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Build and install

There are two ways to build. Both install the app over USB.

WayWhen to use it
Android + Run DeviceThe quickest way. One setup for both headsets: you only pick the connected headset.
Headset build profileWhen the tech team has prepared a separate profile per headset.

The quick way: Android and Run Device​

With the project switched to Android (see Switch the project to Android), Unity lists every connected headset, Meta Quest 3 and PICO 4 alike, in Run Device.

  1. Connect the headset by USB and put it on, or keep it awake. Confirm the Allow USB debugging? prompt if it appears.
  2. Open File > Build Profiles. Under Platforms, click Android and check that it's marked Active.
  3. Next to Run Device, click Refresh, then choose the headset from the list.
  4. Check the headset's XR setting. Open Edit > Project Settings > XR Plug-in Management > OpenXR and click the Android tab. The feature for the connected headset must be ticked: Meta Quest Support for the Meta Quest 3, PICO for the PICO 4.
  5. Click Build And Run and choose a folder for the .apk file, for example Builds/Quest3 or Builds/PICO4.

Unity builds the app, installs it on the headset and starts it. The first build takes a while; later builds are faster.

To build for the other headset, connect it, choose it in Run Device, check its XR setting, and click Build And Run again.

Build with a headset profile​

  1. Connect the headset by USB and put it on, or keep it awake.
  2. Open File > Build Profiles and select the profile for this headset (Meta Quest 3 or PICO 4). Make sure it's the active profile.
  3. In Run Device, choose the headset.
  4. Click Build And Run. Choose a folder for the .apk file, for example Builds/Quest3 or Builds/PICO4. Use a separate folder per headset, because the two apps aren't interchangeable.

Unity builds the app, installs it on the headset and starts it. The first build takes a while; later builds are faster.

Note

Placeholder: Build Profiles with Run Device set to the headset and the Build And Run button.

Install an existing APK on more headsets​

You can also put the same app on more headsets without building again: connect the next headset and click Build And Run once more. Unity is faster the second time.

For the tech team: install with adb

To install a saved .apk without opening Unity, use Android's adb tool. It comes with Unity's Android module, in the Android SDK's platform-tools folder.

With one headset connected:

adb devices
adb install -r "Builds\PICO4\ALF.apk"

adb devices should list the headset as device. -r replaces an older version of the app that's already installed.

Keep the builds

Keep each .apk with its version number, for example ALF-1.4-Quest3.apk and ALF-1.4-PICO4.apk. A Quest 3 APK doesn't work properly on a PICO 4, and the other way round. You can then go back to an earlier version if needed.

Find the app on the headset​

Apps installed over USB don't appear with the store apps.

  • Meta Quest 3: open the Library and filter by Unknown sources.
  • PICO 4: open the Library. Sideloaded apps may be listed under a separate filter for unknown sources.