Develop

Build an Expo app for VR

Updated: Oct 30, 2026

This page gets you to a React Native app running on Meta Horizon OS. Start from the sample project for the fastest path, or add Horizon OS support to a new Expo project.

Start from the sample project

React Native showcase app running in a panel on a Meta VR device.

The easiest way to get started is to use the React Native Horizon OS sample⁠ as your template. It provides a working Expo project configured for Meta VR devices.

You can test the app with Expo Go or load an APK onto your device.

Start from a new Expo project

If you do not use the sample project, create a standard Expo project:

npx create-expo-app@latest my-quest-app
cd my-quest-app

Add the Horizon OS integration and an Expo development client:

npm install expo-horizon-core
npx expo install expo-dev-client

Configure the project for Horizon OS

The sample project already includes Horizon OS configuration. If you started from a new Expo project, add the expo-horizon-core plugin to app.json:

{
  "expo": {
    "orientation": "default",
    "plugins": [
      [
        "expo-horizon-core",
        {
          "horizonAppId": "YOUR_HORIZON_APP_ID",
          "defaultWidth": "1024dp",
          "defaultHeight": "640dp",
          "supportedDevices": "quest2|questpro|quest3|quest3s|vrglasses",
          "disableVrHeadtracking": false,
          "allowBackup": false
        }
      ]
    ]
  }
}

Create an app in the Meta Horizon Developer Dashboard⁠, then select Development > API to copy its App ID. See Creating an App ID for details.

Replace YOUR_HORIZON_APP_ID in the configuration above with this value.

The plugin adds the Horizon OS metadata and Quest build variants when Expo generates the native project.

Generate the Android project

If you started from a new Expo project, generate its native Android project:

npx expo prebuild --clean

expo-horizon-core creates separate quest and mobile build variants. Add scripts for each target to package.json:

{
  "scripts": {
    "android": "expo run:android --variant mobileDebug",
    "quest": "expo run:android --variant questDebug",
    "android:release": "expo run:android --variant mobileRelease",
    "quest:release": "expo run:android --variant questRelease"
  }
}

Use the quest variants for Meta VR devices and the mobile variants for other Android devices.

With a device connected and in developer mode, build, install, and run the Quest development client:

npm run quest

This command also starts Metro. After the first build, JavaScript changes update through Fast Refresh. Rebuild when native dependencies or Expo configuration change.

Optional: OS version targeting
If you build natively, you can optionally declare minimum and target Meta VR OS SDK versions with the uses-metavr-sdk element, described in Meta VR OS SDK versioning. The prebuild command rewrites the generated android/app/src/quest/AndroidManifest.xml, so direct edits to it do not persist. To keep manifest changes across runs of prebuild, apply them with an Expo config plugin⁠.

Test your app

Choose the development loop that fits what you are testing:

Use Expo Go to preview JavaScript and UI changes.
Install a Quest APK on your device or Meta Spatial Simulator to test expo-horizon-core, native modules, and Horizon OS features.

See Expo for React Native for both workflows.

Adapt unsupported features

Meta Horizon OS is based on AOSP and does not include Google Mobile Services. Some mobile hardware and Android permissions are also unavailable on Meta VR devices.

If your app also targets mobile devices, use isHorizonDevice() from expo-horizon-core to select a Horizon OS integration or a mobile fallback.

Use Horizon-compatible integrations where available:

Mobile integration	Use on Meta Horizon OS
`expo-location`	`expo-horizon-location`
`expo-notifications`	`expo-horizon-notifications`
Google Play Billing	`expo-iap` with Horizon support enabled
Other Google Mobile Services	Use the recommended alternatives in Unsupported dependencies

Some location functionality, including GPS, heading, geocoding, and background location, is not available on Meta Quest. Provide a fallback when your app depends on these capabilities.

Remove prohibited permissions before building. See Unsupported permissions for the requirements and review process.

Add spatial windows

To add spatial windows without converting your app into a fully immersive experience, use the Meta VR Layout SDK. It preserves your existing React Native app structure and the Standard Android build path.

Look and Pinch

Look and Pinch uses your app’s UI structure, text, and buttons to deliver standard input events. Test your app with Meta Spatial Simulator and follow the Look and Pinch design guidance, including using touch targets that are at least 48dp.

For special scenarios such as hover effects, use the Gaze SDK for React Native.