Application Manifests for Release Builds

Unity Application Manifests

The Unity Android project settings let you set some of the required application manifest options for building a Gear VR app suitable for the Oculus Store. To set the remaining manifest settings, use the Oculus Utilities for Unity 5 plugin.

The steps below describe how to configure Unity to build Oculus Store-compatible Android .apk packages.

1. Click Tools > Oculus > Create store-compatible AndroidManifest.xml.
2. Click Edit > Project Settings > Player.
3. Expand the Other Settings properties.
4. Enter a unique package name in the Bundle Identifier field. The package name must be unique within the entire Oculus ecosystem.
5. Increment the Bundle Version Code. This value must always be greater than the value in the last build uploaded to any release channel.
6. Set Minimum API Level to Android 5.0 'Lollipop' (API level 21).
7. Set Install Location to Auto.

Unreal Application Manifests

Unreal Engine ignores the Android project settings options when building Gear VR apps and instead uses instructions in an XML file to create the application manifest file. This XML requires a small modification to make builds suitable for the Oculus Store.

The steps below describe how to configure Unreal Engine to build Oculus Store-compatible Android .apk packages.

1. Navigate to your Unreal Engine folder, for example, C:\Epic Games\UnrealEngine-4.15.
2. Locate the Engine\Plugins\Runtime\GearVR\Source\GearVR\GearVR_API.xml file.
3. Modify line 71 from:

   <addAttribute tag="manifest" name="android:installLocation" value="internalOnly"/>

   to

   <addAttribute tag="manifest" name="android:installLocation" value="auto"/>

Application Manifest Specification

Your AndroidManifest.xml file must:

• Have the correct attributes and values in the <manifest> element, including the following mandatory attributes
  • Set a unique package name for the application in the package attribute.

    package="YOURNAME"

  • Set android:installLocation="auto"
  • Set the versionName. It is shown in the store.

    android:versionName="1.0"

  • Set the versionCode. It is used to deliver updates to users. This value must be an integer greater than 0, and must increment with subsequent revisions.

    android:versionCode="1"

  • Set the SDK versions to 21.

    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="21" android:targetSdkVersion="21" />

  • Set the OpenGL ES version accordingly.

    OpenGL ES 2

    <uses-feature android:glEsVersion="0x00020000" android:required="true" />

    OpenGL ES

    <uses-feature android:glEsVersion="0x00030000" android:required="true" />

    OpenGL ES 3.1:

    <uses-feature android:glEsVersion="0x00030001" android:required="true" />

• Include the following metadata attribute in the <application> element:

  <meta-data android:name="com.samsung.android.vr.application.mode" android:value="vr_only"/>

• Structure the <activity> element as shown:

  <activity
        android:name="YOUR ACTIVITY"
        android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Black.NoTitleBar.Fullscreen"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:launchMode="singleTask"
        android:screenOrientation="landscape"
        android:configChanges="screenSize|orientation|keyboardHidden|keyboard"
        android:excludeFromRecents="true">
        <intent-filter>
         <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
         <category android:name="android.intent.category.INFO" />
        </intent-filter>
       </activity>
       

• Remove any unnecessary permissions from your AndroidManifest.xml file. Only include permissions that are absolutely necessary for your app to function.

Sample Oculus Store-Compatible App Manifest

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
  package="com.yourcompany.yourappnameCHANGETHIS"
  android:versionCode="1" 
  android:versionName="1.0" 
  android:installLocation="auto" >

  <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="21" android:targetSdkVersion="21" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
  <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.usb.host" />
  <uses-feature android:glEsVersion="0x00030000" android:required="true" />

  <application
    android:allowBackup="true"
    android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
    android:label="@string/app_name" >
    <meta-data android:name="com.samsung.android.vr.application.mode" android:value="vr_only"/>
    <activity
      android:name="com.yourcompany.vrtemplate.MainActivity"
      android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Black.NoTitleBar.Fullscreen"
      android:label="@string/app_name"
      android:launchMode="singleTask"
      android:screenOrientation="landscape"
      android:configChanges="orientation|screenSize|keyboard|keyboardHidden"> 
      <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.INFO" />
      </intent-filter>
    </activity>
  </application>
</manifest>

Common Manifest Mistakes