The Horizon OS 2.9 system software update recently started rolling out in the Public Test Channel, bringing an overhauled 2D window management system, the return of legacy virtual environments, and improvements to the QR code scanner. Meta positions the pre-release build as a direct response to user feedback regarding window layouts and older home environments, though specific features often take weeks or months to reach stable releases or may be delayed without notice.
Display Evo Overhaul Replaces Fixed Dock With Spatial 2D Windows
Horizon OS 2.9 introduces an overhaul of its 2D window management system codenamed Display Evo, which Meta describes as a new way to organize app windows. Previous software iterations replaced the tablet-style app dock with an overlay-style launcher, but the underlying layout remained bound to a restrictive triple-monitor setup that forced users to juggle extra windows between a simplified dock and surrounding space. Display Evo removes the dock entirely, allowing 2D windows to open spatially around the user.
Users can now group windows by moving their edges together or arrange them into a Stack that functions like a deck of cards. The update also adds a Window Manager accessed via Quick Settings to view all open 2D windows, bring them forward, or close them individually or all at once. Alongside these layout changes, Meta is rolling out redesigned window control bars featuring a dedicated grab handle and separate function buttons tailored for gaze input systems. The standalone Anchor option has been removed from the control bar in favor of Magnetism, a default behavior introduced in Horizon OS 2.1 that automatically attaches windows to vertical surfaces.
Classic Environments Return to Home Editor After User Feedback
Meta is addressing user frustration following the v81 PTC update in August 2025, which replaced older virtual environments with a single high-quality space called Loft. The Horizon OS 2.9 Public Test Channel introduces a Classic Environments submenu within the Home Editor, accessible via the menu button on the left Touch controller or a palm-facing pinch. The submenu contains pre-v81 virtual environments ported to the Horizon Engine with optimized performance and free locomotion.
Desert Terrace, the default environment for Quest 2, and Space Station, introduced for the original Quest in April 2020, are available in the initial rollout. A dataminer and programmer named Nori discovered several other virtual environments with active development channels in the Classic Environments submenu, indicating additional spaces may arrive on a rolling basis. The update also moves Use apps while lying down from the Experimental menu to general availability under Accessibility and Mobility, allowing users to rotate the virtual coordinate space upward using the recenter action.
Horizon OS adds system-level QR code scanner
Horizon OS 2.9 PTC adds a system-level QR code scanner to Quest 3 and Quest 3S headsets. Users can access the scanner by opening the Camera app and scrolling to the bottom of the Camera Bar widget, or by adding it to Quick Controls as a tile through Settings, General, and Quick Controls. While Meta notes the scanner can also be reached through Global Search or Meta AI voice commands, testing showed those entry points did not consistently surface the tool.
The scanner currently operates as an immersive app, meaning it cannot scan QR codes alongside 2D windows in Passthrough or inside other immersive apps and social spaces like VRChat. Meanwhile, the Surface Keyboard and Touchpad feature introduced in v85 PTC has been updated with a simplified UI matching the Meta VR Glasses reveal video. Meta states that Surface Keyboard and Touchpad now works in fully virtual environments as well as passthrough, although testers found that capability inactive in the current pre-release build.
Software update changes boundary setup and troubleshooting
Boundary setup changes in Horizon OS 2.9 PTC alter the scene capture system so that interrupted space scanning causes the headset to revert to the previous boundary or default to a Stationary Boundary. Testing indicates that users can cancel a roomscale boundary scan and restart the process in the same space while retaining the partially scanned area. Meta has not clarified how long the system preserves interrupted boundaries.
The software update introduces a dedicated troubleshooting flow for Touch controllers located under Settings, Devices, and Controllers for users experiencing unresponsive hardware. Global Search has also gained the ability to surface device settings offline when typing terms like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do not disturb, Travel mode, or Passthrough. An optional toggle has been added to pause hand tracking when using Gamepad Mode, preventing accidental hand inputs during controller gameplay.
Frequently Asked Questions About Horizon OS 2.9 PTC
How do I access the Classic Environments in Horizon OS 2.9 PTC?
Users can open the Classic Environments submenu within the Home Editor by pressing the menu button on the left Touch controller or performing a palm-facing pinch with the left hand.
What environments are currently available in the Classic Environments submenu?
Desert Terrace, which served as the default environment for Quest 2, and Space Station, originally released in April 2020 for the first-generation Quest, are available at launch.
Where is the QR code scanner located in the new software build?
The scanner is accessed by opening the Camera app and scrolling to the bottom of the Camera Bar widget, or by adding it as a Quick Controls tile through the system settings.
Can the new QR code scanner read codes inside Passthrough windows?
No, the QR code scanner runs as an immersive app and currently cannot scan codes alongside 2D windows in Passthrough or inside other immersive applications.
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