Meta App Broken on Rift S – No Store or Library? Easy Fix!
What’s the Issue?
After reinstalling the Meta (Oculus) companion app for Rift S, many users are encountering a blank headset screen displaying only the “X” and back-arrow. The App Store and Library fail to load leaving you stranded in a black void despite the device working. Yes the device works but does take some extra time to become active.
Personally this occurred last week after I had been flying in DCS or BMS then out of the blue the store disappeared and the headset stopped working! I had not had an update or anything obvious that I could see to cause it.
I reinstalled the App and it said it was successful! It still didn’t appear to work but I noticed the white light in the headset so covering it the lenses came to life! The Rift S headset seemed to work fine but still I’m left with a black screen when I start the app itself.
Why It’s Happening
A recent platform update likely tied to Meta Horizon OS (version 39+) introduced a bug that disables store access. The core issue appears when Guardian is switched off in Developer Mode, leading to UI launch failure. Meta engineers have acknowledged the problem on support forums.
Quick Workaround (No Data Wiped)
- In the mobile Meta app, launch any Rift S app or game while your headset is connected.
- Put on the headset, then press the Oculus button on your right controller.
- Navigate to Settings → Developer Mode, and turn Guardian ON (if it’s off).
- Reboot the headset.
- Confirm that the Library and Store icons now appear navigation arrows and black screen should be gone.
ℹ️ Why This Fix Works
Meta’s update attempted to circumvent Guardian’s setup UI but turning Guardian back on forces the store process to initialize properly again.
Temporary Relief, Full Fix Coming Soon
This is a community-sourced workaround, not a permanent solution. Meta has confirmed they’re working on a Horizon OS patch to fully fix the store blank-screen bug. Stay tuned for next Horizon update.
If This Doesn’t Resolve It
- Make sure Guardian is indeed switched ON in Developer Mode.
- Use the mobile app to launch a game, then hit the Oculus button to regain UI access.
- As a final resort, perform a factory reset (warning: wipes all headset data).
- If issues persist, reach out to Meta Support—especially if your headset remains unusable after the patch.
✅ TL;DR
| Problem | Why It’s Happening | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Blank headset screen with “X” + arrow, no store/library | Recent update broke store UI when Guardian is off | Turn Guardian ON in Developer Mode, reboot — restores UI |
How Will I Know When Meta Fixes the Rift S Store Bug?
If you’re stuck on the black screen issue with your Rift S, you won’t be able to manually check for or install updates via the Meta PC app because the interface is broken and the update settings are inaccessible. This makes it especially frustrating for users trying to confirm whether a fix has been released.
Here’s what you can do instead:
1. Enable Auto-Updates (if you ever regain access)
If you’ve previously enabled automatic updates, your system may install the fix silently in the background when the Meta Link app is launched and connected to the internet. If this happens, the store and Library UI should reappear on reboot. That’s the best-case scenario.
2. Watch Community Channels for Confirmation.
Since you can’t rely on the headset or app to notify you, the only way to know when the fix is live is by checking online community feedback:
- Meta Community Forums
- Reddit r/Oculus
- Discord Oculus/VR user groups
- LetsFLYVFR will UPDATE YOU!
Look for user reports confirming:
“Store is back!”
“Rift S interface fixed after update!”
3. Periodically Reboot and Test
Once a week (or after leaving the Meta PC app running for a while), try rebooting your Rift S and checking if the App Store reappears. If it does, the silent background update likely succeeded.
Summary!
You won’t be notified of the update directly while the store is broken. Until Meta fixes the bug, the only way to track the solution is via community updates and by periodically rebooting your setup to see if the interface returns.
Would you like me to add a quick “Last Updated” tip at the top of the blog post so users can know if the fix has been confirmed by the time they’re reading?
Conclusion:
Yes this is a known issue affecting Rift S users. For now, re‑enabling Guardian is the fastest way to restore your store and library. Keep an eye out: a Horizon OS update is expected soon to permanently resolve the bug.
I recommend you look at forums – Follow LetsFLyVFR (Because i have the problem too) and reinstall the software after a week or two when they may have updated the app to fix the problem.
The silver lining is we can still use the headset ok! The app Store is just an inconvenience for now!
Enjoy your VR Experience and we will no doubt be all back to normal soon!
If you know a REPAIR or have an ANSWER to the problem please comment below ! We can share the ANSWER or know the UPDATE has arrived!
Thanks – Gunnie!
Author
Brendon McAliece (Aka Gunnie) is a military veteran with 23 years working on Jet Fighters, their weapons systems and ejection seat/module systems as well as munitions and R&D. Involved with flight simulation since the 1980s, he has flown all the major flight simulators over the years.
He is an Australian expat who has lived in Malaysia, UK, Saudi Arabia and more recently Thailand. He is a multi-lingual blogger who loves to share his life experiences here on LetsFlyVFR.com and DreamingGuitar.com, with his lifestyle and Travel experiences Blog plus his Dreaming Coffee website.
Learn More @
DreamingGuitar.com – DreamingCoffee.com – LetsFlyVFR.com
(HOME – BLOG – SHOP – ABOUT)
This page has been viewed 20 times.
As an Amazon affiliate I may benefit from qualifying sales.