Microsoft Office Apps Now Available on Meta's Quest VR Headsets
Microsoft's Word, Excel, and PowerPoint can now be used on Meta's Quest VR headsets, but there are some limitations.
Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on Quest VR Headsets
Microsoft's Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are now accessible for free on Meta's Quest VR headsets. However, these are the web versions of the apps, meaning they are not fully optimized for VR.
One of the challenges with using these apps on the Quest headset is the login process. While a paid Microsoft 365 account is not required, users have to manually type in their Microsoft account password using the on-screen keyboard and the Quest 3's Touch Plus controllers.
Once logged in, users can interact with the Word app, but it still resembles the traditional desktop version. The virtual environment poses difficulties in selecting formatting icons and moving the cursor with the Touch Plus controllers. The on-screen keyboard is an option but is slower compared to a physical keyboard.
Limitations and Future Improvements
To enhance productivity, users may need to connect a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard to the Quest headset. This allows for faster and more efficient typing.
The limitations of using the Office apps on Quest VR headsets extend to PowerPoint and Excel as well. Without a mouse, selecting cells in a spreadsheet becomes a challenge.
For those interested in trying out the apps, they can be downloaded for free from Meta's Quest marketplace. The compatibility of the apps extends to Quest, Quest 2, Quest 3, and Quest Pro.
Microsoft and Meta had previously announced their partnership to bring Office apps, Teams, Windows, and Xbox Cloud Gaming to Quest headsets. The Xbox Cloud Gaming app has already been launched, and Microsoft is working on making Word, Excel, and Teams available for Apple's Vision Pro.
Conclusion
While it is exciting to have access to Microsoft's Office apps on VR headsets like Quest, there are limitations to their functionality. Without additional hardware like a mouse and keyboard, performing certain tasks within the apps can be cumbersome. However, with the ongoing partnership between Microsoft and Meta, we can expect updates and improvements in the future to make these apps more optimized for VR experiences.
