Meta Offers Free Quest 3S Replacement Following Software Update That Bricked Some Headsets

Experiencing technical issues on Christmas morning can be incredibly frustrating, especially when it involves downloading updates and charging batteries. However, the situation becomes even more disheartening when an update ends up bricking your device before you even have a chance to use it. This unfortunate scenario recently occurred for a number of users, prompting Meta to offer new devices and Horizon Store credit as compensation.

Reports flooded Reddit on December 25th, indicating that some new Quest owners encountered a critical error after installing the latest v72 update. The error message displayed stated, “Your device is corrupt. It can’t be trusted,” leaving users unable to reset their headsets and effectively rendering them unusable.

The issue seems to have stemmed from the v72 update released by Meta earlier in the month. Reports suggest that both new and older headsets that hadn’t been updated in a while were affected.

In response to the situation, Meta acknowledged the issue in a user help thread, stating, “We’ve discovered a software update issue that caused some Quest 2/3/3S headsets to be unresponsive and unable to start up correctly. We are actively working on resolving the issue for all users, but in most cases, you are now able to use your device normally.”

Although only a fraction of new headsets experienced this issue, Meta took action by pausing the release of the firmware update. New users who have not yet set up their Quest devices are now likely safe from encountering the problem. For those with bricked headsets, Meta is providing replacement units along with Horizon Store credit as a gesture of goodwill.

In a ‘Next Steps’ thread for Quest 3S users, Meta states, “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 by the issue, we’ll send you a replacement Quest device at no cost to you. We’ll also issue you Horizon Store credit as a token of our commitment to supporting you.”

Despite Meta’s prompt response, some users had already returned faulty headsets to stores in the hopes of receiving a functional replacement. One Reddit user, ‘Physical-Slip5049’, shared their disappointment, revealing how the issue ruined their son’s Christmas experience.

Additionally, reports indicate that Meta is offering users with out-of-warranty headsets, such as Quest 2, refurbished units along with store credit.

We are monitoring the aftermath of this situation closely. Share your experience in the comments below if you have been affected and let us know what steps Meta is taking to resolve the issue.