Let’s get you back inside the image.

Open the in-app help first, then choose a local folder through Android’s folder picker. Use a built-in or online sample to confirm the display and gamepad, then place your own .sbs.jpg, .sbs.mp4 or ZIP containing those media files in the authorized folder. Put the phone into Cardboard or a similar viewer after entering the Viewer.

Playable media must end exactly in lowercase .sbs.jpg or .sbs.mp4. Merely containing “sbs”, using uppercase suffixes or another extension is not enough. ZIP names are unrestricted, but media inside must follow the same rule.

Standard ZIP archives are supported and may contain subfolders; the app searches them recursively for correctly named media. Encrypted, split, empty or damaged ZIP files are not supported. If a ZIP fails, extract it once on a computer and compare it with the free starter pack.

It lets you decide exactly which directory the app may access, without granting all-files access.

An Android phone, Cardboard (or a similar simple phone VR viewer), and a Bluetooth gamepad. No premium standalone VR headset is required. We recommend two analog sticks, A/B/X/Y, RB and a D-Pad.

SideByVR is a viewer; it does not convert ordinary 2D images into 3D on the phone. The file must already contain a side-by-side SBS view and use a canonical suffix. Start with a free sample to confirm the viewing setup.

Confirm that Android shows the gamepad as connected and that it works in another app, then fully close and reopen SideByVR. Connecting it before launching the app is recommended. If it still fails, note the gamepad model, connection mode and which buttons work. Touch remains available in the main menu and help page.

The app downloads an online sample only when you open it and shows percentage and byte progress. A first download depends on file size and network speed; cached items are usually faster. Online sample failures do not affect local playback.

The first release is primarily validated with static SBS JPG and short looping SBS MP4 media. Video remains experimental. For compatibility, use H.264 MP4 with yuv420p pixel format and keep resolution, bitrate and duration reasonable.

Use Android’s app settings to revoke file permission. Clearing SideByVR storage data or uninstalling it removes folder records, browsing position and temporary cache; it does not delete original media from your authorized folder.

Each JPG is an individual job. It moves through Queued and Processing before it is available as a completed SBS JPG. Capacity, queue position and image content affect processing time. Each image uses 1 Credit; no instant completion time is promised.

Include the phone model, Android version, SideByVR version, gamepad model, media format and approximate size, whether it was local or online, and reproducible steps. Do not send passwords, identity documents, payment details, private photos or media you cannot legally share.