Design

Software Setup

Updated: Sep 10, 2026
Set up your accounts, install the required software, configure your device for development, and create your first project. These are one-time steps — once complete, you can jump straight into any prototype quickstart guide.

We recommend Meta Quest Developer Hub (MQDH) for the full development workflow. MQDH auto-configures Unity projects, manages device connections, handles APK deployment, provides performance tools, and supports uploading builds to the Meta Horizon Store. It's the most comprehensive tool for Meta VR development.

Create the accounts you will need to access developer tools, download SDKs, and publish apps.
  1. Create a Meta developer account at developer.oculus.com/sign-up.
  2. Verify your account at developer.oculus.com/manage/verify⁠.
  3. Create a Unity ID at id.unity.com⁠.

Install the required software to build and deploy apps for Meta VR devices.
  1. Install the Meta Horizon mobile app⁠ on your phone (iOS 13.4+ or Android 5.0+).
  2. Download and install Unity Hub⁠.
  3. Install Unity Editor (6000.0.66f2 or higher) and make sure to include:
    • Android Build Support,
    • OpenJDK,
    • Android SDK and NDK Tools modules.
  4. Download and install Meta Quest Developer Hub (MQDH) and log in with the same Meta developer credentials used to set up your device.
For troubleshooting, see MQDH Getting Started.

Enable developer mode on your Meta VR device so you can deploy and debug apps. Follow Set up your developer environment to enable developer mode through the Meta Horizon mobile app. Then connect your device via USB-C and allow USB debugging.
Once complete, open MQDH > Device Manager and verify your headset shows a green “Active” status.

If you need adb available in your terminal and it's not recognized after installing MQDH, see Enable ADB in MQDH for troubleshooting and path configuration.
For any troubleshooting issues, see MQDH Device Setup

Project setup

Create and configure your Unity project for Meta VR hand-tracking development.


Open the Meta Quest Developer Hub app on your computer. On the left side, you'll see a menu — click on XR Projects. This is where you can create and manage all your Unity projects.
For any troubleshooting issues, see MQDH XR Projects


In the Hierarchy pane (usually on the left side of Unity), right-click on Main Camera and select Delete. Don't worry, we will replace it later with the XR camera used by the project.
For any troubleshooting issues, see Project Setup Tool · Meta XR Packages

Next steps

Now that you have your project configured, you can start building out your prototype.
Meta
English (US)
© 2026 Meta