In this guide, we will show you the steps to install the firmware via ADB Sideload in Oculus Quest 2. This virtual reality headset from Meta supports the Android OS, thereby allowing you to carry out a plethora of tweaks to your VR. Since it is based on the open-source OS, it automatically translates to your ability to welcome a slew of custom binaries and try out intriguing yet useful tweaks that you might already be doing on your Android device.
One among them is installing the official firmware onto your Oculus Quest 2 via the ADB Sideload feature. But since the developers already roll out an update at regular intervals, why is there a need to opt for this manual approach. Well, there could be quite a few reasons. for some, if the update is rolling in batches and you haven’t yet received it, then you could ask for the firmware from one of the users who have been blessed with this update and then flash it onto your VR.
Likewise, in some instances, a developer might roll out a buggy update and your only way out is to either downgrade to the earlier stable build or install a newer beta update package. And all this could be carried out by installing the firmware via ADB Sideload on your Oculus Quest 2. So without any further ado, let’s check out how this could be carried out.
Table of Contents
How to Install Firmware via ADB Sideload in Oculus Quest 2
The below instructions are listed under separate sections for ease of understanding. Make sure to follow the same sequence as mentioned. Droidwin and its members wouldn’t be held responsible in case of a thermonuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything happens to your device and data by performing the below steps.
STEP 1: Install Android SDK
First and foremost, you will have to install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC. This is the official ADB and Fastboot binary provided by Google and is the only recommended one. So download it and then extract it to any convenient location on your PC. Doing so will give you the platform-tools folder, which will be used throughout this guide.
STEP 2: Download Oculus Quest 2 Firmware
- Next up, get hold of the desired firmware for your Oculus Quest 2 from below.
Oculus Quest 2 firmware version 43: q2_ptc_37314400736000000.zip Oculus Quest 2 firmware version 50: q2_ptc_50163300179900150.zip
- Once downloaded, transfer it to the platform tools folder on your PC.
- Likewise, rename it to rom.zip so that it becomes easier to type in the command window.

STEP 3: Boot Oculus Quest 2 to ADB Sideload Mode
We will now boot the VR to the sideload mode using the Recovery Mode. If you face any issues, then there is another method to get this job done, which we have listed in the FAQ section at the end of the guide, you may refer to it.
- To begin with, power off your Quest 2.
- Then press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons for a few seconds.
- Your VR will now boot to the Recovery Mode.
- Use the Volume keys to highlight ADB Sideload and press the power key to confirm it.
- Your VR is now sideload-ready. So connect it to the PC via the cable.
STEP 4: Install Firmware via ADB Sideload in Oculus Quest 2
- Make sure that the firmware is renamed to rom.zip and is present inside the platform-tools folder.
- Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter.
- This will launch the Command Prompt. Now type in the following command in the CMD window to sideload the firmware.
adb sideload rom.zip
- The installation process will now begin and could take a few minutes.
- Once done, boot your VR to the newly installed firmware via the Power button [if it doesn’t boot up automatically].
That’s it. These were the steps to install the firmware via ADB Sideload in Oculus Quest 2, If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.
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FAQ: Cannot Boot Oculus Quest 2 to ADB Sideload Mode
If you are unable to boot the VR to the ADB Sideload mode from the recovery mode, then there’s an alternate way to do this job as well. Here’s how-
- To begin with, connect your VR to the PC via the cable.
- Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter. This will launch the Command Prompt.
- Now type in the following command in the CMD window to boot your VR to sideload mode
adb reboot sideload
- You may now proceed with the firmware installation [STEP 4].
That’s it. If you have any other queries relating to ADB Sideload or this entire discussion, then do drop them in the comments section below. Rounding off, here are a few other ADB Sideload guides that are worthy of your attention-