How to install sidequest on oculus quest 2 without pc

Sidequest is a desktop app for Mac/Windows/Linux which allows you to browse and install content on your Quest via sideloading. Follow the steps below to install it on your computer and set it up for use with your Quest.

Table of Contents Show

Download & install
Enable USB debugging
Install a featured app
Install a custom apk
Launch apps on Quest
1: Enable Oculus Developer Mode
2: Get the SideQuest App & Connect Up
3: Allow USB Debugging & Sideload Wirelessly
4: Sideload Everything
How do you get the SideQuest in Oculus 2?
How do I Install side quests in Quest 2?
Does side quest require a PC?

Download & install

Go to the Sidequest download page and click the button to download Sidequest for your operating system.

Open the downloaded file and run the installer. The installation process includes all the drivers needed for transferring files to your Quest.

Enable USB debugging

Next, we'll tell the Quest it's OK to connect to your computer:

Open the Sidequest app on your computer
Connect the Quest to your computer via USB cable.
Put on the Quest headset – you should see a window open asking you to Allow USB debugging.
Check the box labelled Always allow from this computer and click OK

Your Quest and computer are now set up for sideloading using the Sidequest app.

Install a featured app

To install one of the apps featured in Sidequest:

Click the app's thumbnail image or title
Click Install Latest on the app's page.

Install a custom apk

To install any other apk file:

Click the icon showing an arrow inside a box at the top of the Sidequest window.
Choose your apk from the window that opens

Launch apps on Quest

To launch a sideloaded .apk file on your Quest:

From your Quest headset, go to Library -> Unknown Sources
Click the app you want to launch from the list on the right

This guide was first published on Jan 14, 2020. It was last updated on Jan 14, 2020.

This page (Install and Use Sidequest) was last updated on Nov 20, 2022.

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Oculus App Lab, Facebook’s unmoderated app outlet, has largely stolen the thunder from the unofficial Quest app store SideQuest over the past few months. This is largely due to the ease of use that App Lab offers over SideQuest, the latter of which required you to install a PC-based program to install apps. Now SideQuest has launched a mobile app which lets you SideLoad apps on Quest without needing a PC. And you can do it wirelessly too.

SideQuest has taken a big leap forward today in its bid for continued relevancy as an unmoderated marketplace for Quest platform games and experiences. You’ll need the free SideQuest mobile app (Android only), an Android phone that supports OTG, any generation of Quest, and USB cable to link the phone and headset together.

There’s a great video guide, courtesy of YouTubers ‘Cas & Chary VR’, which we linked below to take you through each step. We’ve also included a text version below the video.

1: Enable Oculus Developer Mode

Just head over to Oculus Developer Organization dashboard, login to your Oculus account, and create what Oculus considers an “organization.” Toss a random name in there (if you truly aren’t a developer) and agree to the terms of service.

Now open the Oculus app on your phone, go to the ‘Settings’ tab on the bottom right hand side, tap to expand the options under your Quest and select ‘More Settings’.

Among the various toggles you’ll find ‘Developer Mode’, which you simply have to toggle on. Reboot your Quest now for good measure.

Image captured by Road to VR

2: Get the SideQuest App & Connect Up

Simply download the SideQuest Android app on Google Play Store. There’s no telling whether we’ll ever get one for iOS, and considering how locked down Apple generally keeps things, we’re not holding our breaths.

Now plug in your Quest to your Android phone. This is less tricky with modern phones with USB-C ports. Quest includes a short USB-C to USB-C cable in the box which will do the trick.

3: Allow USB Debugging & Sideload Wirelessly

Put on your Quest headset, and you should see a window (in VR) that says ‘Allow USB debugging?’. Simply click the check box ‘Always allow from this computer’. Also, ‘Allow Access to data’ now.

From here, you’ll see a green icon in the SideLoad app which means you’re ready to sideload anything and everything. You can do this wirelessly too by enabling Wi-Fi in the SideQuest app itself and popping in your local IP address. You can your local IP address by clicking the Wi-Fi icon whilst in-headset, selecting the network you’re currently connected to, and scrolling all the way down to reveal the string of numbers, oftentimes beginning with ‘192’.

4: Sideload Everything

App Lab is easy, but it’s not great for keeping an eye on new and interesting content since App Lab games can’t be seen on the Oculus Store. SideQuest however has direct links to App Lab when available and .apk files for content hosted natively. There are tons of games, demos, betas, experiences, apps, tools, and more on SideQuest. Now go forth and sideload!

How do you get the SideQuest in Oculus 2?

Sideloaded apps are pretty much a one-click install. Installing a sideloaded app from the PC app is easy: just make sure your headset is connected, then click the Download app (sideload) button. SideQuest will download it and install it onto the headset.

How do I Install side quests in Quest 2?

Go to the Sidequest download page and click the button to download Sidequest for your operating system. Open the downloaded file and run the installer. The installation process includes all the drivers needed for transferring files to your Quest.

Does side quest require a PC?

In terms of game file size, you will need at least 1 GB of free disk space available. The cheapest graphics card you can play it on is an NVIDIA GeForce 510. Side Quest will run on PC system with Windows 7 or higher and upwards.