One of the big problems with a VR headset is that anything you want to do, you have to do inside it. Apple is looking to tackle that and other Vision Pro pain points with visionOS 2.4, which will offer improvements to the guest user experience and two new apps for finding new things to do and watch, whether you’re wearing the headset or not.
The visionOS 2.4 update rolling out in beta to developers starting today also adds Apple Intelligence features to the headset.
Right now, it’s hard to find software for the Vision Pro without putting on the headset and doing the search there, but with this update and iOS 18.4 that’s getting easier with a new Apple Vision Pro for iOS app. It lets you browse the visionOS App Store, install apps remotely, and even cue up videos on the headset from your iPhone. Without it, your other choices are to search for other users’ recommendations online or scroll around this Apple page that shows Vision Pro apps.
Letting another person use your Vision Pro is a hassle and something you can’t really do without first putting it on and going through some setup. This update is addressing much of that friction by making Guest Mode easier to use. For starters, you no longer have to put on the headset before anyone else can use it. When a guest puts it on, the owner will get a prompt on their iPhone or iPad to approve placing it in guest mode. They can then choose the apps guests can access and decide whether or not to AirPlay what they’re seeing, just like Apple employees can for in-store demos.
In theory, if someone in your house uses your Vision Pro regularly, that means they can get to doing that much faster. However, Apple still isn’t removing the 30-day limit that resets saved guest profiles, so less frequent users will still have to go through the rigamarole of hand-and-eye setup. Even so, it’s a big improvement from the initial experience of sharing a Vision Pro.
You’ll also be able to view your headset’s information, like the serial number, from the app instead of hunting around for it inside the headset or finding your Vision Pro in the device list of your iPhone’s Apple Account settings. People who need prescription lenses will also be able to view and store their App Clip code for ZEISS Optical Inserts in the app too. Vision Pro owners don’t have to do anything to get the app either. It’ll download to their iPhones automatically with iOS 18.4, though it is also separately downloadable for non-owners from the App Store.
Along that vein, Apple is rolling out a new Vision Pro app, too, called Spatial Gallery. The company describes it as an Apple-curated collection of spatial photos, videos, and panoramas, which includes things like behind-the-scenes clips from Apple TV shows like Severance and Shrinking. The idea is to showcase content that highlights the Vision Pro’s strengths. That app will become available for Vision Pro owners when visionOS 2.4 is released in April.