How to update your Oculus Quest (manually or automatically)

Last week, I published my post about the latest update of Oculus Quest that provides new interesting features like Passthrough+ and 3 DOF mode. After that article, some people have asked me how to update the Quest so that to try these features as well, so I’m writing a complete tutorial to teach you how you can update your Quest and try its latest functionalities!

How to update your Oculus Quest (video tutorial)

Here I am again with another shiny video tutorial, this time teaching you how to update your Oculus Quest. In this video, I’ll show you how you can update your device, both manually and automatically. If you want to hear my sexy voice, please watch it.

If instead you prefer a written tutorial, please go on reading.

How to update your Oculus Quest (textual tutorial)

Since the latest update (October 2019), there are two ways to update your Oculus Quest: one automatic and the other one manual.

To perform both, you have at first connect your Quest to the Wi-fi. If your Quest is not connected to a Wi-fi, you have to:

1. Turn on your Oculus Quest;
2. Open the companion Oculus app on your smartphone;
3. Open the Settings tab on your app;
4. Pair your Quest to the companion app by tapping on its name;
5. Tap on Wi-Fi;
6. Select the network you want to connect to and specify username and password.

Once the Quest is connected to a network, you can proceed with automatic or manual update.

Automatic update

The automatic mode is the original way with which Oculus Go and Quest updated. It updates automatically the device while it is not in use, so it is most suitable for people that use often the Quest.

The procedure is:

1. Connect your device to a Wi-fi network;
2. Attach it to your power plug through a USB charger;
3. Put it on your desk, and don’t touch it anymore so that it goes in standby.
4. Leave it that way for like half an hour and in the meanwhile pray Saint Zuck from Palo Alto to let it download the latest updates;
5. After that, put your Quest on and reboot it.

While it is in standby and is charging, the device automatically checks for updates and downloads them. After that, when you reboot it, it installs the updates.

The good side of this procedure is that it is effortless: if you use often your Quest, you usually have moments when you leave it charging on your desk and so it automatically updates like magic. The bad news is that the process is absolutely non deterministic, and you have no control over it. So if you are in a hurry and want to update your device, you have no way of doing it.

Manual update (only available from runtime v9)

Since October 2019, it is possible to update your device manually. You have to:

1. Connect your Quest to a Wi-fi network;
2. Wear it;
3. Go to Settings-> All settings;
4. Select the Information tab
5. Look at the first item that is “Software updates”. It shows you the runtime version installed on the device, and offers you a button to update it if a new update is available;
6. Press the button to install the latest updates.

Manual mode is very handy when you want to immediately update the device to try a new feature that has just been released.

I hope you have enjoyed this quick tutorial on how to update your Oculus Quest! If it is the case, please consider subscribing to my newsletter or donating to my Patreon!

And after that, enjoy your brand new Quest…