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Meta Shared Mode: Settings & Session Management

Shared Mode sessions, Session Intro Steps, starting and ending sessions

Taylor Lallas avatar
Written by Taylor Lallas
Updated this week

New to Meta Horizon device modes? Learn more about Shared Mode, Individual Mode, and how to manage device modes from ManageXR in our Understanding Meta Horizon Device Modes doc.

Overview: Shared Mode Sessions

Meta devices using a restricted kiosk experience like Custom Home or Kiosk App use Meta Shared Mode. To refresh device and app data between users and ensure that all users in-headset have accepted required legal terms, Meta requires Shared Mode devices to use Sessions.

At the start of each new Session, new users must complete new user experience “Session Intro Steps” before getting to the Home Screen or Kiosk App. The Session Intro Steps include a series of optional tutorial steps and required legal screens. When a session is ended, newly created local app and device data are cleared and the device is rebooted. This guide covers how to start, return to, and end sessions on Meta Quest devices using Shared Mode.

Note, this information does not apply to legacy Meta devices or devices from other hardware manufacturers.

Start Session

Before arriving at your Custom Home Screen or Kiosk App, a user needs to start their Shared Mode session. To start a Shared Mode session, the user must complete a series of Session Intro Steps.

You can configure the Shared Mode Session Intro Steps in ManageXR:

Session Intro Step

Description

Default value on ManageXR

Wake Controllers

Ask the user to confirm controllers are connected

OFF

Adjust Device Fit

Guide the user through fitting the device properly

OFF

Set Session Passcode

Require users to set a session passcode to resume a session

OFF

Set up boundary

Require users to set up a boundary at the end of Session Intro.

When OFF, a stationary boundary is set by default

OFF

Safety and policies

Review Meta's safety recommendations and accept terms of service

ON - Required by Meta

Once you've completed the Session Intro Steps, press the Meta button on your controller or use a pinch gesture with hand tracking to go to the ManageXR Home Screen, Kiosk App, or Kiosk Video.

Video Demo

To learn how to edit the Session Intro Steps and Session Passcode settings, go to our doc on managing device modes and related settings.

Return to Inactive Sessions

Inactive sessions pause or automatically end, depending on the device's Meta firmware version and the settings you've selected.

If Session Passcodes are ON:

The session will pause and the user will see an Enter Passcode screen upon putting on the headset after inactivity:

  • To return to the current session, enter the session passcode

  • To end the session and start a new one, press the red “End Session” button at the bottom of the screen. Doing so will restart the device, wipe local app data, and kick off a new sequence of Session Intro Steps to begin a new session.

If Session Passcodes are OFF:

Behavior varies by Meta firmware version

  • v78+: The session will pause after the inactivity timeout and prompt the user to continue or end the session. You can control the length of the inactivity timeout. The default and max length of the timeout supported by Meta is 60 minutes. Learn more

  • v77 and below: Sessions without passcodes automatically end after 15 minutes of inactivity.

End Session

There are two ways users can end Meta Shared Mode sessions in-headset:

  1. From the Return to Session “Enter Passcode” screen

  2. From within an active session on the Meta quick settings menu

    You can bring up this menu by pressing the Meta button on your controller from within the Custom Home Screen or Kiosk App.

When a session ends, the following happen:

  • The device reboots

  • Local app and device data that were created during the previous session are wiped. This includes consents (permissions granted to the app e.g., location, camera), settings, app user data (sign in credentials, tokens), and media storage.

  • A new session is started, requiring the user to complete the Session Intro Steps and set a Session Passcode

FAQs

Can I turn off session passcodes?

Yes. You can turn off session passcodes on devices using Meta firmware v77+. On firmware v77, sessions without passcodes will automatically end after 15 minutes of inactivity. On v78+ sessions without passcodes will not automatically end after inactivity; instead, they will prompt the user to continue/end session after the session inactivity timeout.

Can I set multiple session passcodes at once to maintain several user sessions?

No. Only one session is active on a device at a time. For example, say User A sets a passcode (1234), uses the device, then puts it down. If User B picks up the device, leaves the session, and sets a new passcode (1111), User A will not be able to enter 1234 to retrieve their previous session. The only valid passcode at that time to resume a session would be 1111.

Can I complete the Session Intro Steps without controllers?

Controllers are currently required to complete Session Intro. Coming Summer 2025, there will be an option to use Shared Mode devices controller-free.

Can I turn off all of the Session Intro Steps?

No. You can turn off some of them on your configuration, but there are several required Session Intro steps that cannot be disabled:

  • Review Meta Quest Safety warnings and select Continue.

  • Set session passcode

  • Review Terms and privacy policies and select Continue

  • Choose whether to enable hand and body tracking

  • Press the Meta button on your controller or use a pinch gesture with hand tracking to go to the ManageXR Home Screen, Kiosk App, or Kiosk Video

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