James Young

    YouTube with adblock on the Quest 3

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    by

    james
    in

    The official YouTube VR app on Meta Quest 3 comes with some limitations – particularly when it comes to ad blocking and sponsor segment skipping. While Meta’s Horizon OS is Android-based, it lacks Google Play Services, making it tricky to run standard Android YouTube apps. However, there’s a solution using open-source alternatives.

    Available Options

    You have two main approaches for ad-free YouTube on Quest 3:

    1. Sideloading Firefox with uBlock Origin
    2. Using a modified YouTube client (ReVanced) with microG

    I’ll focus on the ReVanced method, which offers a more native experience with additional features.

    Prerequisites

    • A Meta Quest 3 with Developer Mode enabled
    • Basic familiarity with sideloading apps
    • About 15-20 minutes of setup time

    Detailed Installation Steps

    1. Prepare Your Device

    First, ensure your Quest 3 has Developer Mode enabled through the Meta mobile app.

    2. Install ReVanced Patcher

    • Download the latest ReVanced Patcher from the official GitHub repository
    • Sideload it to your Quest 3 using your preferred method

    3. Obtain YouTube APK

    • Download a compatible YouTube APK from a trusted source
    • Transfer the APK file to an accessible location on your Quest 3
    • Recommended version as of 14/12/2024: 19.46.42

    4. Patch YouTube

    • Launch ReVanced Patcher on your Quest 3
    • Select the YouTube APK you transferred
    • Enable “GMSCore Support” in the patcher settings
    • Select desired additional features (ad blocking, sponsor skip, etc.)
    • Begin the patching process
    • Once patching is complete, install the modified APK through ReVanced Patcher.
    • Do not launch the app yet – we need to set up microG first

    6. Install microG

    • Download the Huawei version of ReVanced GMSCore. The Huawei version is essential as it works around Google’s vendor based blocking of Play Services
    • Sideload the GMSCore APK to your Quest 3
    • Install it before launching YouTube

    7. Final Setup

    • Launch the modified YouTube app
    • Sign in to your Google account through microG

    For a cinematic viewing experience similar to the YouTube VR app, activate theater mode and the video will expand to fill your entire field of view.