What is Meta Horizon Managed Services (HMS) and How Does it Work with ManageXR?
If you are deploying Meta Quest headsets at scale for work or education, you have probably come across Meta Horizon managed services (MHMS or HMS).
HMS is required to enroll and manage Meta Quest devices with ManageXR. But what is it? Why do you need it? And, how does it work with ManageXR?
In this article, we answer these questions and more about HMS and how it impacts your deployment.
Key Takeaways
- ManageXR is an official Mobile Device Management (MDM) partner with Meta
- HMS is required to enroll and manage Meta Quest devices with approved Meta partners, like ManageXR. Quest devices can only be managed by Meta’s approved partners and you must have an HMS subscription for these devices.
- Existing Quest devices on ManageXR will be referred to as legacy Meta devices – you can manage them as you always have, but they won’t gain access to some of the newest capabilities from our collaboration with Meta. We highly recommend that you do not factory reset any of your legacy Meta devices if you are not yet ready to migrate your existing fleet to Meta Horizon managed services.
- All device management remains inside the ManageXR console. You will only need to use HMS to enroll new devices.
What is HMS?
Out-of-the-box Meta Quest devices are built for consumer use, similar to mobile phones and personal laptops. Using Quest devices at scale for business or education purposes requires additional functionality, such as bulk configuration of devices, the ability to enroll devices as part of your organization, and locking down the user experience to designated content and settings. That’s where HMS comes in. HMS is Meta’s platform that unlocks Quest headsets for business use. Think of it as the bridge between consumer VR and enterprise VR. Then, you select an approved device management partner for Meta devices like ManageXR. ManageXR offers essential device management functionality to deploy headsets at scale with robust app management, user experience customization, and the ability to deeply integrate management into your existing tools—allowing you to have full control over your fleet.
You must have an HMS subscription to use any MDM (including ManageXR) with Quest headsets.
Then, with HMS and ManageXR together:
- HMS handles enrollment – You register and activate your Quest headsets for business or education use.
- ManageXR takes over device management – Once enrolled, ManageXR becomes your control center for apps, updates, kiosk mode, remote settings, analytics, and more.
How to Get Started with HMS and ManageXR
Getting started only takes a few steps:
1. Create an HMS Account
In order to add Meta devices to your ManageXR account, you need an HMS account first. Sign up at Meta for Work as a work customer or an education customer (check if you are an eligible education customer under Meta’s requirements here). You must also select your country, which must be on Meta’s supported country list, to access HMS. Are you in an unsupported country? Contact sales@managexr.com before creating an HMS account.
2. Purchase an HMS Subscription
After creating your account, you will need to select a subscription path: direct through Meta or bundled with a reseller. Select Subscribe with Meta directly if you have headsets purchased and want to get started with an MDM right away. Make sure you have a payment method added to your HMS account. HMS offers a 30-day free trial of their services, per device, with unlimited access to features. There’s no charge until after your trial ends, when devices automatically move to the paid plan. See Meta’s latest pricing here. You must have an active subscription with HMS to manage devices in ManageXR.
Select Subscribe through a reseller if you already have a hardware reseller that you're working with, and they've instructed you to create your account this way. New devices purchased through approved resellers come with 2 years of HMS included. If you haven’t purchased Meta Quest devices, reach out to sales@managexr.com to be connected to an approved reseller, so you can get 2 years of HMS for free. Contact us at support@managexr.com if you have devices that you've already purchased separately.
3. Enroll Your Quest Devices
To enroll your Quest devices to HMS and ManageXR, follow the in-product guide in ManageXR. When you add a device to your ManageXR account, you’ll be guided through the steps to connect your HMS account to ManageXR.
See the full step-by-step process to enroll a device with HMS and select ManageXR as your MDM.
4. Understanding Meta Horizon Device Modes
As you plan your Quest deployment, you’ll want to assess whether headsets will be shared among users, or remain with an individual. For example, a training program might have 10 headsets shared among 100 staff members, who take turns using the headsets. Other VR programs might dedicate one headset to one user, similar to a company loaning out one laptop per employee for individual use. Most of the time, the device will be shared among many users.
Quest devices enrolled in ManageXR through HMS must use Meta Horizon device modes. There are two device modes: Shared Mode and Individual Mode. Shared Mode headsets are shared among users, while Individual Mode headsets are not.
The path you choose will determine the device experience.
