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Add External Apps (Store Apps) to your ManageXR Content Library
Add External Apps (Store Apps) to your ManageXR Content Library
Follow these instructions to download apps from the Meta, Pico, and HTC store to your ManageXR library
Westley Heagy avatar
Written by Westley Heagy
Updated over a week ago

External Apps are not directly managed by ManageXR, and cannot be installed, updated, or uninstalled automatically by ManageXR. However, External Apps that are manually installed on a device can be approved in a Configuration and then included in your Home Screen or set as a Kiosk App.

For example, let's say you want to include Beat Saber in your Home Screen, but you don't have access to the APK file to distribute it via ManageXR. In this case, you'd manually install Beat Saber on your device from the Meta App Store. Then, you'd add Beat Saber as an External App in ManageXR and approve it in your device's configuration. Now, if Beat Saber is installed, it will appear in your Home Screen.

💡 Note: If you are looking to use content from the Meta/Oculus Store, you will need to create Meta Accounts for each of your Meta Quest devices. To learn more about what account setup options are available when deploying Meta Devices at scale, check out our Meta Account Setup Guide.

If you plan to use a store app for large-scale deployments, we recommend reaching out to 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 if you ever get to this point with an app developer. Reach out to 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

This is the recommended universal option, as it works with many different hardware types.

Using Meta Quest App

Meta Quest users have an additional option through using the Meta Quest App

  • Open the Meta Quest App

  • Click Menu in the bottom right

  • Select Devices

  • Open the App Library

  • Tap the app you wish to install

  • Click Install on Headset

Adding an External App to ManageXR

Once you've manually installed the app, you can now make it appear in your ManageXR Home Screen by adding it to ManageXR as an external app. To do this, you will need the app's Package Name. A Package Name is an app's unique identifier and can be found in a device's "Installed Apps" section:

Now that you have the Package Name, it's time to create the External App:

  1. Navigate to the Apps page

  2. In the sidebar, scroll down to the External Apps section and click the New button

  3. Add a Title and the Package Name

  4. Click the Create button

This app can now be deployed to your devices through any of your configurations!

Remember: An External App deployed in a configuration will only make the app appear in your ManageXR Home Screen if the app is already installed on the device. ManageXR cannot remotely install an External App for you.

Extra: Oculus First Steps App

It's common to add the Oculus First Steps app as an external app. In many cases, this app comes preinstalled on the device, and all you need to do is add it as an external app in order to have it appear on your home screen.

Oddly, the First Steps app can have three package names that depend on what Meta Quest headset you're using:

  • com.oculus.MontereySetup Quest 1 & Quest Pro

  • com.oculus.MiramarSetupRetail Quest 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.

Tip: When System Apps are toggled on, the list can be quite extensive. It's best to search for First Steps manually in the search bar.

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