Today, I’m going to share with you the APK that lets you have passthrough vision with blue edges on your Oculus Quest 2.
Why am I sharing this app?
Some weeks ago, I have published my tutorial about how to build your application using passthrough AR for your Quest 2, and after a few time, my tests on the fact that you can use passthrough without the Guardian, and so you can go around for your city with your Quest on and passthrough always activated (if you want to look like a crazy nerd, of course). These articles have been pretty successful (thanks, my amazing readers!), and many people have read them and used my tutorials to create their own passthrough AR experiences (I’m always happy to be helpful for my community!).
UPDATE (2022.02.27): As someone made me notice, of course, it’s not safe going around your city with the Quest on, so, please don’t do it 🙂
But these posts have had another unexpected side effect: the people that were not interested in developing a passthrough AR application (because they are not developers, or because they have not the time), wanted to experience it anyway and started asking me for the APK of my passthrough app. At the first request, I was a bit puzzled, and I invited the guy to follow the tutorial instructions and build it by himself, but when the requests started adding up, I understood that there was a clear need for this application and that there were quite a few people that did not want to build it themselves, but just wanted to try this kind of passthrough vision. I so started to share the APK with them via e-mail, and now, after all these weeks, I have realized that it is worthwhile sharing it with everyone on this blog.
But wait.. you are the guy of the cube…
Oh yes, the irony. I’m already known in the VR communities as being the guy who published on App Lab an experience that was just made of a cube (you can download it here). And now I’ll be known also in the AR communities as the guy that is sharing the passthrough app that does nothing if not making you see your surroundings with the edges highlighted in light blue.
I’m not so sure these things will make my resumée shine when I’ll look for a new job.
How to download the app
I’m unsure if submitting it to SideQuest, but for now, I made it available via my Google Drive folder. Have fun downloading it here: DOWNLOAD LINK
How to install the app
To install the Passthrough App APK, you can use the traditional means that you use to install APKs on your Quest:
- Either you use ADB via command line, typing “adb install -r <NAME_OF_APK>” if you have the Android Tools installed
- Or you use SideQuest, and then just drag and drop the APK on SideQuest on your PC while the Quest is connected to your PC via USB. You can check out the tutorial here below for more detailed instructions.
Launching the app just requires you to launch it from the Unknown Sources tab of your App section inside the Quest. Its name is PassthroughApp (yeah, I’ve used a lot of fantasy, I know). Have fun!
And… that’s it! Have fun enjoying passthrough on your Quest! I’m always here at disposal of the community if needed, so let me know if there is something else I can do for you all!