can using sidequest get my account banned or any risk of my account getting banned?

[nathan.356720]

my brother recommend me to use sidequest but i find it shady i need a developer account to use it i just want to know if it could get me banned for Using it or if there is any risk at all

[TheLegend27]

Hey @nathan.356720! With Quest being a relatively open platform, there's definitely some cool things that can be done with the use of sideloading. As a disclaimer, I always advise against sideloading. If you're not sure what you're doing when it comes to sideloading, there's a lot that can go wrong if not done correctly. I've seen users completely brick their headset before when installing SideQuest incorrectly, or messing with files they probably shouldn't be messing with.

While installing SideQuest alone can't get you banned, it will void your active warranty, and you may be denied any support from @MetaQuestSupport. For more info on that specifically, I recommend taking a look through our Limited Warranty page.

SideQuest can definitely provide you the tools to get suspended, though. Cheats, hacks, unfair advantages, game modifications, etc. can all be achieved through sideloading. It's likely that participating in anything that goes against our Terms of Service and Games Terms of Service may result in an account suspension.

These are the main downsides of SideQuest and sideloading in general, but there's plenty of upsides as well. Performance adjustments, access to apps outside of Meta Experiences, custom Meta Quest Home environments, and more. Our developer team has also worked closely with SideQuest for enabling discovery of App Lab apps on their platform. It's worth noting that App Lab games are experimental or still in development, so functionality can't be guaranteed.

This is most of the upsides and downsides for sideloading, so I hope this gives you enough insight! I still strongly advise against it, but I wanted to provide the most accurate information, so that you can make the best informed decision for your own experience!

Hope this helps!

[nathan.356720]

will making a developer account get me banned because the instructions say i need one to install sidequest 

[TheLegend27]

Making a developer account won't get you banned, so you should be all good to create one. You'll need to login at dashboard.oculus.com. Once logged in, you can verify your developer account by adding a credit card or setting up two factor authentication. After verifying, you should be able to enable Developer Mode in your Headset Settings through the mobile app.

[nathan.356720]

So I’m allowed to make a developer account? I thought that was for developers only

[TheLegend27]

Good question! Developer "accounts" are marketed towards developers due to the extension of available resources and tools for creation on our platform. That being said, you don't necessary need to be a developer to have access. Meta accounts actually replaced developer accounts after the migration.

If you notice, under Add a credit card option, it states: "You can also use it for Meta Quest Store purchases." If you choose the Set Up Two-Factor Authentication By Phone Number option, it actually redirects you to your Meta account's Account Center. This is because Meta accounts and developer accounts aren't separate. They're actually the same. I should've been more precise in my wording before, but there isn't actually a way to create a developer account. There's only a way to verify your Meta account to gain access to developer tools and resources.

What you might be thinking of is Verified Developer Organizations. Verified Organizations require you to be registered as a legal entity through business or admin verification. For business verification, you’ll need to have your organization registered with the local authorities, and you’ll need an official phone number or mailing address for your business. For admin verification, you'll need some sort of approved identity document, such as a government issued ID.

This also doesn't mean you'll be banned for creating one, but rather that there are additional verification processes put in place for Developer Organizations. Of course, there's also the Terms of Service, Games Terms of Service, and Code of Conduct for Virtual Experiences, but those all apply to normal Meta accounts anyways.

[nathan.356720]

It gives me a bad feeling that I need to add a Organization to install side quest that seams to only be intended for developers 

[TheLegend27]

As I mentioned, the use of sideloading and SideQuest is completely with your own discretion. I'm just trying to provide you with the most accurate information in order for you to be able to make your best informed decision.

As for adding an Organization, you're free to do so. The process I mentioned previously is only if you want to be a Verified Organization to have the rights to publish and update apps you're creating. Unverified Organizations will still be usable as far as enabling Developer Mode goes, you'll just be blocked from publishing and updating apps and from completing Data Use Checkup recertification.

For more info, I recommend taking a look through the Oculus Developer FAQ.

[nathan.356720]

is developer mode the only way to install sidequest? I’m new to meta quest forgive me for my lack of knowledge 

[TheLegend27]

That's alright! There's definitely a lot to digest when you first step into VR. From what I know, that seems to be a hard requirement. Developer Mode is what grants the device the necessary permissions to sideload applications that aren't native to the Meta Experiences store. This makes it simpler for developers to sideload and test their applications on Quest hardware.

This part is super important that should be mentioned. While being verified as a developer, creating an Organization, and enabling Developer Mode won't get you suspended, content within SideQuest (or sideloaded content in general) that goes against Oculus Developer's Policy Against Abuse could result in enforcement action.

If you're new to Meta Quest, I definitely recommend sticking to traditional content acquisition avenues (Meta Experiences, SteamVR, etc.) just to keep your account safe and within compliance.

I'm happy to answer more questions pertaining to Meta Quest specifically, but questions specific to SideQuest may be better asked on SideQuest Community Support directly.

Hopefully this covers what you need to know!