If you’re a fan of virtual reality, then you’re probably aware of the Oculus Quest 2. It’s one of the most popular VR headsets on the market right now, offering an immersive experience that transports you to another world.
However, there are some limitations with the Oculus Quest 2 that can prevent you from accessing certain apps and games. One solution to this problem is to use SideQuest, a third-party app that allows you to install APK files onto your Oculus Quest 2. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to install APK files to your Oculus Quest 2 using SideQuest.
What is an APK file?
Before we dive into installing APK files onto your Oculus Quest 2 using SideQuest, let’s first understand what exactly an APK file is. An APK file is essentially an Android Package Kit file that contains all the necessary files for a specific Android app. This means that if you have an APK file for an Android app, you can install it on any Android device.
What is SideQuest?
SideQuest is a third-party app store for the Oculus Quest 2. It allows users to install apps and games that are not available on the official Oculus store. SideQuest also allows users to sideload APK files onto their Oculus Quest 2.
Step 1: Enable Developer mode on your Oculus Quest 2
Before we can start installing APK files onto our Oculus Quest 2 using SideQuest, we need to enable Developer mode on our headset. To do this:
- Firstly, turn on your Oculus Quest 2 and put it on.
- Navigate to “Settings” in the bottom right corner of your menu.
- Select “Device”.
- Select “Developer” from the menu.
- Toggle “Developer Mode” on.
Step 2: Download and install SideQuest on your computer
Now that we have enabled Developer mode on our Oculus Quest 2, we need to download and install SideQuest on our computer. SideQuest is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Here’s how to download and install it:
- Head to the official SideQuest website at https://sidequestvr.com/download.
- Download the appropriate version of SideQuest for your operating system.
- Once downloaded, open the installer and follow the instructions to install SideQuest onto your computer.
Step 3: Connect your Oculus Quest 2 to your computer
With Developer mode enabled on your Oculus Quest 2 and SideQuest installed on your computer, we can now connect our headset to our computer using a USB-C cable. Here’s how:
- Plug one end of the USB-C cable into your Oculus Quest 2.
- Plug the other end of the USB-C cable into a USB port on your computer.
- Your Oculus Quest 2 should prompt you to “Allow access to data”. Select “Allow”.
Step 4: Install APK files onto your Oculus Quest 2 using SideQuest
Finally, we can start installing APK files onto our Oculus Quest 2 using SideQuest. Here’s how:
- Launch SideQuest on your computer.
- Select “Connect Device” at the top of the screen.
- You should now see your Oculus Quest 2 listed in the Devices tab of SideQuest.
- Select “Install APK” in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Browse for the APK file you want to install and select it. If the APK file is on your computer, you can drag and drop it onto the SideQuest window.
- Once SideQuest has finished installing the APK file onto your Oculus Quest 2, you should see a notification on your headset confirming that the app has been installed.
Conclusion
Using SideQuest is a great way to access apps and games that are not available on the official Oculus store. It also allows you to sideload APK files onto your Oculus Quest 2, giving you even more control over what content you can access. By following these simple steps, you can start installing APK files onto your Oculus Quest 2 using SideQuest in no time.