How To: Somnium Space Oculus Quest Standalone App

Somnium Space can also be entered using an Oculus Quest standalone app. This article describes how to install the Alpha+ release of the app using SideQuest.

To immerse yourself in Somnium Space in VR you need a VR headset and a powerful PC/laptop to run the software. However, since the arrival of the Somnium Space Oculus Quest standalone app, you can enter Somnium with only your Quest headset.

This article describes how to install the Alpha version. It does not yet offer the full experience, but more and more great features are being added, most recently the following ones:

New lobby UI and lobby interactions
Modular windows that can be grabbed and re-arranged
Added magic forest
Added floating island
Added water

Sideloading

To enter Somnium Space directly from your Quest headset, you will need to sideload the app. Sideloading means you need to install the Somnium Space app separately, and not from the official Oculus Store. That may sound scary, but sideloading is common practice. Each time you install a piece of software on your PC which isn’t from the Windows App Store, you are technically speaking sideloading. Always be careful when sideloading unknown apps, but as we’re talking about the app of our beloved Somnium Space platform, it is perfectly safe to follow the procedure outlined in this article.

The steps you need to follow:

USB cord to connect your Oculus Quest to your computer
Download the APK through APK download link
If this is your first time refer to this guide on how to side-load with SideQuest
Launch the app under the “unknown sources” in the app library (Quest)

A more detailed description follows below.

USB cord to connect your Quest

If your computer has a USB-C port, you can use the charging cord that ships included with your Quest.

If not, you could use a USB C to A cord (which you might already own) or a USB C to A adapter with the Quest’s included cable.

Downloading the APK

The APK is the Somnium Space Standalone App for Oculus Quest. Save it to a location of your choice. You will need to install it later on.

Developer Mode

First things first, you will need to register as a Developer on the Oculus/Facebook account that is associated with your Oculus Quest.

Visit this page and make sure you’re logged into the same Oculus/Facebook account that your Quest is registered to. Enter a new organization name and tick the ‘I understand’ box to agree to the Oculus Terms of Service.

Once this is done, you need to enable Developer Mode on your Quest. This has to be done in the Oculus App on your phone.

Start the Oculus App and go to ‘Devices’. Find your headset and make sure it says ‘Connected’ (this will require you to start your Oculus Quest). Once it is connected, scroll down and tap ‘Developer Mode’. In the Developer Settings, flick the switch to ‘On’.

Next, fully reboot your Oculus Quest. After rebooting your Quest should be in Developer Mode.

Installing SideQuest

There are two versions of SideQuest: Easy Installer and Advanced Installer for PC/Mac/Linux. Easy installer allows your to install SideQuest directly on your Oculus Quest from where you can browse and install apps.

However, for more features and the ability to install APK files, install the Advanced Installer for PC/Mac/Linux.

Go to the SideQuest downloads page, download and run the ‘Advanced Installer’ for your Desktop operating system, which will install SideQuest and the necessary drivers for sideloading.

Allow USB debugging between your computer and your Quest

After opening SideQuest and connecting your Quest to your computer, a prompt to “Allow USB debugging” will show up inside your headset. Click OK and tick ‘Always allow’ to ensure you don’t have to repeat this step in the future.

Make sure the top left in SideQuest shows a green dot, indicating it is connected to your Oculus Quest.

Sideloading the Somnium Space APK file

You are now ready to install the APK file that your downloaded. To sideload it, all you need to do is click on the ‘install APK file from folder’ button (see below, circled in red).

This will allow you to locate and select the Somnium Space APK file, which SideQuest will then install. You can check the install is successful in the ‘Tasks’ tab.

Once successful, you can find the Somnium Space app in your Oculus Quest under ‘Unknown sources’ in the Library.