The issue
Meta's Horizon OS v2.9 update breaks single-app kiosk mode and prevents third-party launchers from enforcing the home screen on Quest headsets that aren't enrolled in Horizon Managed Services (HMS).
Once non-HMS Quest headsets update to v2.9, ArborXR Home and Kiosk Mode will stop working. Instead, headsets will boot to Meta's home screen.
What you can do
The solution Meta is offering is to register those headsets to Horizon Managed Services (HMS), Meta's enterprise platform for Quest. HMS licenses are available for free, so no cost is associated.
The good news is that you can do this remotely using ArborXR's zero-touch HMS registration, without physically touching the headsets. Once registered, ArborXR Home and Kiosk Mode will work normally again.
One important tradeoff: HMS headsets don't have access to the consumer Meta Quest Store. If your program relies on apps from the consumer app store, please consider alternatives including distributing apps through ArborXR or using the Meta Enterprise app store, which ArborXR integrates with.
Everything else in ArborXR, including app deployment, Remote Assistance, and device settings, will continue working on these headsets.
What we're doing
We flagged these issues with Meta on October 2nd, right after spotting them in the v2.9 Public Test Channel (PTC). Today, they confirmed this change is intentional and they don't plan to reverse it.
We're frustrated by this decision and recognize the impact it may have on your operations. We've escalated this at every level and will continue advocating for our customers.
If you have questions or need help figuring out your next steps, please reach out to us.