Understanding Shared Mode and Individual Mode
On devices enrolled through Horizon managed services, individual mode and shared mode are two distinct ways to manage and use Meta Quest devices.
Individual mode:
Intended for a Meta Quest device that’s used by one person in your organization.
Each user has their own managed Meta account and profile, allowing them to personalize their experience and access the Meta Horizon Store to download apps.
In ArborXR, the Device Home Environment Headset Experience setting configures the device to individual mode.
Shared mode:
Intended for when a device is to be used by multiple people without the need for individual accounts or logins.
When devices are configured to shared mode, the managed Meta account on the device is removed and the Meta Horizon Store cannot be accessed.
In ArborXR, the ArborXR Home, ArborXR Kiosk Mode, and In-House Launcher Headset Experience settings configures the device to shared mode. This is because the Meta API that enables ArborXR Home, ArborXR Kiosk Mode, and In-House Launcher is only exposed through shared mode.
💡 When you first enroll your devices into ArborXR through Horizon managed services, they will be set to Device Home Environment by default and therefore configured to individual mode. Once devices are set to either ArborXR Home, ArborXR Kiosk Mode, or In-House Launcher, the devices will be configured to shared mode thereby removing the managed Meta account and the Meta Horizon Store.
Shared Mode and the Horizon App Store
ArborXR Home, ArborXR Kiosk Mode, and In-House Launcher use Meta Quest's shared mode. This mode is designed for multiple users sharing a device without needing separate accounts. When devices are configured to shared mode, the managed Meta account on the device is removed.
Since the managed Meta account is removed in shared mode, the Meta Horizon Store cannot be accessed when devices are configured to either ArborXR Home, ArborXR Kiosk Mode, or In-House Launcher. This means you can't:
Download apps from the Meta Horizon Store.
Add shortcuts to these apps in ArborXR Home using Unmanaged Apps.
Designate one of these apps as the kiosk app in ArborXR Kiosk Mode using Unmanaged Apps.
⚠️ To use apps from the Meta Horizon Store, your devices need to be in individual mode. This requires leaving the ArborXR Headset Experience setting configured to the default Device Home Environment.
Sessions and Session Passcodes in Shared Mode
ArborXR Home, ArborXR Kiosk Mode, and In-House Launcher use Meta Quest's shared mode. This mode is designed for multiple users sharing a device without needing separate accounts.
When devices are configured to shared mode, new users must complete a series of in-headset session intro steps before getting to ArborXR Home or the kiosk app. By default, this includes setting a session passcode which is a 4 digit numeric passcode that must be set as part of the in-headset session intro steps.
💡 The session passcode can be disabled on a per device basis within the device's system settings by following these steps:
Within ArborXR Home navigate to Advanced Settings.
Select Exit ArborXR Home then select Continue to open Meta's advanced system settings menu. If an Admin Pin is set in your ArborXR Home configuration, enter the pin.
In the side navigation menu on the left, scroll down to Passcode & security.
In the first option, Passcode, select Remove.
Accept the confirmation.
Watch the video below and see this help article from Meta to learn more about what to expect when devices are in shared mode.
Home Button Behavior in Shared Mode
When devices are configured to ArborXR Home, ArborXR Kiosk Mode, or In-House Launcher (i.e. shared mode), pressing the home button will open Meta's pause menu with options to Resume (to return to ArborXR Home or to the kiosk app) or Quit (which will restart ArborXR Home or the kiosk app).
From Meta's pause menu click on the Wi-Fi and battery icon in the bottom left to open a quick settings menu.
On some devices, you might see a Settings button in the bottom right hand corner and will need to click on this instead.
This menu provides access to useful settings such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Casting, and USB Debugging. Meta's quick settings menu is locked down and does not let users escape to the Meta Home environment.
Exiting ArborXR Home or ArborXR Kiosk Mode in Shared Mode
On Horizon managed services devices, it is not possible to temporarily access the native home environment when devices are configured to ArborXR Home, ArborXR Kiosk Mode, or In-House Launcher (i.e. shared mode).
Instead, exiting ArborXR Home or ArborXR Kiosk Mode gives access to additional system settings.
Switching from Individual Mode to Shared Mode or Vice Versa
Individual mode to shared mode (seamless ✅)
The Device Home Environment Headset Experience setting in ArborXR is individual mode.
You can seamlessly switch from Device Home Environment (i.e. individual mode) to ArborXR Home, ArborXR Kiosk Mode, or In-House Launcher (i.e. shared mode). However, keep in mind the Meta Horizon Store cannot be accessed in shared mode so if you plan to use apps from the Meta Horizon Store, leave devices configured to Device Home Environment.
Shared mode to individual mode (factory reset required ❌)
The ArborXR Home, ArborXR Kiosk Mode, and In-House Launcher Headset Experience settings in ArborXR configures devices to shared mode.
While you can configure devices from ArborXR Home, ArborXR Kiosk Mode, or In-House Launcher back to Device Home Environment in the ArborXR portal, in order for these changes to take effect on devices you will need to factory reset and re-enroll them. This is because certain system components, such as the managed Meta account and the Meta Horizon Store are removed from the device after configuring ArborXR Home, ArborXR Kiosk Mode, or In-House Launcher, which puts devices into shared mode. A factory reset and re-enrollment is required to set devices back to individual mode, which brings back the managed Meta account and Meta Horizon Store system components.