Do You Need Facebook To Use Gear VR?

In the technological world of Virtual Reality, the Gear VR- developed by Samsung and Oculus- is fast becoming a low-budget favorite. 

With its timely updates and upgrades over the years, the Gear VR has become a noteworthy competitor in the Virtual Reality space. 

As you may already be aware, however, with technological advancements come advanced requirements- and this statement is also true when it comes to the Gear VR.

Being such a cherished and sought-after product, it is not a surprise to see the manufacturers tightening their grip on consumers. 

One way they have done this is by affiliating with compulsory software such as the Oculus app and Facebook. This then brings us to a frequently asked question: Do you need Facebook to use Gear VR?

Beginning on October 1, 2020, all new Gear VR users had to log in with a Facebook account. 

However, if you’ve been using your Gear VR signed in with an Oculus account, you can keep using the device without Facebook. Even so, preparations are being made to sync all Gear VR users to Facebook shortly. 

Do You Need An App For Gear VR?

Before using Gear VR, you are required to install the Oculus app. So yes, you do need an app for Gear VR! The Oculus app is sometimes referred to as the Gear VR app as well. 

Surprisingly, the Oculus app is not available for download on Google Play Store, but you can find it on the Oculus Store. 

The Oculus app also installs itself automatically as part of the setup process when you first set up a new Gear VR. 

The Gear VR is not able to operate straight out of the box as with regular headsets; instead, you’ll have to sign up or into an Oculus or- in the present day- a Facebook account.

Today, the Oculus app is not the only primary app associated with the Gear VR. 

Facebook has also become a companion name with the Gear VR device. For new users, you cannot use the Gear VR without Facebook, so the Facebook app is not only helpful- but actually essential!

An app that is more of an aid than an absolute need is the Oculus Prologue. 

The Oculus Prologue is an app that is designed to show you how to best use the Gear VR controller. While you don’t necessarily need this app to use Gear VR, it remains a beneficial tool to maximize your experience. 

Speaking of apps, did you know that Gear VR was designed to work only with apps downloaded from the Oculus store? 

So while we’re here on the topic of apps that are absolutely necessary for the operation of the Gear VR, it might also be useful to take a look at the range of optional apps that are also available for the device.

There are a wide variety of apps and games that can be found on the Oculus store, such as:

• Facebook 360
• Oculus Rooms 
• Plex VR
• YouTube VR
• Intel True VR

With these apps you can do a lot with the headset, for example the streaming of a variety of movies (and even sports games!) in the case of Intel True VR.

Though it’s definitely not the highest contender in the VR headset space, the Gear VR is a good option for those looking to get a better bang for their buck. 

The restriction to Oculus apps may be considered a downside for some at first, but a closer can  easily get you thinking otherwise.

Do You Need Facebook To Use Gear VR?

If you are just setting sail on your Gear VR experience, you will need Facebook to use Gear VR as it is now a mandatory requirement to log into the platform using Facebook on a new Gear VR device. 

Ever since October 2020 onwards, Facebook has gone hand-in-hand with using the Gear VR.

However, older users can continue to use Gear VR with an established Oculus account and without Facebook synchronization. This provision, though, is not permanent as Oculus accounts are scheduled to close by 2023.

Come 2023, all Oculus accounts will be closed officially. So, what becomes of Gear VR users logged on with an Oculus account alone?

Gear VR users operating solely with Oculus accounts can/must merge it with their Facebook account eventually. If they fail to merge their accounts prior to the deadline, they will lose the full functionality of their Gear VR when Oculus Accounts close down.

However you look at it, Facebook has become a necessity in using Gear VR. But what if you are concerned about your cyber safety and privacy when using the Gear VR?

To use the Gear VR, you only need a Facebook account- not necessarily your personal Facebook account. 

Consider this: Before October 2020, you were only required to have an Oculus account to use a Gear VR. However, it pays to keep in mind that an Oculus account is only valid or useful for Oculus devices and nowhere else.

Therefore, it isn’t against the rules to open and use a separate Facebook account for your Gear VR! Whichever account you do choose to use, It is important to keep it safe as your resources are undoubtedly linked to that account.

In a merged account, deleting your Facebook account will also erase your Oculus counterpart. When you do this, you lose all app purchases and existing store credits. 

