How to Use Android Motion Assist to Reduce Motion Sickness

Using your phone while riding in a car can be uncomfortable if you are prone to motion sickness. Android now has a feature designed specifically to make that experience easier: Motion Assist.

Introduced as part of Google's September Android feature updates, Motion Assist places small animated bubbles around the edges of the display. The bubbles respond to movement detected by the phone and are designed to help synchronize what your eyes see with the movement your body feels.

Here's how Motion Assist works and how you can enable it on a compatible Android phone.

What Is Android Motion Assist?

Motion Assist is an Android feature designed to help reduce motion sickness when you're using your phone as a passenger in a moving vehicle.

When enabled, small visual bubbles appear along the edges of the screen. They move in response to changes in the vehicle, including turning, accelerating and braking.

The idea is to reduce the mismatch between your visual system and your body's sense of movement. Instead of seeing a completely stationary phone screen while your body is moving, the animated indicators provide your eyes with visual cues that correspond to the vehicle's movement.

Google describes Motion Assist as a tool that may help reduce motion sickness, rather than a guaranteed solution. Results can vary between users.

What You Need to Use Motion Assist

Motion Assist is intended for phones running Android 17 or newer, with Google Play services updated. Availability can also depend on Google's rollout, so having a compatible Android version does not necessarily mean the feature will immediately appear on every phone.

Before looking for the feature, make sure:

• Your phone is running Android 17 or later.
• Google Play services is up to date.
• Motion Assist has been enabled for your device as part of Google's rollout.

How to Find Motion Assist

The quickest way to check whether Motion Assist is available is to search for it in Android's Settings app.

1. Open Settings.
2. Use the Settings search bar and type Motion Assist.
3. If the option appears, open it.

You can also navigate through the settings manually:

Settings → Your profile → All services → Personal & device safety → Motion assist

Google lists Motion Assist under the Personal & device safety section.

How to Turn Motion Assist On Automatically

One of the most useful options is automatic activation.

After opening Motion Assist:

1. Find Start in a moving vehicle.
2. Turn the option on.
3. Android will attempt to detect when you're traveling in a moving vehicle.
4. Motion Assist can then activate automatically.

Google recommends keeping a manual Quick Settings option available as well because automatic vehicle detection may not always work.

Add Motion Assist to Quick Settings

You can also activate or deactivate the feature manually without digging through Settings.

From the Motion Assist settings page:

1. Tap Add tile to Quick Settings.
2. Choose either the Small tile or Large tile.
3. Open Quick Settings by swiping down from the top of your screen.
4. Tap the Motion Assist tile whenever you want to turn the feature on or off.

This is particularly useful if Android doesn't automatically recognize that you're traveling in a vehicle.

Customize the Motion Assist Bubbles

Android also lets you change how the visual indicators look.

Go to:

Settings → Your profile → All services → Personal & device safety → Motion assist → Customize

Depending on your device and software version, you can adjust options such as:

Opacity

Change how visible or transparent the bubbles are.

Color

You can choose from several available color themes, including red, yellow, green and blue.

Shape

Motion Assist supports different bubble shapes, allowing you to choose the appearance that is most comfortable for you.

Randomization

You can enable randomization so the color and shape of the bubbles change periodically.

Why Motion Assist Could Help With Car Sickness

Motion sickness can occur when information from your eyes and your body's motion sensors don't agree.

For example, when you're reading a stationary webpage inside a moving car, your eyes see a stable image while your inner ear and body detect acceleration, braking and turning.

Motion Assist attempts to bridge that gap by adding visual movement to the edges of the display. Google's September Android update specifically describes the feature as a way to help connect what your eyes see with the movement of the ride.

Similar concepts have previously been used in other technology products, including Apple's Motion Cues feature. However, Motion Assist has its own implementation within Android.

What Happens When Motion Assist Activates?

When automatic activation is enabled, Android attempts to recognize that the phone is inside a moving vehicle.

Once activated, the moving visual indicators appear along the sides of the display. They respond to movement detected by the phone's sensors.

If you want to stop the feature during an automatically activated session, Android can also provide a silent notification that allows you to disable Motion Assist with a tap.

Motion Assist Isn't a Guaranteed Cure

It's important not to think of Motion Assist as a medical treatment or a guaranteed cure for motion sickness.

Google describes the feature as something that may help reduce motion sickness, and the experience can vary from person to person. Some users may find the moving indicators useful, while others may prefer not to use them.

If the feature makes you feel worse or uncomfortable, simply turn it off.

Most importantly, Motion Assist should only be used when you are a passenger. It should never be used while operating a vehicle.

Final Thoughts

Android Motion Assist is a useful addition for people who like to read, browse the web or watch content during car journeys but struggle with motion sickness.

The setup is straightforward: check whether your phone supports the feature, enable automatic activation, and add the Motion Assist tile to Quick Settings for easy manual control. You can also experiment with the bubbles' color, shape and opacity to find an appearance that works best for you.

As Android 17 continues to roll out across compatible devices, Motion Assist could become a handy everyday feature for passengers who want to use their phones more comfortably while traveling.