How to Convert Any Video to VR for Meta Quest

Short answer: to watch an ordinary video in 3D on a Meta Quest, convert it to a side-by-side (SBS) 3D video, copy the file to the headset, and play it in a video player with the 3D side-by-side mode on. Spatial Media Toolkit does the conversion on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, using AI to work out depth in every frame.

What "VR video" means for a regular video

A phone video has one viewpoint. To look 3D in a headset, each eye needs its own slightly different image. A side-by-side video stores both: the left half of every frame goes to your left eye and the right half to your right. Quest players know how to split it, which is why SBS is the format to aim for.

Converting a 2D video means creating that second view. The app estimates how far away everything in each frame is, then shifts near objects more than far ones to build the two eye views. It isn't the same as a video shot with two lenses, but on most home videos the depth is convincing.

How to convert a video for your Quest

1. Add the video. Tap Photos or Files, or drag the file in. You can add several and convert them as a batch.

2. Trim it if you like. Only the part between the trim handles is converted, and the audio is trimmed to match.

3. Choose the output. Leave the input as Normal 2D and set the output to Side by side stereo.

4. Set the depth. The Depth slider controls how strong the 3D effect is. The default suits most videos.

5. Preview it. The Preview menu shows the result as Cross eye, Wiggle, Side-by-side or a Depth map, so you can check it before converting.

6. Convert and save. Tap Convert Video, then Save to Files. The file keeps the original sound and the source resolution for each eye.

Here's the same process as a video:

Getting the file onto your Quest

The app makes the file; moving it to the headset is up to you. Common ways:

• USB cable: connect the Quest to a computer and copy the video into its storage. On a Mac you'll need a file-transfer app, because macOS doesn't open the Quest's storage on its own.

• Cloud storage: upload the file to a cloud drive, then download it in the Quest's browser.

Then open it in a video player on the Quest and switch its 3D or stereo mode to side-by-side (sometimes labelled SBS or 3D left-right).

Tips for the best 3D

• Videos with a clear subject and some distance behind it look best: people outdoors, pets, travel clips.

• Fast cuts and heavy motion blur have less depth to show.

• Long videos convert best on a Mac. On iPhone, keep the app open while it works: switching apps pauses the conversion until you come back.

• On a Mac, AI conversion needs Apple silicon.

Already have 3D video?

If a video is already side-by-side, half side-by-side or top-and-bottom, set that as the input and the app converts it between formats without the AI step. That includes turning spatial videos from your iPhone into side-by-side for a Quest: the app detects an Apple spatial video and suggests side-by-side output.

FAQ

Can any video be converted to VR?

Any video your device can play can be converted to 3D side-by-side. It won't become a 360° video; you watch it as a large 3D screen in front of you.

Is there a Quest app?

No. Spatial Media Toolkit runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro. It creates files that Quest players can play.

Is it free?

Converting and previewing are free, so you can see the result first. Saving or sharing converted videos needs Spatial Media Toolkit Pro.

Can I use it for Apple Vision Pro too?

Yes. Choose Apple Spatial as the output instead and the video plays in 3D in the Photos app on Vision Pro. See our 2D to 3D video converter guide.

What about photos?

Photos work the same way. See how to convert a photo to a spatial photo.

Try it

Download Spatial Media Toolkit on the App Store, convert a video you love, and preview the 3D before you copy it to your Quest.