Build Cross-Platform VR Apps: React Native Now Officially Supports Meta Quest

At React Conf 2025, the React Native team announced official support for Meta Quest devices, marking a major step toward the Many Platform Vision first outlined in 2021. This means developers can now use React Native to build VR applications that run on Meta Horizon OS, an Android-based operating system powering Meta Quest headsets. The best part? You can leverage existing Android tooling, familiar workflows, and the same codebase you already use for mobile and desktop. In this article, we’ll walk through how to get started, what works out of the box, and what you need to consider when designing for VR.

What This Means for Developers

React Native’s expansion to Meta Quest builds on its proven approach: reuse knowledge across platforms without fragmenting the ecosystem. Since Meta Horizon OS is Android-based, the entire React Native Android development model—including build systems, debugging, and device emulation—carries over with minimal changes. Developers already building for Android will feel right at home; they can reuse core logic, state management, and most UI components. What changes? The interaction model shifts from touch and mouse to hand tracking and controllers, and the UI must be designed for immersive spatial environments. But the underlying framework remains the same.

Getting Started with React Native on Meta Quest

You can start building for Meta Quest today using Expo, the most popular React Native development tool. Below is a step-by-step guide to run your first app on the headset.

1. Install Expo Go on Your Meta Quest

Expo Go is available in the Meta Horizon Store. Install it on your Quest device—it serves as the development client for rapid iteration, similar to how you’d use Expo Go on a physical phone or tablet.

2. Create or Use an Expo Project

If you’re starting fresh, run the command:

npx create-expo-app@latest my-quest-app
cd my-quest-app

No special template is required—a standard Expo project works.

3. Start the Dev Server

Run npx expo start in your terminal. The Expo CLI will display a QR code and a local development URL.

4. Connect Your Headset

Open Expo Go on your Quest, select “Scan QR Code”, and point the headset’s camera at the QR code from your terminal. Your app will launch inside a floating window in the VR environment.

5. Iterate with Live Reload

Any changes you make to the code are reflected immediately on the headset, just like on mobile. This edit-refresh cycle is identical to what you’re used to—no VR-specific overhead.

Building with Native Features and Development Builds

Expo Go is perfect for early prototyping, but when you need access to native VR capabilities—such as controller input, spatial anchors, or hand tracking—you’ll need a development build. A development build is a custom version of your app that includes native modules you specify, allowing you to use both Expo-managed APIs and custom native code.

To create a development build, use expo prebuild to generate native Android project files, then add dependencies like react-native-vr (or similar community packages) that expose Quest-specific APIs. After building with Android Studio, you can install the APK directly on the headset using side loading or the Meta Quest Developer Hub. This workflow gives you full control over native features while keeping the React Native development experience.

Platform-Specific Considerations

While the core React Native framework works unchanged, Meta Quest introduces a few platform-specific nuances:

• Permissions: You may need to request spatial data, hand tracking, or microphone permissions via Android manifest entries.
• Input: Touch events don’t exist in VR. Instead, you use controller button presses, hand gestures, or gaze-based selection. React Native’s event system can be extended with custom pointer types.
• Window Management: On Meta Quest, apps run in a floating 2D window or can be rendered in immersive mode. Expo Go currently lauches a 2D window; immersive 3D requires a development build and specific native configuration.
• User Interface: Standard React Native components like View, Text, and Button render correctly, but you should adjust sizes and spacing for the eye’s distance and avoid small touch targets.

Designing for VR: UX and Interaction Patterns

VR introduces a new set of design constraints that differ from mobile and desktop:

• Comfort: Avoid rapid camera movements or UI that forces the user’s head to turn quickly. Use teleportation or snap turns instead of smooth locomotion.
• Depth and Scale: Place UI elements at comfortable viewing distances (usually 1–2 meters) and use large fonts and buttons to account for lower pixel density in headsets.
• Input Prompts: Clearly indicate how to interact—show controller tooltips or highlight gaze targets. Users unfamiliar with VR may need extra guidance.
• Spatial Audio: If your app uses sound, consider 3D audio to enhance immersion. React Native can integrate with native audio engines.

By following these guidelines, you can create VR experiences that feel natural and accessible.

Conclusion

React Native’s official support for Meta Quest fulfills the Many Platform Vision by adding VR to the list of supported targets without requiring a separate framework. Whether you’re building a simple 2D companion app or an immersive 3D experience, the same React Native skills you already have will get you started. With Expo Go for rapid prototyping and development builds for advanced features, the path from idea to VR deployment has never been smoother. Start experimenting today—your next VR app might be just a npm start away.