Deploying and Removing Apps

Learn how to install and remove apps from your headsets using Device Manager.


To deploy an app to your Oculus for Business headset:

  1. From Device Manager, click Device Fleet.

  2. Click the headset or group of headsets you want to deploy an app to, then click Apps.

  3. Click Add, then select the app you want to deploy from the drop down menu.

  4. Click Add App.

This feature requires v23.

You can check the install status for all apps from your App Library.

To check app status:

  1. From Device Manager, click Apps.

  2. Under Installs, hover over the app you want to check the install status for and Progress Overview will appear.

From here, you can see the number of headsets the app has been deployed to, and the status of those installs. You can click View Details to view the specific app status for each individual headset

Possible app install statuses as follows:

  • Installed: The app has successfully installed.

  • Installing: The app is currently installing.

  • Unknown: These headsets are not communicating with Device Manager so the installation status is unknown. Please make sure each device is plugged in, powered on and connected to Wi-Fi then try again.

  • Failed: The app couldn't be installed on some devices due to file size, poor Wi-Fi signal or another error.

To remove an app from Device Manager:

  1. From Device Manager, click Apps.

  2. Click next to the app you want to remove, then click Delete.

  3. Click Delete App.

Removing an app from Device Manager will uninstall it from all devices and remove it from your App Library.


To remove an app from a headset or group of headsets:

  1. From Device Manager, click Device Fleet.

  2. Click the headset or group of headsets you want to remove an app from, then click Apps.

  3. Click next to the app you want to remove, then click Delete.

  4. Click Uninstall App from the prompt.

Once the headsets syncs with Device Manager, the app will be removed. If this sync doesn't happen automatically, restarting the headset may help.

Keep in mind, if you remove an app that is set to be used in Kiosk Mode, you'll need to set up a new Kiosk Mode app for any headsets that were impacted.

This feature requires v25.

Sideloaded apps are apps added via a third-party mobile device management (MDM) tool or USB cable. By default, these apps do not appear in-headset, but you can configure this setting in Device Manager.

To enable sideloaded apps:

  1. From Device Manager, click Device Fleet.

  2. Click on the headset or group of headsets you want to enable sideloaded apps for, then click Settings.

  3. Click next to Sideloaded Apps, then select On.

  4. Review the Sideloaded Apps Warning, then click Turn on Sideloaded Apps.

  5. Click Save.

Sideloaded apps will now appear in the selected headsets.

To troubleshoot deploying an app to a single headset, try these steps:

  1. Reboot the headset to initiate a sync with Device Manager and the app should begin to download.

  2. Check the headset periodically while the app finishes downloading. The time to download can depend on size and internet speed. If there are still no signs of the app, reboot the headset again. This should begin the installation of the app if it has finished downloading.

  3. Confirm the app has downloaded and installed to your headset.

To troubleshooting deploying an app to a group of headsets, try these steps:

  1. From Device manager, move any headsets that failed to install the app out of the group and into All Devices.

  2. Delete the app from each indivual headset by clicking on the headset, clicking Apps, clicking next to the app that failed to install, then clicking Delete.

  3. Reboot the headsets.

  4. Add the app back to each headset by clicking on the headset, clicking Apps, clicking + Add, selecting the app from the drop down menu, then clicking Add App.

  5. Reboot the headsets.

  6. Confirm that the app has installed on each headset, then move the headsets back into the group in Device Manager.



Business Channel Apps

Learn how to send, receive and manage apps through Business Channels.


This feature requires v23.

You must be an Oculus Independent Software Vendor (ISV) to have access to Business Channels on Oculus for Business. To become an ISV, apply here: https://business.oculus.com/isv-program/.

If you're an Oculus ISV and you don't have access to Business Channels, please contact the Partnership team at ARVREnterprisePartner@fb.com.

This feature requires v23.

To accept a Business Channel app invite in Device Manager:

  1. From Device Manager, click Apps.

  2. Click App Invites in the left menu.

  3. Click Add to App Library next to the app you want to accept an invite for.

  4. Review the information in the You're Adding a New App prompt, then click Add to App Library.

The app will now appear in your App Library.

