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- You can download content like games and apps from the Meta Store within your headset or using the Oculus desktop app.
- Games and apps you select are automatically downloaded to your library and available within the headset.
- You can tweak privacy settings so others can’t see your online activity with apps and games you’ve downloaded.
A VR headset like a Meta Quest 2 or Oculus Rift S can unlock engaging virtual worlds, but to get started you need to download content like games and apps to your headset.
The good news is that this is quite easy — Meta offers its own store for purchasing and downloading content to whatever Oculus headset you own. Here is what you need to know.
How to download new content to an Oculus Rift or Meta Quest headset
No matter which variety of Meta VR headset, you download content in much the same way. You can do this within the headset itself, or use the desktop Oculus app on your PC.
1. To download content from your headset, begin by putting on your headset and select Store.
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2. Browse the store or use the search box to look for a game, app, or genre by name.
3. When you find something you want to purchase, select it.
4. To make the purchase, select the price. If it's free, select Get instead.
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You can also download content to your headset from the desktop Oculus app:
1. Start the Oculus app on your desktop. If this is your first time, be sure you install the Oculus desktop app onto your PC, log in with your Meta account credentials, and, in the Devices tab on the left, add your headset to your account.
2. Click Store in the pane on the left.
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3. Browse the store or use the search box to look for a game, app, or genre by name.
4. When you find something you want to purchase, select it.
5. To make the purchase, select the price. If it's free, select Get instead.
Dave Johnson/Insider
No matter how you download content, the app or game will automatically be queued for download and will appear on your headset in your library. Larger apps will take longer to download, but should occur in the background while you browse or run other apps on your headset.
Can people see what I'm doing on my Oculus headset?
Depending on how your privacy settings are configured, it's possible that others can see your activity status such as what app you're using and when you are using your headset. All these settings are stored in a single location, though, so they're relatively easy to control.
Go to your Meta Quest Privacy Center page and scroll down to Privacy Settings. Here you can set your activity to public or private, as well as disable settings for showing your activity status and which app you are currently using. If you want to, you can also hide your activity for specific apps.
Can people watch you play VR?
Yes, you can share video from your VR experiences in real time. This is great for using a VR headset at a party or other group events, where you want other folks to see what's happening within the confines of the headset. To do that, you'll need to cast your Oculus or Quest device to a TV in the same room — you can't easily stream video from your headset to the internet.
Is VR safe to play?
Obviously, millions of people use VR headsets on a regular basis, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still exercise reasonable precautions. For example, Mata warns that its Oculus headsets are not toys and should not be used by children under the age of 13.
Moreover, ensure that you are using your headset in a safe environment, clearing obstacles and hazards out of the way. And while there's no reason not to think that a VR headset like an Oculus Rift or Quest 2 is safe to wear every day, Meta advises you to take a break every 30 minutes, "even if you don't think you need it."