How To Unlock MANY MORE Quest 2 Games With This New SideQuest Update

In my previous video I showed how to use SideQuest from inside VR, but that was an experimental build with some bugs. The SideQuest team has now released an improved build with a new installer that makes it a breeze to install SideQuest on Quest 2. After that you don’t need your PC or phone to sideload games, which unlocks a second game library full of VR games and experiences. There are also new features, like file transfer, which makes it easy to install ports such as Doom 3. Here’s the whole process.

Brevitē sponsored this video, which pays for our time and not for the opinion.

What you need

Sit by your PC with your Quest 2 and a high-quality USB cable that supports file transfer.

Step 1: get the easy installer

1. Go to sidequestvr.com and click Get SideQuest.
2. Download the easy installer (in beta when we made this). It should show the right one for your operating system. If it doesn’t, there are more options under the button.
3. Double-click it to open the SideQuest app. It’s a portable build, so there’s nothing to install.

Step 2: run the setup check

A red icon means no Quest is connected yet. If this is your first time sideloading, click Open Setup Instructions. This built-in check is new and helps you troubleshoot. It lists four things you need before you can sideload.

Connect your Quest 2 to your PC with the USB cable and watch the red status icons. If they’re all green, skip to step 4.

Step 3: fix what’s red

Quest not detected

This should go green when you plug in. If it doesn’t, the USB connection is the problem. Try a different, high-quality cable that allows file transfer, and try different USB ports on your PC.

Developer mode not enabled

You need developer mode to sideload. SideQuest now includes these steps in the app, and they can update them if anything changes. The short version:

1. On any device, open a browser and go to dashboard.oculus.com. Log in with the account you use on your Quest.
2. Click Create an Organization, enter any name, follow the steps and agree to the terms. It may ask you to verify your account with a credit card or phone number. If it doesn’t, your account is already verified.
3. Your organization now appears in the drop-down menu, so your account is ready.
4. Open the Oculus app on your phone, go to Menu > Devices, and make sure your Quest is on and connected.
5. Scroll down to Developer Mode and toggle it on.
6. Reboot your Quest and connect it to your PC again.
7. Put on the headset and click Allow on the USB debugging and data access prompts. Choose Always Allow so they don’t keep popping up.

No ADB detected

Install the Oculus PC app if you don’t have it, because it should include the drivers you need. You might also need to update Windows.

Not authorized

You probably haven’t accepted the prompts inside the headset. Put it on and reconnect the cable if you don’t see them.

Still stuck? Click Fix It For Me in the app for tips, or check SideQuest’s support section. The SideQuest community is very friendly and can help.

Step 4: install SideQuest on Quest 2 and sideload from VR

With every status icon green:

1. Click the button to install SideQuest directly on your headset.
2. Put on the headset, open your library, choose Unknown Sources from the drop-down and launch SideQuest.
3. The first time, you need to link it to your SideQuest account. Note the numbers on screen, open the link shown in a browser, log in with your SideQuest account, enter the numbers and click Link App.
4. Browse Games & Apps, find what you want and click the pink button.
5. The first time, SideQuest asks for permission: click Settings, toggle the switch to allow it, and use the arrow on the left to go back.
6. Click Install to confirm. The app appears below once it’s done, or you can follow it in the download queue.

That’s it. You can now sideload anywhere, straight from VR, as long as you have an internet connection.

What’s new in this build

• Multitasking. Drag the SideQuest app to the side and keep it open while you do other things. You can resize it too.
• Unknown Sources button at the top right, which opens all your sideloaded content right away.
• Filter at the top right to sort games, for example to show only free ones.
• Custom homes, now easy to install.
• Transfer files. This helps you install ports like Dr Beef’s Doom 3. You still need to buy and install the original Steam version, but this copies the game files to your Quest for you, so there’s no manual work.

My take on the update

I think this update is really well done. The SideQuest team keeps making everything easier with constant improvements, and sideloading is now simple enough that I’d point anyone with a Quest 2 to it. I make these guides to support them, and I hope it helps you find some new games too.