Quest 2, the device (mostly smartphone) should be Android/iOS.
- Your Oculus Quest USB-C cable.
How Do I Download And Install Sidequest?
Click here to download Sidequest.
Install the file after downloading, go through the full installation process so that all the drivers necessary for file transfer are included. Once the installation is complete, follow these steps:
- Open the installed Sidequest app using your computer.
- Use the USB cable to connect the Ques/Quest 2 to your computer.
- With your headset on, you will be prompted to Allow USB debugging.
- Click ok to activate Always allow from this computer.
The above steps will now enable you to sideload applications.
To launch any sideloaded app/.apk file:
- Using your Oculus headset, move to Library then Unknown Sources.
- Choose the preferred app and click on it to launch.
