--- title: "Bringing React Native to VR on Meta Quest" description: "Learn how Meta Quest uses React Native for 2D panels in 3D spaces, why AOSP matters, and how developers can bring existing RN apps to VR with minimal friction." url: https://www.callstack.com/podcasts/bringing-react-native-to-vr-on-meta-quest updated: 2026-10-24T08:39:41.871Z --- # Bringing React Native to VR on Meta Quest Learn how Meta Quest uses React Native for 2D panels in 3D spaces, why AOSP matters, and how developers can bring existing RN apps to VR with minimal friction. _Guests: Jan Jaworski, Software Engineer @ Callstack; Ram N, Engineering Manager @ Meta · Host: Łukasz Chludziński, Engineering Manager @ Callstack · Published 2025-11-26 · Duration 46:36 · Category: Virtual Reality_ Listen: [YouTube](https://youtu.be/0jn2u2x3I_M) · [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/5J076bFj2r2yzUeWgaYaiJ?si=4TcIj84_RJaa1bA0u2heJQ) · [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-react-native-into-vr-on-meta-quest-react-universe/id1525543072?i=1000738494301) · [SoundCloud](https://soundcloud.com/user-985069846/taking-react-native-into-vr-on) For React Native developers, Meta Quest introduces a platform shift that feels both new and familiar. Apps run inside 2D panels placed within a 3D space, powered by HorizonOS built on Android AOSP. That means familiar primitives, tooling, and workflows (Expo Go, Android Studio profiling, and even console logs) work much the same as they do on mobile. In this episode of React Universe On Air, host Łukasz Chludziński talks with Jan Jaworski (Callstack) and Ram N (Meta) about how React Native became a practical, production‑ready way to build for Meta Quest and how it powers key first‑party Quest experiences such as system surfaces and store interfaces. ### Meta Quest as an Android‑based platform Meta Quest runs on [Android AOSP](#yt-time=00:07:11), which means React Native works with minimal friction. Ram explains how the absence of Google Mobile Services affects features like notifications and payments, but notes that Meta provides alternatives that mirror the same functional intent. Because Quest is still an Android device at its core, familiar patterns, like activities, intents, and native modules, behave much as they do on mobile. ### 2D panels inside 3D environments Rather than expecting teams to build full VR worlds, Meta designed Quest to support [2D panels rendered within a 3D space](#yt-time=00:08:58). This gives developers the benefits of immersion, such as large surfaces, spatial placement, controller or hand‑based interaction, while still working with React Native views and event systems they already know. Ram shares how many of Meta’s own first‑party system experiences use this model. ### Developer workflow and tooling Jan describes how straightforward the [setup](#yt-time=00:10:59) is: initialize a project with Expo, run it through Expo Go on the headset, and begin testing. Most common libraries work out of the box, with only Google‑dependent ones requiring [alternatives](#yt-time=00:25:00). Profiling and debugging stay familiar as well, thanks to Android Studio tools and Perfetto, which Meta teams use internally for performance work. ### Adapting mobile apps for VR Moving a React Native app into VR does require some [design shifts](#yt-time=00:38:39). Jan highlights bigger touch targets, more readable typography, and the freedom to scale panels far beyond mobile dimensions. The team also discusses interactions, which map naturally to existing React Native event systems. ### Why this matters for developers With VR still early and Quest now fully accessible to React Native developers, the episode underscores a rare [first‑mover moment](#yt-time=00:16:54). Many mobile apps can be ported quickly, while entirely new categories, like meditation experiences, productivity tools, or lightweight games, become possible with minimal overhead. In short, React Native on Meta Quest is a platform shift, but one grounded in familiar tooling. ### Resources - Łukasz Chludziński on [X](https://x.com/lukasz_app), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukasz-app/), and [GitHub](https://github.com/lukasz-app) - Jan Jaworski on [X](https://x.com/jaworek3211), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-jaworski/), and [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/jwr.ski) - Ram N on [web](https://nparashuram.com/) and [X](https://x.com/nparashuram) - [Callstack’s VR resources](https://www.callstack.com/insights/vr-development) - [Meta Horizon Start Developer Competition 2025](https://developers.meta.com/horizon/blog/meta-horizon-start-developer-competition-2025/) Insights ## Learn more about Virtual Reality Here's everything we published recently on this topic. [View all](https://www.callstack.com/insights) - [Multi-Window React Native Apps With the Meta VR Layout SDK](https://www.callstack.com/blog/multi-window-react-native-apps-with-the-meta-vr-layout-sdk) (Oct 15 · Article): Build multi-window React Native apps for Meta Quest with the Meta VR Layout SDK. Learn shared state, fallbacks, positioning, and simulator testing. - [Mobile vs. VR: Key Differences in Features, UI, and UX](https://www.callstack.com/blog/mobile-vs-vr-key-differences-in-features-ui-and-ux) (Dec 8 · Article): Explore how VR reshapes layout behavior, typography, spacing, accessibility expectations, and interaction patterns in React Native. - [React Native on Meta Quest: What We Learned About Building for VR](https://www.callstack.com/events/react-native-on-meta-quest-a-developers-guide-to-building-for-vr) (Dec 4 · Live Stream): See Meta Quest used as a practical dev setup and watch the team build and test React Native features directly inside a VR workspace. - [How to Release a React Native App on the Meta Horizon Store](https://www.callstack.com/blog/how-to-release-a-react-native-app-on-the-meta-horizon-store) (Nov 20 · Article): Learn how to build, submit, and publish your React Native app on the Meta Horizon Store. - [What You Can Build With React Native on Meta Quest](https://www.callstack.com/blog/what-you-can-build-with-react-native-on-meta-quest) (Nov 6 · Article): Get React Native app ideas for Meta Quest, inspired by Meta's $1.5M developer competition. Explore VR/MR concepts for meditation, games, and social apps. - [Using Expo Libraries on Horizon OS: A Guide to Compatibility](https://www.callstack.com/blog/using-expo-libraries-on-horizon-os-a-guide-to-compatibility) (Oct 30 · Article): Learn how to use Expo libraries for React Native development on Meta's Horizon OS. This guide covers compatibility differences, what works out-of-the-box, and what requires specific alternatives like expo-horizon-core and expo-iap. - [Getting Started With Expo on Meta Quest](https://www.callstack.com/blog/getting-started-with-expo-on-meta-quest) (Oct 22 · Article): Start building React Native apps for Meta Quest with Expo. This guide details the setup using Expo Go for fast iteration and explains how to use development builds for full native capabilities on Met Horizon OS. - [Learn Once, Write for VR: A React Native Showcase for Meta's HorizonOS](https://www.callstack.com/blog/learn-once-write-for-vr-a-react-native-showcase-for-metas-horizonos) (Oct 8 · Article): Learn how a React Native app was built for Meta's HorizonOS, proving its viability for creating performant, cross-platform mixed reality experiences. - [How to Create a Universe in React VR](https://www.callstack.com/blog/how-to-create-universe-in-react-vr) (Mar 1 · Article): Ever heard about React VR? React VR takes it to the next level, creating UIs and 3D scenes in virtual reality.