Meta Provides Free Quest 3S Replacement After Software Update Causes Issues with Some Headsets

One of the biggest letdowns anyone can experience on Christmas morning is dealing with downloading updates and charging gadgets. But what’s even more frustrating is having those updates turn your device into a useless brick. That’s exactly what happened to a group of users last week, prompting Meta to step up and offer replacements along with some credit for the Horizon Store.

On December 25th, Reddit was flooded with reports from new Quest owners who encountered a major issue after trying to update their device. The error message that appeared said, “Your device is corrupt. It can’t be trusted.” Users quickly realized there was no way to reset the headset, rendering them useless.

The problematic situation stemmed from the latest v72 update for Quest, which had been released earlier this month. This misstep affected not only brand-new headsets but also some older ones that hadn’t seen an update in a while.

Meta acknowledged this problem in a user help thread and explained: “We’ve discovered a software update issue that caused some Quest 2/3/3S headsets to be unresponsive and unable to start up correctly. While we’re actively working on a solution for everyone, most people can now use their headsets normally.”

However, not all devices were affected, and after Meta paused the update, new devices should be safe if they haven’t been set up yet. For those unlucky enough to have bricked devices, Meta is replacing these headsets and providing Horizon Store credit as recompense.

In a ‘Next Steps’ thread for Quest 3S users, Meta stated: “We are aware that a limited number of Quest 3S devices are experiencing a software update issue that is causing headsets to be unresponsive and unable to boot up properly. If your device is affected, we’ll send you a replacement at no cost. Additionally, you’ll receive Horizon Store credit as a token of our commitment to supporting you.”

Despite the quick response, the glitch caused many to return their faulty headsets, hoping for better luck next time. A Reddit user, ‘Physical-Slip5049’, recounted how the issue ruined their son’s Christmas: “I bought a second-hand Quest 2 from eBay, never used, as a gift for my 9-year-old. He started it up on Christmas morning and was forced to update it. After following Meta’s instructions, it was hard-bricked within minutes. It’s only been used for five minutes in its entire life. My son had been eagerly waiting for months to experience VR, but couldn’t on Christmas Day. He spent much of it in tears.”

Moreover, Meta is reportedly offering refurbished headsets and store credit to those with out-of-warranty devices, such as Quest 2 users.

We are keeping a close eye on how this develops. If you’ve been affected, let us know how Meta is addressing the situation in the comments below.