Meta is preparing one of the most consequential user-experience changes in the history of its Quest platform. Beginning with Horizon OS version 85, the company will make its redesigned “Navigator” interface the default landing experience for Quest headsets while gradually removing Horizon Feed, the long-standing content discovery surface that has greeted users at startup for years.
At first glance, this may appear to be a routine interface refresh. In reality, it signals a deeper philosophical and strategic shift in how Meta views virtual reality usability, content discovery, and the balance between corporate ambitions and user intent.
This transition marks the end of an era defined by aggressive promotion of Horizon Worlds and the beginning of a more restrained, ecosystem-first approach that prioritizes clarity, speed, and user control.
From Universal Menu to Navigator: A Long Evolution of Quest UI
Since the days of the Oculus Go nearly eight years ago, Meta’s standalone VR operating system has undergone numerous visual updates while maintaining a remarkably consistent architectural foundation. The Universal Menu—an ever-present floating bar slightly below the user’s field of view—served as the backbone of the Quest interface for most of its life.
This horizontal bar displayed essential system information such as time and battery status while offering shortcuts to core system features like the app library, quick settings, notifications, and recent applications. When users opened these features, they appeared as independent 2D windows layered into the virtual space, treated much like regular apps.
This approach was functional but increasingly dated. As VR matured and users began multitasking more frequently between immersive apps, mixed-reality experiences, and 2D panels, the Universal Menu’s limitations became more apparent. Windows shifted around unpredictably, launching new apps felt slower than necessary, and system navigation often interrupted immersion rather than supporting it.
Navigator emerged as Meta’s answer to these structural shortcomings.
The Introduction of Navigator and Its Gradual Refinement
Meta began testing Navigator in a limited rollout in mid-2025, framing it as a fundamental rethink of Horizon OS rather than a cosmetic redesign. Instead of scattering system controls across floating windows, Navigator consolidates them into a single large overlay that appears consistently over immersive and 2D applications alike.
This architectural shift brings order to the experience. System interfaces no longer reposition themselves unpredictably, and launching or switching apps becomes faster and more intuitive. Navigator also introduces a pinning system that allows users to keep up to ten apps or experiences readily accessible, a concept reminiscent of the Windows Start Menu or mobile app docks.
Early versions of Navigator were not without criticism. The original design featured a murky gray oval background intended to enhance contrast. While functional, it obscured passthrough views and virtual environments, breaking immersion and earning widespread disapproval. Meta responded by removing the opaque backdrop entirely, opting instead to dim the environment subtly when Navigator appears.
This responsiveness to feedback set the tone for Navigator’s continued evolution.
The Evolved Navigator Experience in Horizon OS v83 and Beyond
With Horizon OS v83 entering public test channels in late 2025, Meta unveiled a more refined version of Navigator, previewed earlier at Connect 2025. This iteration reflects a clearer understanding of how users actually interact with VR systems.
One of the most notable changes is the introduction of a dedicated “Worlds” tab, separating Horizon Worlds destinations from traditional applications. Worlds no longer appear in the standard app library, reinforcing the conceptual difference between persistent virtual spaces and conventional apps.
The app library itself received a visual refresh, adopting interleaving offset rows similar to Apple’s visionOS. This layout improves scanability and modernizes the look of the interface without sacrificing familiarity.
Navigator also introduces overlay-level People and You tabs. The People tab offers quick access to friends and social interactions, while the You tab centers the user’s avatar, presence status, and identity settings. These additions reflect Meta’s ongoing emphasis on social VR, but in a more restrained and contextual manner than before.
Perhaps most importantly, Navigator introduces intuitive gestures to manage visual clutter. Users can instantly hide or reveal all 2D windows with a simple controller shortcut or hand-tracking gesture, restoring immersion on demand.
Navigator Becomes the Default: What This Really Means
Starting with Horizon OS v85, Navigator will no longer be an optional or experimental feature. It will become the default landing experience whenever users power on their Quest headset.
This change redefines the first moments of VR interaction. Instead of being dropped into a promotional feed, users will be greeted by a unified control center that prioritizes intent over suggestion. The headset becomes less of a billboard and more of a tool.