This feature requires v23.

To turn off auto-updates for Business Channel apps:

  1. From Device Manager, click Apps.

  2. Click next to the Business Channel app you want to turn off auto-updates for, then click Turn Off Auto-Update.

  3. Review the information in the Turn off automatic updates? prompt, then click Turn Off Auto-Updates.

This feature requires v23.

To migrate an app from self-hosted distribution to a Business Channel:

  1. Ensure all impacted headsets are updated to v23.

  2. Delete the self-hosted app from all impacted headsets.

  3. Delete the self-hosted app from your App Library in Device Manager.

  4. Accept the app invite from the Business Channel.

  5. Deploy the app to impacted headsets.

This feature requires v23.

For help with sending apps via Business Channel, check out our Oculus for Business Developer Docs.



Self-Hosted Apps

Learn how to install and manage self-hosted apps once you've deployed them to the headsets in your fleet.


To add a self-hosted app to your Device Manager:

  1. Upload the app to a cloud storage location of your choice.

  2. Copy the URL of the app you want to upload to Device Manager.

  3. Test the app URL link in a separate browser tab to make sure the link automatically starts downloading the app.

    • URL redirects aren't supported and the headset won't be able to download apps. Test your URLs in Chrome or Safari for automatic download.

  4. From Device Manager, click Apps, then click Add App.

  5. Enter a name for your app under App Name, then enter the URL for the app under App Binary.

  6. Click Create. The app should now appear in the App Library.


    Keep in mind, the file size limits for apps are:

    • Maximum APK size: 1GB.

    • Maximum OBB size: 4GB (1 file supported with multiple assets).

    • Maximum size of a single asset: 2 GB.

    Apps can be hosted on any URI. Certain locations may require advanced settings such as HTTP headers for access.

    Keep in mind, the URI link must initiate a direct download. This is required by the headset to download and install applications.

    Resource files, known as opaque binary blobs or OBBs, allow you to deploy additional content files with your self-hosted apps. This might include a video file or asset that is used by your app.

    To add a resource file, or OBB, to your self-hosted app:

    1. Copy the URI of the OBB file from your cloud storage account.

    2. From Device Manager, click Apps.

    3. Click next to the app you want to add an OBB to.

    4. Click Edit.

    5. Click the switch to turn Advanced Configurations on.

    6. Click Add Resource File and fill in the listed fields.

      • The filename must be the name of the OBB file. Filenames and URLs ending with .obb must be used. Spaces aren't accepted.

    7. Make sure Application OBB Path is selected from the dropdown menu.

    8. Click Add resource file.

    9. Click Update to finalize the app information.


    Keep in mind, the file size limits for apps are:

    • Maximum APK size: 1GB.

    • Maximum OBB size: 4GB (1 file supported with multiple assets).

    • Maximum size of a single asset: 2 GB.

    Hashes are used to increase security between your app and the headset. They make sure the same file being hosted on a server matches the one that's been deployed to a headset. If the hashes don't match, the app won't be deployed.

    To add a hash to an existing self-hosted app:

    1. Find the SHA-256 hash of the APK you're deploying using a hash application. Copy the hash from the app download or link.

    2. From Oculus for Business Device Manager, click Apps.

    3. Click next to the app you want to add a hash to, then click Edit.

    4. Paste the copied hash in the Hash section, then click Update.

    Through Device Manager, you can update the version of your self-hosted apps to the headsets you've deployed. This would normally be done when the app has experienced a change.

    To update a self-hosted app:

    1. From Device Manager, click Apps.

    2. Click next to the app you want to update, then click Update.

    3. Under App name, update the name of the app to reflect the newest version.

    4. Under Link to app file, enter the link to the updated app.

    5. When finished, click Update App.

    Note: Updating will apply an update immediately and may disrupt headsets in use.

    To edit self-hosted app info and details:

    1. From Device Manager, click Apps.

    2. Click next to the app you want to edit, then click Edit.

    3. Make any desired changes, then when you're finished, click Update.