It appears that the Oculus Quest (reviewed here) has a secret menu with a “sideloading update.” Here’s how to access the menu and what it may mean.
To access the menu, shut down the Oculus Quest (hold down the power button until it says “Shutting Down”). While the Oculus Quest is off, hold down the + volume button on the button then hold down the power button. Keep both buttons held down until the display turns on. You’ll see the “USB Update Mode” menu.
The menu has options for factory reset, reboot, and turn off. What is most intriguing is another option for “Enable sideloading update.”
When I selected this option, the screen turned black, and the power button LED kept blinking with a purple light. While in this mode, if I connect the Quest with adb and type <adb devices>, it shows the status as “sideload.”
However, when I try to install apks, it gives me an error and says it writing is closed.
To go back to the normal mode, I hold down the power button for a long time (around 15 seconds) until the LED light changes to white, indicating that the Quest is rebooting.
I hope this menu will somehow make it easier to use Oculus Go or Gear VR apps. If you figure out how to use it, let me know in the comments below! Meanwhile if you want to know how to sideload apps to the Quest, see the instructions here.
UPDATE: it appears that the purpose of the menu is to rescue an Oculus Quest when it is not booting correctly. This menu is a chance to reinstall firmware.
That is not what it is for. It is used to install OTA updates via adb.
Thanks Chris!
Just received my oculus quest and it turned in to USB Update Mode and i can’t get out of it. Held down power for 15 seconds till light turned white to no avail.
Haven’t gotten to set it up yet!!
Keep holding it down even longer. Maybe a minute or something. It will eventually reboot
You can enable developer mode and use ADB to install APKs.
Yes or use sidequest. I was just hoping this was a shortcut. But the consensus is that this is an emergency way to install system recovery software.
Generally sideloading, in the context of android, means to install a Custom Rom.
it was probably added and never removed.
It was probably used for developing different varients of the Customized Android System for the Quest.
Personally dont own a quest myself, but this is probably what it was used for, Kinda like “Download Mode” for samsung devices
Thanks Merith!
hey i got in this screen by accident and now ive been stuck in there for a long time i try clicking the power button to make a selection but its not working do you happen to know how i can exit this screen
Hi Mohamed. To go back to the normal mode, I hold down the power button for a long time (around 15 seconds) until the LED light changes to white, indicating that the Quest is rebooting.
I do that and it goes back in usb update mode again its been stuck like this for a year now
Hold volume down and power then boot device
Thanks Colin!
I had a play with this for 5h175 and, giggles, and had trouble getting back out again.
The sectret is to hold the Volume Down + Power to bring the original Menu Options back, from there, chose the Reboot Device option to get return to normal.
How to get it if the mode
To go back to the normal mode, I hold down the power button for a long time (around 15 seconds) until the LED light changes to white, indicating that the Quest is rebooting.
I have a solid blue light with a black screen