For experienced users, this will likely feel like a long-overdue correction. For newcomers, it establishes a clearer mental model of how Quest works from the very beginning.
The Gradual Removal of Horizon Feed
Alongside Navigator’s promotion, Meta will begin sunsetting Horizon Feed within VR. Horizon Feed, previously known as Explore, has long been the default 2D app launched during a cold boot of Quest headsets.
The feed aggregates a mix of Horizon Worlds destinations, Store recommendations, VR videos, Instagram Reels, social updates, and suggested friends. While visually busy and content-rich, it has struggled to become a meaningful engagement surface.
In communications to developers, Meta acknowledged that Horizon Feed is “not a high-intent surface.” Users often encounter it without actively wanting to browse or purchase content, leading to low conversion rates and limited revenue impact for developers.
This admission is significant. It suggests Meta recognizes that forced discovery can harm user experience rather than enhance it, especially in immersive environments where intent and comfort matter more than algorithmic promotion.
A Strategic Admission: Promotion at the Cost of Experience
The removal of Horizon Feed aligns closely with recent remarks by Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth, who acknowledged that the company’s aggressive push toward Horizon Worlds came “at an expense of user experience.”
For years, Quest owners have felt nudged—sometimes shoved—toward Meta’s first-party social VR ambitions. Horizon Feed embodied that push, often feeling like an unavoidable advertisement rather than a helpful guide.
By stepping back, Meta appears to be embracing a more mature philosophy: letting VR “be what it is” rather than forcing it into a singular vision. This includes renewed emphasis on third-party developers, diverse content, and organic user engagement.
Implications for Developers and the VR Ecosystem
For developers, the removal of Horizon Feed may initially sound concerning. Any reduction in promotional surface area raises fears about discoverability. However, Meta’s own data suggests Horizon Feed was not a meaningful driver of app installs for most creators.
Navigator, by contrast, may offer higher-quality engagement. By meeting users at moments of intent—when they actively want to launch something—it could provide better long-term value for developers whose apps earn pinned positions or repeat usage.
This shift also levels the playing field. Instead of algorithmically favored placements, success will depend more on retention, quality, and word-of-mouth within the VR community.
What This Signals About Meta’s VR Strategy
This UI overhaul is not just about aesthetics. It reflects a recalibration of Meta’s VR priorities after years of mixed results. While Quest hardware has achieved impressive adoption, software engagement—particularly in Horizon Worlds—has grown more slowly than hoped.
By simplifying the interface and removing forced content surfaces, Meta is acknowledging that VR adoption depends on comfort, clarity, and respect for user autonomy.
Navigator positions Quest less as a social experiment and more as a versatile computing platform—one capable of gaming, productivity, creativity, and social connection without privileging any single use case.
Looking Ahead: A More User-First Quest Experience
Horizon OS v85 does not yet have a confirmed release date, but its implications are already clear. Quest is entering a new phase, one defined by restraint rather than expansion, by usability rather than promotion.
Navigator becoming the default and Horizon Feed fading away marks a turning point. It suggests Meta is listening—not just to metrics, but to behavior.
In virtual reality, where immersion is fragile and trust is hard-won, that may be the most important update of all.
FAQs
1. What is Navigator on Meta Quest?
Navigator is a redesigned system interface that centralizes apps, settings, and social features.
2. When will Navigator become the default?
Starting with Horizon OS version 85.
3. What is happening to Horizon Feed?
It will be gradually removed from Horizon OS.
4. Why is Meta removing Horizon Feed?
Because it showed low user intent and weak engagement.
5. Will this affect app discoverability?
Meta says most developers saw little benefit from Horizon Feed anyway.
6. Can users still access Horizon Worlds?
Yes, via a dedicated Worlds tab in Navigator.
7. Does this change affect older Quest models?
The update applies across supported Quest headsets.
8. Is this part of Meta’s broader strategy shift?
Yes, toward improved user experience and third-party ecosystems.
9. Will users have more control over their interface?
Yes, including window visibility and pinned apps.
10. Is Horizon OS v85 released yet?
No confirmed date, but rollout is expected soon.