Meta will now allow users of its Quest VR headset to sign in with a new Meta account instead of a Facebook account, the company announced Tuesday. The company had said in July that the change would go into effect in August and marks a change from an unpopular policy announced in 2020 that required users to log into their headsets with a Facebook account instead of an account of separate Oculus.
Users can create Meta accounts through the Meta mobile app using an email address, Facebook account, or Instagram account. Once you’ve created a Meta account, you’ll need to set up a linked Meta Horizon social profile to be used in VR. As with Facebook accounts before, you’ll need one of these accounts to use a Quest headset.
“Our new Meta account structure gives you more flexibility and control, allowing you to choose how you show yourself and how you don’t, and whether Facebook and/or Instagram are part of your experience in VR and other surfaces where you use your profile from Meta Horizon,” Meta says in its blog post. If you want to set up a Meta account, the company has instructions in the blog post and in a video.
While the change means you won’t have to use a Facebook account with your Quest VR headset, as my colleague Adi Robertson pointed out back in July , you’ll still have to give Meta a lot of personal information while making a Meta account. . So if you’re worried about giving Meta that personal information just to use your Quest headset, these new Meta accounts don’t exactly solve that problem.
If you’re still using an Oculus account, you can do so until January 1, 2023. After that date, you’ll need to create a Meta account. The company says the option to make a Meta account and Meta Horizon profile is rolling out now, so if you can’t do that yet, you should give yourself the option soon.