How to Turn On Android Motion Assist to Reduce Car Sickness
To turn on Motion Assist in Android 17, open Settings, tap your Google profile, choose All services, then select Motion assist under Personal & device safety. Enable Start in a moving vehicle for automatic activation, or add the Motion Assist tile to Quick Settings when you want manual control.
Google introduced Motion Assist in the September 2026 Android Drop. It places subtle animated bubbles around the edges of the screen and moves them with the vehicle's turns, acceleration and braking. The feature is intended to make phone use more comfortable for passengers who experience motion sickness. It is not a guaranteed treatment, and it should never encourage phone use while driving.
What you need to use Android Motion Assist
- A phone running Android 17 or later.
- An up-to-date version of Google Play services.
- The Motion Assist feature enabled for your device.
- Permission for the phone to use the sensors required to detect vehicle movement.
The Android version alone may not be enough on the first day. Features delivered through Google system components can appear gradually, so two compatible phones with the same Android version may receive the menu at different times.
How to turn on Motion Assist automatically
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap your Google profile near the top of Settings.
- Tap All services.
- Scroll to Personal & device safety.
- Tap Motion assist.
- Turn on Start in a moving vehicle.
Once enabled, Android attempts to detect when you are riding in a moving vehicle and displays the visual bubbles automatically. Google notes that detection may not work on every trip, which is why it recommends adding the manual Quick Settings tile as a backup.
If you cannot find the menu path, search for Motion assist from the search field at the top of Settings.
Add Motion Assist to Quick Settings
A Quick Settings tile is useful when automatic detection starts late, activates when you do not need it or fails to recognize a ride.
- Open Settings > Google profile > All services > Motion assist.
- Tap Add tile to Quick Settings.
- Choose a Small tile or Large tile.
- Swipe down from the top of the screen whenever you want to turn Motion Assist on or off.
You can also open the Quick Settings edit screen and drag the Motion Assist tile into your active panel. The edit button may look like a pencil or appear inside the three-dot menu, depending on the phone manufacturer.
How to customize the bubbles
Motion Assist keeps the center of the screen clear and places its cues near the edges. If the default design is distracting or too faint, Android lets you change it:
- Return to the Motion assist settings page.
- Tap Customize.
- Adjust Opacity to make the cues more or less visible.
- Choose a color theme such as red, yellow, green or blue.
- Select a different bubble shape.
- Turn Randomization on if you want the color and shape to change periodically.
The customization screen provides a live preview, so make adjustments before the ride. Start with a clearly visible color and moderate opacity; if you notice yourself focusing on the bubbles instead of the content, make them more subtle.
What Motion Assist actually does
Motion sickness is commonly explained through sensory conflict: the eyes may focus on a screen that appears stationary while the inner ear and body detect movement. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes this mismatch between visual, vestibular and motion inputs as the most widely accepted explanation for motion sickness.
Motion Assist uses the phone's movement sensors to animate screen-edge cues in time with the vehicle. Google says the bubbles react to turning, speeding up and braking, giving the eyes an additional reference that better reflects what the body feels.
That design may help some people, but individual results will vary. Google carefully says Motion Assist can help reduce motion sickness; it does not promise to eliminate nausea, dizziness or other symptoms.
How to use Motion Assist safely
Use it only as a passenger
Do not operate a phone or configure Motion Assist while driving. Set it up before departure or ask another person to handle the phone. The feature is designed for passenger-seat use.
Stop looking at the screen if symptoms worsen
If you begin to feel dizzy, nauseated, sweaty or unusually warm, put the phone away. Look toward a stable outside reference such as the horizon and keep your head as still as practical. The CDC lists obtaining a horizon view and avoiding visual tasks among the behavioral ways to reduce sensory mismatch.
Do not treat the feature as medical care
Motion Assist is a display feature, not a diagnosis or medicine. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional or pharmacist if motion sickness is severe, persistent, occurs outside travel or requires medication. Do not drive after taking any medicine that can cause drowsiness.
