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Offline Updates: Update Devices via USB-C Thumb Drive

Update apps, files, firmware, and other configuration content via USB thumb drive, rather than waiting for devices to download over Wi-Fi

Written by Taylor Lallas

We know Wi-Fi connectivity can be a challenge. Devices are not always on networks that support large downloads and updates to your applications. To help you navigate tricky internet situations, ManageXR offers offline updating via USB Update Packages.
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How USB update packages work

Workflow overview

To push updates offline using a USB-C instead of over the air, you follow these steps:

  1. Create a USB Package on ManageXR

  2. Load the USB Package onto a FAT32 formatted USB-C stick

  3. Plug the USB-C into your device(s)

Important considerations

  • USB Update Packages are additive. Applying an update package only installs or updates the content on the USB stick — it won't remove any existing content from the device.

  • Devices must be on their final configuration before the USB update. The configuration applied to the device must target the content in the USB Package. Otherwise, any changes made by the USB update may be overwritten when the device later applies different configuration settings. For example, if you apply a USB update to a device that installs App A, but App A is not also on the device's configuration, App A will be removed from the device the next time it syncs with ManageXR.

Limits & subscription requirements

  • Premium and Enterprise subscriptions only

  • Organizations are limited to generating 5 USB Update Packages / month

Step 1: Create USB Update Package

  1. Sign into ManageXR

  2. Go to the Configuration used by the devices you want to update*

  3. Click the "..." More Options menu in the top left

  4. Click Create USB Update

  5. Enter a Name for your package

  6. Select the Device Models you want to update (this impacts the firmware options available to include in the package)

  7. Select the Content (apps, videos, files) to include in the update package

  8. Optional for PICO devices - Select the Firmware to include in the update package

  9. Click Generate Package

  10. Wait for the package to generate - this will take a few minutes! Once the package is ready, you will receive an email and it will be available on the Configurations > USB Updates tab now visible to you.

Step 2: Load the USB Package onto a USB-C

Part A: Device & USB-C Preparation

  1. Ensure your USB-C thumb drive is formatted to FAT32

    1. If you don't already have USB-C thumb drives, we recommend this USB-C stick.

    2. To format as FAT32:

      1. Windows: Right-click the drive in File Explorer > Format > select FAT32. For drives over 32GB, use a tool like Rufus.

      2. Mac: Open Disk Utility > select the drive > Erase > choose MS-DOS (FAT) > Erase

      3. Linux: Run sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdX

  2. Ensure your devices are on the correct and final configuration. Make sure your devices are on the final configuration before performing a USB update. If the device is not in its final configuration, any changes made by the USB update may be overwritten when the device later applies different configuration settings.

Part B: Load the USB Package onto the USB-C

  1. Download the USB Update Package

  2. Unzip the package .zip file on your computer

  3. Drag the folder to the root of the thumb drive

🎊 Now you're ready to use your USB-C sticks to update devices!

Step 3: Plug the USB-C stick into your device

  1. Turn on the device

  2. Plug your prepared USB-C thumb drive into your device.

  3. Listen for audio cues - Once running, the device will play an audio cue when the USB thumb drive has been recognized and another audio cue upon completion (with different sounds for success and error). You will also be able to check on download and installation progress in-headset.

🎊 The next time devices sync with ManageXR, they will report being Up to Date.

Tip for faster duplication and updating

For faster duplication, you can use a USB duplicator to copy the content to multiple drives at once. Then, simultaneously plug the USB-C sticks into different devices to expedite the update process.

FAQs

Does the device have to be in the same organization that created the USB Update Package?

Yes, the device must be in the same ManageXR organization as the one that created the package. The exception is packages created by a Trusted Vendor: ISV partners who can build update packages and distribute them to their customers across organizations. To become a Trusted Vendor, email support@managexr.com.

My USB Update fails immediately when I plug it in with an error sound. How can I fix this?

Check the USB-C thumb drive's file system. It is likely using the wrong format. If it shows as exFAT, it needs to be reformatted to FAT32 before the package will work.

My USB thumb drive is larger than 32GB and Windows won't let me format it to FAT32 — what do I do?

This is a limitation of Windows. You can use one of these workarounds:

  • Mac (easiest): macOS has no size restriction. Open Disk Utility → Select the drive → Erase → Set Format to MS-DOS (FAT) → Erase

  • Rufus on Windows (free): Download from https://rufus.ie → Select the drive → Set File System to FAT32 → Start

    • Note, when using Rufus to format the drive, you don't need a boot image. If the start button is grayed out, change the Boot selection dropdown to "Non bootable." The Start button will become active and you can proceed with formatting.

  • Smaller drive: Any drive 32GB or smaller can be formatted to FAT32 natively in Windows without additional tools

If a device already has some of the content from the USB update package, will it only install what's missing, or push everything again?

Everything on the USB stick gets pushed to the device. To keep the package size down, select only the apps, videos, and firmware you actually need to update when creating the package.

Can I use any high-speed USB-C thumb drive for USB deployment?

We haven't tested every model, but any USB-C 3.x thumb drive that can be formatted to FAT32 should work. FAT32 is the only type of file system supported with USB update packages. Most large-capacity drives are not pre-formatted as FAT32, so you may need to reformat them manually. We recommend testing with your specific drive to confirm compatibility.

Would using a faster USB-C drive improve performance?

Generally, no. Most modern VR headsets have USB-C ports that operate at USB 3.0-class speeds (up to about 5 Gbps). This means that even if you connect a high-speed USB-C drive—such as USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt—the transfer rates will still be capped by the headset’s USB controller. The bottleneck is in the headset hardware, not the drive, so using a faster drive will not improve data transfer performance.

I don't have a USB-C. Do you have any other offline updating options?

Yes, you can use Push Configuration Updates with the Device Setup Tool. This method downloads configuration content and settings to your computer then pushes it over the wire onto devices. However, we recommend USB Update Packages because they are faster and simpler for large deployments.

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

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