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How to manage Quest storage

Short answer: open Quick controls → Settings → General → Storage to see what is using space. Remove an unused app or delete files you no longer need, then check the available space again. Last checked October 11, 2026.

Informational: Menu names and the features shown can change with Meta Horizon OS updates. The steps below follow Meta's current Quest Help instructions; if your labels differ, use the closest equivalent in Settings and check for a system update.

Check what is using space

  1. Press the Meta button (or the Oculus button on an older controller) on your right controller to open the Navigator.
  2. Select Quick controls, then Settings.
  3. Open General → Storage. Meta says this screen shows available space and a breakdown of the sources using it. From there, you can select Delete next to eligible apps or other files. Meta's storage guide also explains where to find a store item's Install size before downloading it.

Use the safest cleanup order

Start with the largest removable category shown in Settings → General → Storage, then use the matching action below. This avoids deleting personal files when an unused game is the real space consumer.

  1. Large app or game: uninstall it from App library. This removes the installed copy and frees the space; the title remains available to reinstall from its library icon.
  2. App you only want out of sight: use Hide, but do not expect more free space. Meta says hiding removes the item from the default Library view while keeping it installed.
  3. Recordings, downloads, or documents: open Library → Files, confirm the location and file before deleting it. Files deletion is permanent and has no recycle bin.
  4. Need to install something specific: check its Install size in the Meta Horizon Store before choosing what to remove.

Expected result: uninstalling an app or deleting a local file should reduce the corresponding used-space category when you check Settings → General → Storage again. Do not use Hide as a storage fix, and do not factory-reset the headset just to reclaim ordinary storage.

Uninstall an app or game

Uninstalling removes the app from the headset and frees the storage it was using. It does not necessarily remove the title from your library, so you can reinstall it later. Meta also offers Uninstall and remove, which frees the space and removes the icon from your library; you can find the title again in the Meta Store. Meta's app-management guide notes that some pre-installed Meta apps cannot be managed this way.

  1. Open the Navigator with the Meta/Oculus button.
  2. Select App library, find the app, and long-press it.
  3. Select Remove from library, then choose Uninstall if you want to keep its library icon, or Uninstall and remove if you want the icon removed too.

Low-risk choice: start with a game or app you can readily reinstall. Do not use a factory reset as a storage-cleanup step; it is destructive and is not needed for ordinary space management.

Delete downloads, recordings, and other files

For personal files, open Library → Files. Meta's Files documentation says local locations include Downloads, Media, and Documents. Select Options beside a file or folder, then choose Delete and confirm. This permanently removes the item: Files has no trash or recycle bin, so copy anything important to a computer, cloud drive, or another device before deleting it. Meta's Files guide documents these actions.

Files can also show connected USB drives, SD cards, MTP devices, and Google Drive. Treat those locations separately from the headset's internal storage. Eject a connected USB drive or SD card from Files before disconnecting it. Google Drive items are read-only in Files; download a copy if you need a local file.

Protect saved progress before reinstalling

Installed app storage and saved progress are different. If Cloud Backup is enabled, Meta says supported apps can save app data such as progress or settings so it can be restored after reinstalling, resetting, or replacing a headset. Support is app-dependent, so do not assume every game's data is backed up.

  1. Open Quick controls → Settings → General → Cloud backup and check the toggle.
  2. For supported apps and their last backup time, visit Meta's Cloud Backup page on a computer.
  3. Only after checking important progress, uninstall the app. Avoid deleting its cloud backup unless you intentionally want that saved data gone.

Compatibility note: Meta's Files article applies to Files v108 and says some features may not appear on older software, or may vary by account or region. Update Quest if an expected Files feature is missing, but do not treat an absent menu as proof that a particular device supports it.

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