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.
There are two parts to the process of deploying external apps via configurations:
Installing an External App
The first step in using an external app is to manually install it on your device. This process for installing an external app applies to legacy Quest devices and other non-Meta headsets.
Here's what you'll need to do to install an external app:
Temporarily Disable Kiosk Mode to exit ManageXR.
This can be done from inside the headset via the Admin settings or from the ManageXR console.
Admin Settings
ManageXR console
Access the app store.
Purchase and install content.
Re-enable kiosk mode.
Proceed to the section about adding an external App to ManageXR.
MHMS-enrolled Devices
Only devices using Individual Mode can access and deploy content obtained from the app store. To install an external app on a Quest device in Individual Mode, you must follow these instructions:
Access the app store.
Verify that the Meta Horizon App Store setting is enabled for your device’s configuration.
Purchase and install content.
The headset user must add credit card information to their individual managed Meta account in the headset. Purchases do not automatically charge the credit card on file for the MHMS organization. When buying the first app, you will:
Click Buy App
Set a Store Pin (a 4-digit pin code you can use in the future for the account, rather than re-entering your credit card info for each purchase)
Enter credit card info
Finish purchase
The credit card info submitted for a given managed Meta account does not apply to all managed Meta accounts in an organization. Each user needs to supply credit card information separately.
With that, the external app will be downloaded to the device and can be launched from the native Meta settings menu.
It is not possible to leave the restricted kiosk experience in Shared Mode to purchase apps from the Meta Horizon Store. Any apps you’ve downloaded from the Meta Horizon Store while in Individual Mode will no longer remain on the device if you switch it to Shared Mode. You can read more about Meta Horizon device modes here.
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 it.
Now that you have the package name, it's time to add the external app to your ManageXR library:
Select the VR Content tab > Add Content > External
Add a title for the app and paste the package name.
Click Create.
The external app has now been added to your VR Content library! The last step is to add this store app to a configuration:
Navigate to the Configurations tab and select a configuration or create a new one.
Hover over the newly added app in the App Library section and click Deploy.
Select Save 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 (Legacy Quest devices only)
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 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.
FAQs
Can I link multiple devices in Individual Mode to the same Managed Meta Account?
Can I link multiple devices in Individual Mode to the same Managed Meta Account?
Yes. However, Individual Mode is intended for devices assigned to specific individuals in your organization and there are important restrictions:
You cannot use Meta Horizon Store content on multiple devices with the same Managed Meta Account simultaneously.
You cannot cast on multiple devices with the same Managed Meta Account simultaneously.
How can I access my Personal Meta account with my device?
How can I access my Personal Meta account with my device?
Verify that the "Personal Accounts" setting is enabled for your device’s configuration.
Note: This only applies to devices in Individual Mode.
Personal Meta accounts and Managed Meta accounts are completely separate accounts. The app library and data between a Personal account on a device and a Managed Meta Account are not shared.
Put on the headset and hover over the time in the bottom left corner to open the quick settings menu.
Click the gear in the quick settings menu to open the full Settings menu.
Navigate to the Profiles tab and select Add profile.
Pass the headset to the person who will enter the credentials for their Personal Meta account and click Continue.
Select Add.
A screen will appear inside the headset, displaying a code.
On a nearby computer, navigate to meta.com/device and enter that in-headset code.
You will need to click through a series of Meta screens that require you to acknowledge their safety warnings, decide whether or not to enable hand-tracking, and whether to share additional data.
After all the screens, you'll see this screen, indicating that the profile has been added, and you can close the browser window.
Inside the headset, select the Welcome button.
After reviewing or skipping the tutorials, press the Meta button on your right controller to open Meta's universal menu.
If there are apps that you've previously purchased with this personal Meta account, you are now able to retrieve this content with your device. Your managed Meta account will still remain as the primary Meta account associated with this device, but you're now able to toggle between that account and your personal Meta account. To switch between a managed and personal Meta account, you must navigate to Settings > Profiles.
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