Android Motion Assist could ease car sickness on your phone

Google is rolling out a new feature for Android phones aimed at helping people who get motion sickness while using their devices in a moving vehicle.

The tool, called Motion Assist, displays animated dots along the edges of the screen that shift in response to the motion of the car or other vehicle. It works by using the phone's built-in accelerometer and gyroscope to detect movement, then translating that motion into visual cues that move in sync with the ride.

The feature is designed to address a well-known source of discomfort: when a passenger reads or scrolls on a phone, their eyes register the screen as stationary, while their inner ear senses the vehicle's actual movement. That mismatch between visual and physical signals is a common trigger for motion sickness.

Google began developing its version of the feature around 2024, when Apple introduced a comparable tool called Vehicle Motion Cues as part of iOS 18. Google's offering originally carried the name Motion Cues before being rebranded as Motion Assist.

So far, Motion Assist has begun appearing on select Pixel phones running Android 17. Google has not published a full list of supported devices, and the company has yet to release a dedicated support page. The rollout appears to be staged rather than simultaneous, meaning some users with Android 17 may not see the feature yet. The update is delivered through Google Play services rather than as a standalone app download, which allows Google to push new features separately from the main operating system.

Users who do have access to the feature can customize several aspects of the visual cues, including shape, size, color, and opacity. A randomization option can also vary the settings automatically. Motion Assist can be turned on manually or set to activate automatically when the phone detects that it is traveling in a moving vehicle.

For Pixel owners who have not yet seen Motion Assist, Google recommends making sure both the phone software and Google Play system updates are current. Users can check for system updates by going to Settings, then System, then Software updates. Google Play system updates are located under Settings, then Security & privacy, then System & updates. Even after updating, the feature may not appear immediately, as Google continues to roll it out gradually.

Apple's Vehicle Motion Cues offers a similar approach for iPhone users. It can be turned on by going to Settings, then Accessibility, then Motion, then Vehicle Motion Cues. Apple allows users to choose between automatic activation and continuous display, and the pattern, color, size, and number of dots can all be customized. Apple notes that the feature works best when the user is seated facing forward and warns against using it while operating a moving vehicle.

Both companies describe their respective features as tools that may help reduce motion sickness rather than guaranteed remedies. The underlying idea is simple: by giving the eyes additional visual information that matches the body's sense of motion, the sensory conflict that leads to nausea and dizziness may be lessened.

If the visual cues do not help, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends looking toward the horizon as an alternative strategy for managing motion sickness. Listening to audio rather than reading a screen is another option, with text-to-speech tools available on both Android and iPhone.