Oculus Quest 2 ShellEnv Keeps Stopping? (Easy FIX!) (2024)

Meta Oculus Quest 2 ShellEnv keeps stopping and interrupting your gameplay and experience?

Well, the “ShellEnv keeps stopping” error only shows that there is data corruption on your VR headset that must be removed.

So, to identify which app or piece of data is causing the issue, we must first verify that your Oculus Quest is free of sideloaded content and uncertified apps!

To resolve the “ShellEnv” error on Oculus Quest 2, remove all “sideloaded” apps from the headset and uninstall any custom home environments.

Let’s continue to unwrap!

Why Does ShellEnv Keeps Stopping Quest 2?

The “ShellEnv” is an error that typically appears when you play games or at random to notify you that something with an app data is wrong.

The error could be coming due to sideloaded apps, custom environments, or a system failure on the Quest, which requires troubleshooting.

Here are all the possible reasons for the “ShellEnv keeps stopping” error:

Luckily, we’ve found a working solution for each of the potential possibilities, so it would be easy to solve the problem with the solution guide below.

So, without further ado, let’s jump straight in!

Oculus Quest 2 ShellEnv Keeps Stopping – Fixed Easily!

Tip: Try the solutions chronologically!

1. Uninstall Any *Side Loaded* Content!

We all know that the Oculus Quest operating system allows downloading apps externally, which means installing them from third-party sources and not from the store.

Well, the ShellEnv error appears to be related to a bug with the contents of your data, so it’s best only to use retail apps.

If you have any side-loaded apps on your Oculus Quest 2, it’s strongly recommended to remove them from your headset to check if the ShellEnv error will appear.

Here’s how to remove apps on your Oculus Quest 2 headset:

1. First, power on and equip the VR headset.
2. Press the “Oculus” button on the controller.
3. Then, press on the “Apps” icon on the right.
4. Use the drop-down menu to see “Installed.”
5. Hover over any “sideloaded” application.
6. Select the three dots and then “Uninstall.”
7. Repeat for ALL “sideloaded” applications.

Whenever the unofficial apps are gone from your device, perform a simple restart of the Oculus Quest headset to refresh the operating system.

Then, you can play around on your VR headset to check whether the ShellEnv error will continue to appear, and if yes, continue reading ahead!

Note: Avoid using sideloaded apps until the ShellEnv error is gone!

2. Switch to Default Home Environment

According to some users, there is a 99% chance that ShellEnv keeps stopping Quest 2 due to any custom home environments.

The home environment is typically how you see your home when you equip your headset, and there are many available and free environments by default.

However, some people tend to enjoy custom home environments, but when there is a problem with the 3D data or there is an incompatibility, the ShellEnv will keep stopping.

So, our advice is to switch to one of the default home environments available and free on your Oculus Quest.

How to Change Home Environment on Oculus Quest?

Here’s how to switch from a custom to the default Oculus home environment:

1. First, equip and power on your Quest 2 headset.
2. Then, press the “Oculus” button to see the menu.
3. Then, go to Settings and open the “App Library.”
4. From there, select the “Personalization Settings.”
5. Select one of the default VR home environments.

When you’re ready, we recommend rebooting your Oculus Quest headset by holding the power button, and if this doesn’t help, uninstall the custom home environments.

How to Uninstall Custom Home Environments on Quest?

Here’s how to uninstall the custom home environments on Oculus Quest 2:

1. Press the “Oculus” button to reveal the Quest menu.
2. Then, go to Settings and enter “Virtual Environment.”
3. You will see all of the installed/available environments.
4. Move the pointer to the circular button on one of them.
5. Select the button to “Uninstall” and home environment.
6. Repeat for all installed custom home environments.

When your Oculus Quest is set to the default home environment and all custom environments are uninstalled, test whether the ShellEnv will keep stopping.

If you continue to experience the same problem, keep reading further into the guide…

3. Soft-Reset the Oculus Quest Headset

Now that we’ve eliminated the possibilities for the ShellEnv error, it’s time to refresh the Oculus Quest’s operating system.

If the error is still appearing randomly, the cause may be a bug that only requires a full system restart, so we’re going to learn how to perform a power circulation.

• To power cycle your Oculus Quest 2, unequip the headset and hold the Power button on the right-hand side.

After 15-20 seconds, your Oculus Quest headset will power off entirely, and you will need to wait about 3 minutes for a complete discharge and an effective system refresh.

Note: The power cycle will not erase anything from your Oculus Quest 2!

4. Uninstall Apps from the “SideQuest”

Sometimes, the ShellEnv error appears due to custom apps from the PC app “SideQuest,” so if you have any content downloaded from there, you must remove it.

To do so, you must open the SideQuest app on your computer and use a USB-C cable to connect your Quest 2 to your PC.

Then, from the SideQuest app on your computer, uninstall all the custom apps or software that you’ve installed on your headset.

When you’re ready, unplug your headset from the PC and use the steps from the previous solution to soft reset your device again and refresh the system.

Tip: Avoid installing apps from SideQuest until the ShellEnv error is identified!

5. Update Your Oculus Quest Firmware!

The next step against the “ShellEnv keeps stopping” error would be to verify that your Oculus Quest 2 is up to date by manually initiating an update.

The only requirement is for the headset to be connected to a working and reliable WiFi to download and install the update promptly.

Here’s how to update your Oculus Quest 2 in easy steps:

1. Press the “Oculus” button on the right controller.
2. Go to Settings, scroll down, and enter “About.”
3. Then, select “Download, Install, Install Update.”
4. Follow the prompts to update the Quest’s system.

When your Oculus Quest 2 is up to date, reboot the device and test whether the ShellEnv error will continue to appear.

If yes, then you must take more drastic measures against the problem.

6. Factory Reset Your Oculus VR Quest

If nothing helps and your Oculus Quest still shows the “ShellEnv keeps stopping” error, you must perform a factory reset.

This is a last-resort solution since it will erase everything from the headset, so verify that you’ve attempted all of the previous solutions before proceeding further.

Before Resetting – Backup Your Data!

If you don’t know about Oculus Quest 2, you can save your data from deletion before the factory reset using the Meta Cloud services.

Basically, all your apps, games, and configurations will be uploaded to the cloud for easy and quick access and restoration after the factory reset process.

• Go to Settings > System > Backup to upload your Oculus Quest content!

When you’re ready, here’s how to factory reset Oculus Quest 2:

1. First, power off your Oculus Quest 2 VR headset.
2. Then, locate the Power and Volume Down buttons.
3. Hold both buttons until the bootloader menu shows.
4. Use the Volume Down/Up to scroll in the bootloader.
5. Then, go to “Factory Reset” and highlight the option.
6. Use the Power button to select the highlighted tab.
7. Confirm that you would like to reset your VR headset.

When the factory reset starts, all you have to do is wait until the reset process is over, and you are prompted to set up the initial settings.

They involve signing in, connecting to the internet, and setting up preferences before downloading your content from the cloud for restoration.

Tip: For more help, contact Meta Customer Service!

More Oculus Quest 2 Errors:

Q: How do I prevent my Oculus Quest 2 from overheating?
A: Take breaks, avoid using the device in hot environments, and ensure proper ventilation during use.

Q: What does an orange light on my Oculus Quest 2 mean?
A: An orange light typically indicates the battery is charging, but not fully charged yet.