How to Sideload XAPK Bundles and OBB Assets on Meta Quest 2, Quest 3 & Quest 3S

Meta Quest standalone VR headsets (Quest 2, Quest Pro, Quest 3, and Quest 3S) run Meta Horizon OS, which is built on 64-bit Android (arm64-v8a). Whether you are testing your own Unreal Engine / Unity VR build packaged with an OBB asset file or sideloading a legitimate 2D Android utility into your headset's Unknown Sources library, SideQuest and ADB cannot install a raw .xapk archive directly without first separating or merging its internal components.

1. Hardware Requirements on Meta Horizon OS (64-Bit ARM Only)

The Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 (Quest 2) and Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 (Quest 3 / Quest 3S) run a strict 64-bit Android userland. Before attempting to sideload any package:

• Ensure the package contains arm64-v8a native libraries (or is pure Java/Kotlin bytecode). You can verify this in two seconds by dropping your file into our Device ABI & DPI Compatibility Checker.
• Ensure Developer Mode is enabled in the Meta Horizon mobile companion app under Menu → Devices → Headset Settings → Developer Mode.

2. Converting Split XAPK Utilities for SideQuest Installation

If your .xapk is a split-APK bundle (containing base.apk, config.arm64_v8a.apk, and config.xxhdpi.apk):

1. Open the XAPK to APK Converter on your PC, Mac, or directly inside the Meta Quest Browser.
2. Drop the .xapk file to merge all splits into a single v1+v2 signed .apk file.
3. In SideQuest (Advanced Installer) on your PC or Mac, click the Install APK file from folder on computer icon in the top bar and select the converted .apk.

3. Deploying VR Builds That Include an OBB Expansion File

Many standalone VR experiences and Unity builds keep their compiled code in base.apk and store 3D textures and audio banks inside a main.<version>.<package>.obb expansion file. If you install only the APK, the headset will stay on an infinite three-dot loading screen.

1. Extract Both APK and OBB: Drop your .xapk bundle into our OBB File Extractor or XAPK Archive Viewer to download both the .apk and the .obb file to your computer.
2. Install the APK & Push the OBB via ADB or SideQuest: Connect your Quest headset via USB-C and run these two commands from your terminal:

   adb install base.apk
   adb shell mkdir -p /sdcard/Android/obb/com.studio.vrapp/
   adb push main.100.com.studio.vrapp.obb /sdcard/Android/obb/com.studio.vrapp/

Launching Sideloaded Apps Inside Meta Horizon OS

Once installed, open your universal menu inside the headset, open the App Library, click the filter dropdown in the top-right corner (or the left sidebar on newer Horizon OS builds), and select Unknown Sources. Standard 2D Android utilities will automatically open inside a floating, resizable curved window in your home environment.