Meta tests free-form virtual screen positioning similar to Vision Pro for Quest headsets

Meta is testing a feature for its Quest headset that lets you position windows freely, similar to the Apple Vision Pro. Multi-window multitasking has been part of Meta Horizon OS (formerly Meta Quest OS) for a few years, but currently only supports three virtual windows docked in a side-by-side layout.

It brings the Quest 3, in particular, closer to Apple’s spatial computing when used in mixed reality mode, but from the video it doesn’t appear to work in the same way. You can freely move up to three 2D application windows – like your browser or operating system windows like your library and settings – around your space and keep another three docked.

Other demonstrations suggest that windows will only remember their positioning within a limited distance and will return to their default positions if you change orientation or reset the view. We haven’t tested it yet to know all the limitations here, but it looks promising.

The update also allows you to switch between curved and flat windows, as well as a dimmer that reduces the brightness of virtual environments when using 2D applications. (The latter still doesn’t work in pass-through mode.)

Apple Vision Pro lets you move windows around whatever space you’re in and keeps them locked in place even while you move and after you take off the headset. This way, you can have a window next to the refrigerator and another positioned next to the TV in your living room and then walk to and from the windows as if they were real objects.