Sideload Quest Updates with Meta’s New Web Tool
Generally speaking, system upgrades for Meta Quest headsets are rather unobtrusive. Often, after taking off the headset and putting it back on the next day, you will notice that the system version has changed. However, according to a report by UploadVR, Meta has recently released a manual upgrade tool.
This tool operates based on the WebUSB API, making it widely compatible across various platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS, and Android. It works as long as the platform has a browser with a Chromium core, such as Chrome or Edge.
The upgrade process involves three steps. Users need to manually boot the headset into bootloader mode, switch to Sideload Update mode, and then connect the device to a computer. If all goes well, the browser will display the appropriate prompts and install the latest system version on the headset. This upgrade will not reset the headset; users’ applications and data will remain intact.
However, UploadVR notes that this new tool may not always deliver all the latest system features, as Meta tends to add features incrementally through server-side updates. For instance, the v66 update included improved passthrough functionality, which was dynamically pushed by Meta’s servers. Meta also indicates that this tool may help resolve software-related issues, such as slow performance and unresponsive applications. Overall, it seems more like a recovery tool.
Incidentally, users familiar with Pixel devices might recognize this new tool from Meta, as Google introduced a similar flashing tool several years ago.