Shared Mode: Shared Mode is designed for deployments where devices are used by multiple people. In Shared Mode, a device does not require a Managed Meta Account. Devices in Shared Mode use restricted kiosk device experiences like Custom Home Screen, Kiosk App, and Kiosk Video. To refresh device and app data between users, Meta requires Shared Mode devices to use Sessions. At the start of each new Session, new users must complete “Session Intro Steps” before getting to the Home Screen or Kiosk App.
Individual Mode: Individual Mode is intended for a Meta Quest device that’s used by one person in your organization (1:1). In Individual Mode, a device is tied to a valid Managed Meta Account. Devices in Individual Mode may only use the Default Device Menu device experience (e.g. the standard Meta Universal Menus device experience that isn’t locked down).
You will select the device mode for your Quest headsets when you create a configuration in ManageXR. These modes impact the experience of both managing a device as an admin and using the device. You can learn more about Meta Horizon Device Modes and decide which is right for your progam here.
Note: A device is assigned a mode during enrollment according to the configuration you create in ManageXR. While it is possible to switch modes later, doing so may require a factory reset and re-enrollment in HMS.
5. Using Shared Mode? Understand what Sessions are
If you selected Shared Mode for your Meta devices, your devices will be in a restricted kiosk experience like Custom Home or Kiosk App. To refresh device and app data between users and ensure that all users in-headset have accepted required legal terms, Meta requires Shared Mode devices to use Sessions.
At the start of each new Session, new users must complete new user experience “Session Intro Steps” before getting to the Home Screen or Kiosk App. The Session Intro Steps include a series of optional tutorial steps and required legal screens. When a session is ended, newly created local app and device data are cleared and the device is rebooted. Read the full guide to understand how to start, return to, and end sessions on Meta Quest devices using Shared Mode.
6. Manage Everything in ManageXR
Once devices are enrolled, ManageXR is where you’ll deploy apps, configure settings, manage kiosk mode, monitor performance, and support your users. HMS will only be used to add or release devices from your program, as well as manage your subscription to HMS directly.
Helpful Resources
Quick Start Guide to HMS: Use this guide for the most up-to-date information on how to get started with HMS.
Learn how to start an HMS subscription
Enrolling a Meta device onto ManageXR through Meta Horizon managed services
Understanding Meta Horizon Device Modes
Meta Shared Mode: Session Management
Read all the docs and still have questions? We’re here to help. Reach out to us at our support page.
FAQs
What is Meta Horizon managed services (HMS)?
Meta Horizon managed services is Meta's solution for enabling Meta Quest devices to be used for work and education. Horizon managed services allows admins to manage user identities and enroll devices into an MDM of choice.
Do I need a paid subscription to use Meta Horizon managed services?
Yes. Every Quest device added to ManageXR will require a HMS subscription, purchased directly from Meta. You can learn how to start a Meta Horizon managed services subscription here.
How does this impact my existing fleet of Meta devices already on ManageXR?
You can manage your existing Meta devices as you always have, but they won’t gain access to some of the newest capabilities from our collaboration with Meta. These devices will be referred to as legacy devices on ManageXR. Learn how legacy devices compare to devices enrolled on HMS.
I’m located in an unsupported region. How do I enroll devices in HMS?
Contact sales@managexr.com before creating your HMS account.
Can I use Meta Horizon store apps on my Meta Horizon managed services devices?
For Meta devices enrolled through Meta Horizon managed services, the answer to this question depends which mode you’re using. You are not able to access Meta Horizon store apps while in Shared Mode, but you can access store apps while in Individual Mode. Learn more about the differences between Shared Mode and Individual Mode here.
If you are using Shared Mode and require specific apps from the Meta Store:
- Check if they are available on Discover XR
- Reach out to the developer and request that they share the app with you on ManageXR
- Reach out to support@managexr.com for further assistance with any developer-related activities
It is still possible to download and use apps from the Meta Horizon Store on Legacy Meta devices.
What happens if I "Release" a device from my Meta Admin Center?
If you release a device from your Meta Admin Center that is currently enrolled in ManageXR, the device will be factory reset. You will not be able to tell this as occurred from within ManageXR. To manage it with ManageXR again, you need to re-enroll the device through HMS.
I have additional questions, how do I get help?
We know that deploying XR is hard, and we’ve always aimed to make it easy. This transition is no different: we’re here to support you and are committed to making it seamless.
Visit our support page to speak with our team for tailored guidance.
