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Developer Mode on Meta Quest Devices
Developer Mode on Meta Quest Devices

Steps to enable Developer Mode on Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro devices.

Josh Franzen avatar
Written by Josh Franzen
Updated over a month ago

⚠️ This article is deprecated and no longer relevant for Meta Quest device enrollment.

As of February 26, 2025, Meta has changed how Quest devices enroll into ArborXR. To enroll, you’ll need to use ArborXR’s integration with Horizon managed services. This may come with changes to pricing, privacy, and agreements, as enrollment will be managed through Meta’s system.

Helpful resources:

  • Head over to our blog for existing customers to learn how these changes affect your current deployment and device management.

  • See this help article for steps to enroll Quest devices into ArborXR using Horizon managed services.

Overview

To set up devices with ArborXR, Meta’s Developer Mode must be enabled, which requires a Meta account that has been added to and verified within a Meta Quest Developer organization. Developer Mode must be enabled and accepted on the Quest device in the Meta Horizon (formerly Meta Quest) mobile app before setting up ArborXR. This article details the steps to turn on Developer Mode in order to enable USB Debugging.

📖 If you need help creating a Meta Quest Developer Account and Organization, see our article on How to Set Up a Meta Quest Developer Account and Organization.

Setup your Meta Account on your Quest Device and Enable Developer Mode

💡 If you've already set up your Quest device using the Meta Horizon mobile app, skip to Step 5.

Further, this guide assumes that you have the latest version of the Meta Horizon mobile app installed on your iOS or Android mobile device.

  1. Download the Meta Horizon companion app to your Android or Apple (iOS) mobile phone (available on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store).

  2. Login to the Meta Horizon mobile app with the Quest Developer-associated Meta account. If you don't have a Meta Developer Account or Organization already, see this guide to get your Meta account prepared for the steps below.

    1. Select Continue with Facebook or Continue with Instagram if you have linked your Facebook and/or Instagram accounts to your Meta account.

    2. Select Continue with email if your Meta account is unlinked from your Facebook account.
      ​

  3. Turn on your Quest headset.

  4. Set up the Quest device with the newly created Meta account (Menu > Devices > Connect new device). Follow any in-app and Quest in-headset instructions.

  5. In the Meta Horizon mobile app, select Account in the bottom middle of the app's lower menu bar.
    ​

  6. Next, click the Menu in the upper right-hand corner of the Meta Horizon mobile app.
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  7. Select Devices (scroll down if you cannot see the menu item).
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    💡 While the best practice is to use a unique Meta account per Quest headset, if your organization does not require Quest App Store apps and multiple devices are associated with a single Meta account, a screen with all of the attached Quest devices will appear. Select the desired device in that list (see example below).

  8. Select Headset Settings

  9. Select Developer Mode.
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  10. Toggle on the Developer Mode option.
    ​

  11. Connect the Quest device to your PC via USB.

  12. Put on the headset and within VR you will see the prompt, Accept USB debugging? Select Always allow from this computer (may appear differently in-headset than shown below).
    ​

🎉 You've now successfully enabled Developer Mode to allow USB Debugging on your Quest headset. It's ready to add to your ArborXR organization using the Device Setup App. Click here for steps to set up your Quest 2, 3, or Pro devices.

FAQs & Troubleshooting

I don’t see the Developer Mode toggle for my device in the Meta Horizon (formerly Meta Quest) mobile app. How do I get it to appear?

  • Check for updates for the Meta Quest app as Meta has recently rebranded their companion mobile app as 'Meta Horizon'.

  • Ensure the same Meta account logged into the Meta Horizon mobile app is the same Meta account used to set up the Quest device in question. In order for Meta’s Developer Mode toggle to appear in the Meta Horizon mobile app, the headset must be set up with the previously set up Quest Developer account.

  • Ensure the Meta account has been added to your team’s Quest Developer organization and verified, either with a credit card or SMS 2FA.

  • If the Meta account was recently verified within your team’s Quest Developer organization, force quit the Meta Horizon mobile app and open the app once more.

  • Log out and back into the Meta account on the Meta Horizon mobile app.

  • If you have any further challenges with getting the Debug Mode / Developer Mode toggle to appear, reach out to Oculus Developer Support or, alternatively, Meta Support for additional assistance.
    ​

I have enabled Developer Mode in the Meta Horizon (formerly Meta Quest) mobile app, but I’m not seeing the ‘Allow USB Debugging’ prompt inside my headset.

Enabling USB Debugging on Quest devices is required to enroll a device in an MDM, like ArborXR, and is a process outside of any MDM's control, including ArborXR. It is dependent on the Quest device and computer establishing a connection first. Our Device Setup App is unable to force the prompt to appear.
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The following can help troubleshoot the Allow USB Debugging prompt not appearing as expected (see Step 11 above) if Developer Mode has been enabled/toggled on in the Meta Horizon mobile app:

  • Make sure the Quest device is up to date with the latest Quest OS version.

  • Ensure the device is plugged into both the headset and the computer and that the USB-C cable is properly seated in both the headset and the computer.

  • Restart the device.

  • Switch the orientation of the cable 180 degrees for both the device end and the computer end of the cable.

  • Try a different USB-C cable, like the Quest PC Link cable, a different Meta-provided cable, or a third-party USB-C cable. The guidance from Meta is to ensure that you are using a high-quality USB-C cable capable of data transfer for connecting your Meta Quest headset to the computer. The cable provided with one of your headsets should suffice.

  • In the Meta Horizon mobile app, toggle the Developer Mode button off, and then back on.

  • Inside the Quest headset, check whether or not the USB Debugging section is available under Quick Settings > Settings > System > Developer. If you see the USB Debugging prompt, enable it within the Developer settings on your Quest device.

  • If you’re enrolling multiple devices using a USB hub, disconnect the USB hub and connect a device directly to the computer to rule out an issue with the USB Hub.

  • Ensure your computer’s USB drivers are up to date.

  • As a last resort, a factory reset may be needed.

  • If you’ve tried all of the above without any resolution, contact Meta Support or search Meta’s Forum’s Get Help section for further assistance.
    ​

Related Articles
Set Up Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 2, and Meta Quest Pro Devices
How to disable the Boundary on Meta Quest Devices
How to setup Meta’s ‘First Steps’ app on Quest devices
Enroll Meta Quest Devices through Horizon Managed Services
Shared Mode and Individual Mode
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