Develop
Develop
Select your platform

Simulate a Mixed Reality Environment

Updated: Aug 28, 2024
Outdated XR Simulator Version
This information applies to an older version of the XR Simulator, for new projects use the Standalone XR Simulator which supports any OpenXR application.
To run a mixed reality application in Meta XR Simulator, first launch the Synthetic Environment Server (SES). SES is a feature of Meta XR Simulator that enables mixed reality simulations.

Prerequisites

To use the Synthetic Environment Server, ensure that the Meta XR Simulator is installed and configured for XR development.
For instructions on setting up Meta XR Simulator, see Getting Started with Meta XR Simulator.

Start the Synthetic Environment Server

To use the Synthetic Environment Server:
  1. Activate the Meta XR Simulator.
  2. Launch the Synthetic Environment Server (SES) by navigating to the .synth_env_server folder under the Meta XR Simulator folder, and running one of the .bat files. For example, LaunchLivingRoom.bat.
    The Synthetic Environment Server window opens, displaying the simulated environment.
  3. Minimize, but do not close, the Synthetic Environment Server window; keep it running in the background.
  4. Play your game to run it inside the simulated environment of your choice.
    Click the Play button to run your game inside the simulated environment of your choice.
Note: Meta XR Simulator does not support hot-switching between environments.

Stop the Synthetic Environment Server

To stop the Synthetic Environment Server:
  1. Exit Meta XR Simulator.
  2. Close the Synthetic Environment Server window.

Learn more

To learn more about Meta XR Simulator, see the following resources:
Did you find this page helpful?
Thumbs up icon
Thumbs down icon
Nav Logo
Virtual reality / Meta Horizon
Virtual reality / Meta Horizon
Virtual reality / Meta Horizon
English (US)
© 2026 Meta