Why Motion Assist may be missing
Your phone is not running Android 17
Go to Settings > About phone > Android version. If an update is available, open Settings > System > Software updates and follow the instructions. Manufacturers release Android upgrades on different schedules, and some older devices will not receive Android 17.
Google Play services is not current
Motion Assist requires updated Google Play services. Check the Play Store for app updates, then open Settings > Security & privacy > System & updates > Google Play system update. Install any available update and restart the phone.
The feature has not reached your device yet
Google announced Motion Assist on September 1, 2026, but availability can still arrive in stages. If the phone meets the requirements and is fully updated, wait for the rollout rather than downloading an unofficial APK that claims to unlock it.
Your manufacturer's Settings layout is different
Search Settings for “Motion Assist.” Google documents the feature inside the Google services section, but a manufacturer may present the profile entry or Quick Settings editor differently.
A managed profile restricts the service
Work-managed or supervised phones can limit system services and settings. Check the personal profile on the device or ask the administrator whether the feature is allowed.
Motion Assist turns on at the wrong time
Automatic activation relies on the phone interpreting movement. If the bubbles appear on a train platform, amusement ride or another situation where you do not need them, tap the Quick Settings tile to switch them off.
If false activations are frequent, disable Start in a moving vehicle and use the manual tile instead. This keeps the feature available without leaving automatic detection active.
Motion Assist does not appear over an app
- Toggle the Quick Settings tile off and on.
- Lock and unlock the phone, then reopen the app.
- Restart the phone after installing Google Play system updates.
- Test another app to determine whether the problem is app-specific.
- Temporarily turn off battery-saving restrictions that may pause Google system components.
If aggressive battery controls are affecting other features too, follow our guide to manage background battery use on Android without blindly disabling every optimization.
Does Motion Assist work in cars, buses, trains and planes?
Google describes it for passengers in moving vehicles and specifically promotes it for rides. Its sensors respond to changes in movement, but effectiveness and automatic detection can vary with the vehicle, road, seating position and personal sensitivity.
The CDC notes that the most helpful position varies by transport. A stable horizon view can help in cars, buses and ships, while sitting near an aircraft's wings can reduce the motion felt. If the bubbles do not help, stop the visual task rather than forcing yourself to continue.
Does Motion Assist use extra battery?
It uses motion sensors and draws an overlay on the display, so some additional power use is possible. Google has not published a universal battery percentage because the effect depends on the phone, trip length, screen brightness and apps in use.
For a long journey, lower screen brightness, download media before leaving and carry a suitable charger. Our USB-C charger wattage guide explains how to match a charger to your phone safely.
A better option when the screen still makes you sick
If visual tasks remain uncomfortable, listen instead of reading or watching. Use text-to-speech, an audiobook or a podcast and keep your eyes on the horizon. When traveling with someone else, compatible phones can also share sound with several headsets; see our guide to sharing audio with multiple earbuds using Auracast.
Other practical measures supported by public-health guidance include fresh air when possible, keeping the head still, avoiding heavy meals and alcohol shortly before travel, and taking breaks on long journeys.
Android Motion Assist vs iPhone Vehicle Motion Cues
Both systems display animated indicators near the screen edges to reflect vehicle movement. Android Motion Assist requires Android 17 or later and updated Google Play services. Apple's similar feature is called Vehicle Motion Cues and is located in Accessibility settings on supported iPhones.
The two features are platform-specific; neither guarantees relief. Use whichever is built into your phone, test it as a passenger and stop viewing the screen if symptoms continue.
Bottom line
Open Settings > Google profile > All services > Motion assist, enable automatic activation, and add the Quick Settings tile for reliable manual access. Customize the bubbles until they are visible without becoming distracting.
Motion Assist is a sensible, low-effort feature to try on Android 17, but it is not a cure. It belongs in a broader plan: use it only as a passenger, stop screen use if you feel worse, and look toward a stable outside reference when needed.
