VRHow / Platforms and stores / SideQuest
SideQuest for Meta Quest: apps, sideloading and setup
What SideQuest does
SideQuest has two related ways to use it. Its SideQuest VR app lets you browse and install games on Quest and manage some headset settings and installed apps. The computer app connects to the headset and can install Android APK and OBB files, manage files and settings, and stream the headset view to a Windows PC. The browser-and-USB step on SideQuest's setup page is a way to get started with the in-headset app, not a third SideQuest app. [1]
This makes SideQuest useful for discovering Quest software and for installing builds outside the usual store flow. A SideQuest listing is not, by itself, proof that a title works on every Quest model or has been distributed through Meta's Horizon Store; read the individual listing and its current device notes before installing.
What you need for computer-based sideloading
SideQuest's current PC-app guide requires Developer Mode, a USB connection and accepting the headset's USB-debugging prompt. It warns that a cable may charge the headset but fail to carry data, so try another data-capable cable if the app cannot detect it. Meta's ADB guide likewise recommends checking Developer Mode, USB drivers and the cable when a headset is missing; its Wi-Fi ADB instructions start with a USB connection. Follow SideQuest's live guide for its app-specific setup steps. [2] [3]
Use only app files from developers or sources you trust. Meta notes that installing an app with ADB bypasses the normal Quest installation route, and Cloud Backup does not register or back up apps installed that way. [2]
Choose the right SideQuest app
| Option | Useful for | What the official setup page says |
|---|---|---|
| SideQuest VR app | Browsing and installing from inside the headset | Discover Quest apps and games, manage installed apps and headset settings |
| SideQuest desktop app | Connecting a Quest to a computer | Installs APK and OBB files; manages files and settings; can stream to a Windows PC |
| Browser-assisted setup | Getting the in-headset app started | The browser-and-USB instruction is a setup path for SideQuest VR, not a separate app [1] |
Desktop downloads are listed for Windows, macOS and Linux on SideQuest's setup page. The download options and setup flow can change, so use its live instructions rather than an old installer guide. [1]
Common questions
Does every SideQuest app need a PC?
No. SideQuest's in-headset app supports browsing and installing from the headset. The browser-plus-USB step is for getting that app started; the desktop app is a separate option for PC-connected installs and device management. Check the current listing and setup page for the method a particular app requires. [1] [3]
Does sideloading affect Quest Cloud Backup?
Meta says apps installed with ADB bypass the normal Quest installation route and are not registered for Cloud Backup. That warning applies to the ADB installation path. [2]
Which computers can run SideQuest's desktop app?
The SideQuest setup page currently lists downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux. [1]