Develop

Manual Project Setup Appendix

Updated: Oct 1, 2026

Use this appendix to set up a Unity project for Meta Quest development without Meta Quest Developer Hub (MQDH). For the recommended MQDH flow, see Get Started.

Manual project setup steps

Add Android build support

Open Unity Hub and select Installs.
Open the menu for the Unity Editor version you will use, then select Manage > Add modules.
Add Android build support for that Editor version.

XR provider plugin options

Choose the XR provider that supports your project’s requirements.

The following provider plugins are available for Meta VR development:

Unity OpenXR Plugin⁠ (recommended)
- Recommended Version: 1.15.1
- Requires Unity 6 or later, Meta XR SDKs v74 or later.
Oculus XR Plugin⁠ (deprecated)
- Recommended Version: 4.5.1
- Requires Unity 2022 or later, Meta XR SDKs v73 or earlier.

Oculus XR Plugin is deprecated

The Oculus XR Plugin is deprecated and scheduled for removal. Use the Unity OpenXR Plugin instead.

For installation and legacy-provider details, see XR Plugin Management for Meta Quest.

Create a Unity project

Follow the steps below to create a new project in Unity Hub:

Select Projects in the left navigation bar, then click New project.
Select Unity Editor version 6.1 or later.
Select the Universal 3D template. Click Download template if required. This creates an empty project built on the Universal Render Pipeline (URP).
Enter your project name, a save location, and a Unity organization.
Click Create project.

Install the Unity OpenXR plugin

Select Edit > Project Settings from the Unity Editor menu.
Select XR Plug-in Management on the left of the Project Settings window.
If XR Plug-in Management is not installed, click Install XR Plugin Management.
Enable the OpenXR provider for the Standalone build target.
Enable the OpenXR provider for the Android build target.

Add and select the Meta Quest build platform

In the Unity Editor menu, select File > Build Profiles.
Under Platforms, select Meta Quest and click Enable Platform. If you already installed the profile, click the Switch Platform button.
If prompted to install com.unity.xr.openxr, click Install.

Unity versions prior to 6.1

If the Meta Quest platform is absent from your version of Unity, select the Android build platform.

Add Meta XR SDKs to your project

The Meta XR All-in-One SDK supplies the Core, Platform, and Interaction SDK dependencies used in this setup.

In the Unity Editor menu, select Window > Package Management > Package Manager.
Select + in the upper left of the Package Manager window. Select Add Package By Name. Enter com.meta.xr.sdk.all.
If prompted to enable the Meta XR feature set, select Enable.
If the feature set isn’t enabled, select Edit > Project Settings > XR Plug-in Management > OpenXR. Enable the Meta XR feature group for the Standalone and Android build targets.
If Unity prompts you to restart the Unity Editor, select Restart Editor.

Use the Project Setup Tool to update the configuration

Select Window > Meta > Tools > Project Setup Tool.
For the Standalone and Android build targets, use each available bulk action and complete any remaining required manual items.
Confirm that no required issues remain for either build target.

Update Meta XR packages

In the Package Manager window, select Updates and review any available Meta XR package updates.

Confirm OpenXR feature groups are selected

Select Project Settings > XR Plug-in Management > OpenXR, then open the settings for the Android build target.
Select Meta XR in the OpenXR Feature Groups section to filter the list.
Confirm that Meta XR Feature is enabled. Meta XR Foveation is enabled by default. Enable Meta XR Subsampled Layout only if your app requires it.

Configure a Platform App ID (optional)

The Meta XR All-in-One SDK already includes the Platform SDK. If your app uses Platform SDK features such as user identity, entitlements, in-app purchases, achievements, or group presence, configure an App ID:

Create an app on the Meta Horizon Developer Dashboard⁠.
Open the app’s API page and copy the App ID.
Follow Set up a platform app for Unity development to add the App ID to your Unity project.

For available Platform SDK features, see Platform Solutions overview.

Verify the headset connection

Connect your headset to the development computer.
In Build Profiles, use the device-selection controls to select the headset for deployment.

The headset is ready for Unity deployment when it is selected as the deployment target.

Set up Android Debug Bridge (optional)

Use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) for command-line device checks and APK installation. Follow Android Debug Bridge for Meta Quest to install and configure ADB for your development computer.

Run the following command:
```
adb devices
```
Confirm that the output lists the connected headset with the device status.

Install an APK directly:

Run the following command to install an APK on your headset:

adb install <APK_PATH>

For example, on Windows:

adb install C:\Dev\Android\MyProject\VrApp.apk

On macOS:

adb install ~/Dev/Android/MyProject/VrApp.apk

Use the -r option to overwrite an existing APK of the same name already installed on the target device:

adb install -r <APK_PATH>

Note: Installing apps with adb install bypasses the normal Quest install route. Cloud Backup will not register apps installed this way and will not perform backups for them.

Next steps

You now have a manually configured Unity project for Meta Quest.

Continue with Interaction Setup to add the Interaction SDK rig, UI panel, and hand interactions.
For the recommended MQDH flow, see Software Setup in the Quickstart.
See Unity development overview for additional setup topics.

Learn more

Continue your learning using the following resources:

Meta VR CLI overview: Use Meta VR CLI from a terminal or through an AI coding agent.
Getting Started with Interaction SDK: Add the interaction rig, set up a UI, and enable your first interactions. Your project is already set up; jump straight into building.
Develop Unity apps for Meta Quest VR headsets: Essential components and topics to build, test, and debug your apps.
Introduction to Mixed Reality on Meta Quest: Immersive modes and use cases.
Unity Sample Projects Overview: Sample scenes, motifs, and showcase projects built by Meta engineers to help you create VR experiences in Unity.
Meta XR Simulator Overview: Standalone OpenXR runtime for Windows and Apple Silicon macOS that lets you preview your scene on your computer.
Meta Quest Developer Hub: Tool used by the recommended setup workflow for Meta Quest development.