What you need to know
- The Meta Quest V72 update failed to install on some headsets, rendering them unusable.
- The bad update affected some Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, and Meta Quest 3S users.
- Meta says it is working on a solution and affected users should stay tuned to its announcement page for further instructions.
Bad software updates are never a fun idea for anyone, and several Meta Quest owners found this out in the worst possible way when turning on their headsets after Christmas this year.
The Meta Quest v72 update appears to have rendered some Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, and Meta Quest 3S headsets unusable after their installation failed. Owners who received the faulty update headed to Metaforums (via DownloadVR) And Reddit to report that their headsets are not starting. Affected users’ headsets display a black screen with the error “Your device is corrupt. It cannot be trusted.”
Meta advises affected users to hold the power button for 45 seconds before booting, which should reset the headset and potentially resolve any issues. Many users have reported that this solution does not work, which is why Meta is working on alternative solutions and has made a public statement about it. At the moment, it appears that Meta has paused the V72 update and is instead pushing out V71 to users.
It is possible that manually flash the V71 update will fix things but Meta has not yet confirmed that this is an official solution. Some affected Meta Quest 2 users were initially told they would have to purchase a refurbished headset for $150 after contacting support, but Meta noted that an alternative solution was in the works.
A solution is being worked on and affected users are encouraged to follow the Meta Quest announcement page for more details.
Some retailers may offer exchanges for a defective unit. If you received one for the holidays, check with the store where it was purchased to see if you can exchange it for another unit, or wait for Meta’s official solution if that’s not possible.
Based on publicly available data via AmazonMeta has sold three times more Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S headsets than Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S combined. We don’t yet know how widespread the update issue is, but we do know that Meta always is slowly rolling out updates and features to its headsets to avoid widespread issues like this.
Given the performance of Meta’s Quest headsets this holiday season, it is possible that a large number of customers were affected. If you have been affected, Meta encourages users to visit this Meta Quest announcement pageTap the Options button at the top right, then click Subscribe. You’ll need a Meta Quest forum account to do this, but creating one is free and as easy as logging in with your existing Meta account.
