In this guide, we’ll show you how to install the firmware on the Oculus Quest 2 using ADB Sideload. This VR headset from Meta works with the Android OS, which lets you make a lot of changes to your VR experience. Since it is based on an open-source operating system, you can automatically run a lot of custom binaries and try out tweaks that you might already be doing on your Android device.
One of them is to use the ADB Sideload feature to put the official firmware on your Oculus Quest 2. But since the developers already release updates on a regular basis, why do you need to do it this way? Well, there could be a lot of things going on. For some, if the update is being sent out in batches and you haven’t gotten it yet, you could ask a user who has received the update for the firmware and then flash it onto your VR.
In the same way, sometimes a developer will release a buggy update, and the only way to fix it is to either go back to a stable build from before or install a beta update package. All of this could be done by putting the firmware on your Oculus Quest 2 through ADB Sideload. So, let’s not waste any more time and look at how this could be done.
Before we get into the details of how to install it, let’s talk about what ADB sideload is. ADB, which stands for “Android Debug Bridge,” is a command-line tool that lets you talk to an Android device from a computer. Sideload, on the other hand, is the process of putting an app or firmware on an Android device from a computer instead of using the Google Play Store. So, ADB sideload is the process of using ADB to install an app or firmware onto an Android device.
Now that we know what ADB sideload is, let’s move on to the steps for installing firmware through ADB sideload in Oculus Quest 2:
How to Install Firmware via ADB Sideload in Oculus Quest 2
The instructions that follow are broken up into separate sections to make them easier to understand. Make sure to do things in the order that was given. If you follow the steps below, AMS and its members can’t be blamed if there’s a nuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything bad happens to your device or data.
STEP 1: Install Android SDK
First, you need to get the Android SDK Platform Tools set up on your PC. This is the official version of ADB and Fastboot from Google, and it is the only one you should use. So download it, and then extract it to a place on your computer that works for you. If you do this, you’ll get a folder called platform-tools, which will be used throughout this guide.
STEP 2: Download Oculus Quest 2 Firmware
- Next, get the firmware you want for your Oculus Quest 2 from the list below.
Oculus Quest 2 firmware version 43: q2_ptc_37314400736000000.zip Oculus Quest 2 firmware version 50: q2_ptc_50163300179900150.zip
- Once it’s downloaded, move it to your PC’s platform-tools folder.
- Also, change its name to rom.zip to make it easier to type in the command window.
STEP 3: Boot Oculus Quest 2 to ADB Sideload Mode
We will now use the Recovery Mode to boot the VR into the sideload mode. If you have any problems, there is another way to do this job. We’ve listed it in the FAQ section at the end of the guide, so you can check it out if you need to.
- Start by turning off your Quest 2.
- Then press and keep holding the Volume Down and Power buttons for a few seconds.
- Now, your VR will start up in Recovery Mode.
- Use the Volume keys to select ADB Sideload, and then press the power key to confirm.
- Your VR is now ready to be sideloaded. So use the cable to connect it to the PC.
STEP 4: Install Firmware via ADB Sideload in Oculus Quest 2
- Make sure that the firmware has been renamed to rom.zip and is in the platform-tools folder.
- Then go to the platform-tools folder, type CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter.
- The Command Prompt will open when you do this. Now, in the CMD window, type the following command to load the firmware from the side.
adb sideload rom.zip
- Now, the process of installing Firmware will start, which could take a few minutes.
- Once you’re done, turn on your VR by pressing the Power button (if it doesn’t turn on automatically).
Congratulations! You have now successfully put the firmware on your Oculus Quest 2 through ADB sideload.
In conclusion, using ADB sideload to install firmware on an Oculus Quest 2 is easy and only takes a few steps. By doing the things this article tells you to do,