If you must terminate the use of the linked Facebook account for whatever reason, you might want to consider deactivating it instead. When you do so, your resources and details on Oculus remain intact and are restored whenever you reactivate the account.

With recent updates on the Gear VR and the impending closing of Oculus accounts, Facebook is inevitably set to become the VR system’s best friend. 

As a final piece of advice: It is definitely more advantageous to merge your Oculus account with your Facebook account. Doing so will guarantee you full functionality on your Gear VR despite the major adjustment coming soon.

What Does Facebook Offer in Gear VR?

Unlike what many people think, the integration of Facebook with the Gear VR isn’t just about monitoring users. 

Oculus, both through this device and other VR headset, is starting to integrate a lot more social features. 

Once connected, you can use the Gear VR to watch 360 videos from Facebook. The featured videos will be tailored to you based on the people and pages you like and follow. 

You will be able to access your shared and saved videos from here as well. 

With this synchronization, you can post activity from your VR to your Facebook profile and timeline. 100% is still retained here through choosing particular information on an activity to post.

With Gear VR connected to Facebook, you can now easily find and chat with gaming friends and share videos and screenshots without having to take off your headset. 

You can even play trivia with connected friends- talk about a social VR experience!

Gear VR’s integration with Facebook isn’t a cause for alarm if you are concerned about your privacy. 

Even with this Integration, your Facebook and VR profiles remain distinct, and you can choose not to be found by your Facebook name on Oculus. You can also shield your Oculus friends list from public eyes on Facebook. 

How Do I Use Gear VR Without The Oculus App?

The Gear VR was admittedly developed with a multitude of restrictions, ranging from compatible phones to permitted apps. 

As we have established earlier on in this article, the Gear VR usually requires the use of the Oculus app right from setup. 

Nevertheless, it may interest you to know that you can in actual fact use the Gear VR without the Oculus app.

This can be achieved by enabling the Gear VR service developer mode. 

With this option, there is no need for the auto-launching of Oculus Home on the device. Here is a step-by-step guideline that will allow you to enable the Gear VR service developer mode:

1. Using a Google search, look for ‘Sideload VR for Gear VR’ APK. 
2. Once installed, open the app and follow the outlined instructions.
3. Upon setup, go to Sideload VR Market and install ‘Quark VR.’ You can quit the Sideload VR app once the Quark VR is installed.
4. In your device settings, open ‘Applications’ and locate the Application Manager.
5. Here, locate the ‘Gear VR Service’ and open it.
6. Click on storage and select ‘manage storage.’
7. To open further options, tap six times on ‘VR Service Version.’
8. Enable Android Developer Mode and USB Debugging from the extended list.

With this permission, you can now use your Gear VR without the Oculus app. 

Note, however, that you need to first remove all Oculus apps from your device for this procedure to succeed. You should, however, keep the Gear VR Service package; do not disable this at any time! 

Some may wonder, “Now, why would I go through so much trouble rather than simply using the Oculus app?”

Frankly, this option is unnecessary for an ordinary user. 

However, for a developer, it can be quite paramount. A developer can use this option to view changes and effects on the Virtual reality Screen rather than constantly plugging in his phone to test these changes. 

This is really the only outstanding reason for utilizing this option when using the Gear VR.

In Summary

Facebook, the social giant, has made its way firmly into the Virtual reality space. Obviously, it’s here to stay for the long term with the recent foray into everything ‘Metaverse’. 

By integrating fully with all Oculus devices including the Gear VR, Facebook has introduced unique and outstanding features that improve user satisfaction overall. 

By mandating the use of Facebook for Gear VR, Facebook is slowly bidding farewell to Oculus accounts which are all to close down by 2023.

To enjoy the Virtual Reality experience with Gear VR, Facebook is becoming a mandatory requirement. 

However, even with this integration, you can still keep your existing Oculus account separate from your Facebook account. Remember, you can always sign into your Gear VR with a non-personal Facebook account!

Don’t let the Facebook log-in scare you off if you desire a distinct VR experience with the Gear VR. It looks to benefit users in the long run!

Sources

•  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Gear_VR
• https://www.oculus.com/blog/facebook-accounts-on-oculus/
• https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.slashgear.com/oculus-vr-devices-require-facebook-accounts-soon-18634140/amp/
• https://www.xrtoday.com/virtual-reality/samsung-gear-vr-review/amp/