Understanding your WebXR browser options

All WebXR links open in a web browser. By default, devices use their built-in system browser (e.g., the native Quest web browser). In addition to the Quest browser, ManageXR offers the Wolvic browser as an option for launching WebXR links. Wolvic Browser is an open-source browser designed for XR and is currently only available for Quest devices, but may become available more broadly as Wolvic adds support for additional device types.

You can choose between three different WebXR browser options on Meta Quest devices:

Quest Browser

Wolvic Browser (Standard)

Wolvic Browser (No Search)

Browser Options

Quest Browser

Description

The default browser, provided by the device manufacturer.

Pros

Simple, built-in functionality
Improved kiosk experience for devices on firmware versions 76 and higher

Cons

(Legacy devices) Inconsistent compatibility with Quest devices on firmware below 76, which can lead to unexpected behavior
Cannot prevent users from navigating to other videos and websites
Cannot prevent related YouTube videos from appearing in the sidebar

Wolvic Browser (Standard)

Description

An open-source, XR-optimized browser that supports immersive WebXR experiences.

Pros

Compatible with Quest devices that are on older firmware versions
Supports kiosk mode, which prevents users from navigating away from the WebXR experience

Cons

Doesn’t prevent related YouTube videos from appearing in the sidebar

Wolvic Browser (No Search)

Description

Similar to Wolvic Browser (Standard) but with the browser search bar disabled to prevent navigation away from the intended content.

Pros

Supports kiosk mode, which prevents users from navigating away from the WebXR experience
Compatible with Quest devices in older firmware versions
Hides the browser search bar from the user when the WebXR experience is launched

Cons

Doesn’t prevent related YouTube videos from appearing in the sidebar

Set the Default WebXR browser for your Configuration

Once you've decided which browser setting works best, there are two places you can set your default browser in your configuration:

WebXR Links section

Select a configuration in your Configurations tab.
Click WebXR Links.
Choose the desired launching method.

Device Settings section

Select a configuration in your Configurations tab.
Select Device Settings.
Choose the desired launching method under Meta Devices Only.

That's it! The next time devices assigned to this configuration sync with ManageXR, they will automatically download your selected browser as the default browser for WebXR links.

Verify that the Wolvic browser is installed on your devices

Wolvic will only download onto the device and appear under ManageXR Apps if the configuration uses Wolvic Browser (Standard) or Wolvic Browser (No Search). Otherwise, it will not be downloaded.

To check if Wolvic is installed and up-to-date on your device:

Navigate to Devices and select a device.
Click Current Configuration.
Locate Wolvic under the "Manage XR Apps" section.

YouTube

YouTube videos as WebXR links

WebXR links are a quick and easy way to share YouTube videos with VR users, especially on devices where installing apps isn't possible. To add YouTube videos as WebXR links for VR devices, copy the URL of the YouTube video you want to use and add it as a web link in your device management platform, like ManageXR. This will place a shortcut on the VR device’s home screen. When selected, the video will open in the device’s default browser, not in the YouTube VR app.

For YouTube videos that offer an immersive experience or 360-degree mode, this is what you’ll need to do to watch them in their intended format:

Click the fullscreen icon in the bottom right of the screen
Click the VR headset icon
Select 360 Stereo
1. For certain videos, you may need to select 360

YouTube VR app

YouTube VR is an application designed specifically to provide a virtual reality interface for accessing and viewing YouTube content on VR headsets. Because this app is obtained from the Meta Horizon app store, it’s considered an external app. WebXR links can only be launched with the browser options available in the configuration settings. In short, ManageXR can't make YouTube VR the default method for launching WebXR links.

FAQs

I launched a YouTube video in Wolvic’s No Search mode, but I can still see the related videos on the side. How do I get rid of those?

Wolvic's No Search mode removes the browser search bar, preventing users from actively searching for other videos. However, this mode cannot remove related videos that appear in the sidebar of your video.

Although Wolvic cannot prevent users from navigating away from the video, embedded links provide a method for further restricting users. Here are the steps on how to modify a YouTube link to create an embedded link:

Replace watch?v= in the YouTube URL with embed/. Take a look at this example with the URL below.
- original URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v64KOxKVLVg
- modified URL: https://www.youtube.com/embed/v64KOxKVLVg
Navigate to VR content in the ManageXR console.
Select WebXR Link.
Enter the modified URL.
Enter a title for the WebXR link and press Create Link.

After this, the modified URL now exists as a WebXR link that can be deployed to a configuration.

This video shows what it's like to launch an embedded URL as a WebXR link:

What should I expect the first time I launch a WebXR link using Wolvic?

When Wolvic is launched for the first time, you will need to review the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. If accepted, you will be taken to your WebXR link.