External Apps are not directly managed by ManageXR and cannot be installed, updated, or uninstalled by ManageXR. However, External Apps that are manually installed on a device can be approved in a Configuration and included in your Home Screen or set as a Kiosk App.
For example, let's say you want to include Beat Saber on your Home Screen but don't have access to the APK file to distribute via ManageXR. In this case, you'd manually install Beat Saber on your device from the hardware provider's App Store, add Beat Saber as an External App in ManageXR, and approve it in your device's configuration. If Beat Saber is installed on your device, it will appear on your Home Screen.
In short, there are two parts to the process of deploying external apps via configurations:
If you want to use Meta store content, you must purchase content for each device using a unique Meta account and manually download that content to each device. You cannot remotely deploy store-bought apps. To learn more about account setup options when deploying Meta Devices at scale, check out our Meta Account Setup Guide.
ManageXR does not recommend using store apps for large-scale deployments. If you plan to use store apps for large-scale deployments, we recommend you contact the app developer for app licensing information. The developer can even share their application with you directly through ManageXR. Feel free to include us in the conversation with an app developer if you ever get to this point. Contact support@managexr.com for more info on how we partner with app developers.
Installing an External App
The first step to using an external app is to manually install it onto your device using native device menus.
All Devices
This is the recommended universal option, as it works with many different hardware types. Here's what you'll need to do:
Temporarily Disable Kiosk Mode to exit ManageXR.
Access the app store.
Purchase and install content.
Re-enable kiosk mode.
Proceed to the section about Adding an External App to ManageXR.
Meta Quest Devices
Meta Quest users have the additional options of downloading apps from the Meta Horizon App on a mobile device or on a computer (using an internet browser).
On a Mobile Device
Open the Meta Horizon App
Select the Meta Avatar icon
Click the three line Menu in the top right
Select Devices
Open the App Library
Tap the app you wish to install
Click Install on Headset
On a Computer
Navigate to the Meta Horizon store
Purchase and/or download the app of your choice
If you have more than one device connected to your Meta account, there will be a popup prompting you to choose the device on which to download the app
Turn on your headset
Your headset must be powered on and connected to the internet within an hour of downloading the app
Adding an External App to ManageXR
Once you've manually installed the app, you can make it appear in your ManageXR Home Screen by adding it to ManageXR as an external app. To do this, you will need the package name of the app. A package name is an app's unique identifier and can be found in a device's Installed Apps section.
To locate an app's package name:
In ManageXR, head to the Devices tab and select the device you've installed the app store app on.
Click Installed Apps
Locate the app you're adding, and click on the package name below the app title to copy the package name.
Now that you have the package name, it's time to create the External App:
Select the VR Content tab > Add Content > External
Add a title for the app and paste the package name
Click Create
The external app is now added to your VR Content library! Let's add this new store app to a configuration:
Navigate to your Configurations tab and select a configuration.
Click Deploy on your newly added app in the App Library section, and save the changes.
An external app deployed in a configuration will only make the app appear in your ManageXR Home Screen if it is already installed on the device. ManageXR cannot remotely install an external app for you.
Extra: First Steps App
It's common to add the First Steps app as an external app. In many cases, this app comes preinstalled on Meta Quest 1 & 2 (you can download it from the Meta Horizon store for Quest 3), and all you need to do is add it as an external app to have it appear on your home screen.
The First Steps app can have two package names depending on which Quest headset you're using:
com.oculus.MontereySetupQuest 1, Quest 3 & Quest Procom.oculus.MiramarSetupRetailQuest 2
Since First Steps comes on Quest devices by default, it appears in the device's System Apps. If you don't initially see the First Steps app in your device's Installed Apps section, be sure it is installed on your device and that you've toggled on Show System Apps. For Quest 3 devices, it's recommended to install First Steps from the Tutorials section of the drop-down device menu in-headset.
The Installed Apps list can be quite extensive when System Apps are toggled on. It's best to search for First Steps manually in the search bar.
Updating External Apps
ManageXR cannot push updates for any app acquired from a hardware provider's app store. This restriction is enforced by the hardware provider and is not a ManageXR limitation.
Updates for store apps typically happen automatically, but some apps may require you to open the app to finalize the update. If you're finding that Meta store app updates are interrupting the end-user experience, Meta has a feature that will allow these updates to happen as soon as they are available via Meta release channels, even if devices are off. As Meta mentions in the article linked below, "Many apps release updates overnight and across different days of the week." So, hopefully, these app updates will happen when the devices are not in use. More information here.
Need more help?
Talk to a member of our team using the chat bubble in the bottom right of your screen, or reach out to support@managexr.com