Motion Assist is coming to Android. It will relieve you when looking at your phone in the car

We wrote about Google preparing a relief for people who get nauseous from looking at their phone in the car at the end of 2024. At that time, it was just an inconspicuous finding in the source code, and it wasn’t clear when – or if at all – such a thing would reach users. Now the answer is out: Motion Assist is starting to appear in Android 17, primarily on Pixel phones for now.

What does Motion Assist do?

Car sickness – technically kinetosis or motion sickness – is caused by a sensory mismatch. Eyes fixed on the display report calm to the brain, but the inner ear simultaneously feels every turn and brake. It is this discrepancy that makes a person feel ill. According to earlier estimates, it affects about five percent of people, most often children, pregnant women, and migraine sufferers.

Motion Assist tries to circumvent this discrepancy. According to the feature description, it monitors data from the accelerometer and gyroscope and renders small dots around the edges of the display that move in sync with the vehicle. If you turn right, the dots slide left; if you brake, they move forward. This way, the eye receives motion that matches what the inner ear perceives, and the brain finds peace.

This is not an entirely new idea. Apple’s similar feature, Vehicle Motion Cues, has been working since 2024 and, according to feedback, genuinely helps many people – Google is now essentially bringing its Android counterpart. You can indeed see for yourself that the small dots might work if you watch their movement for a while.

How do you turn on Motion Assist?

It is hidden in the Google Play Services settings. The path is through Settings → your profile → All services → Personal safety and device security section, where you select the Motion Assist item. On the main screen, you will find a toggle switch that will automatically activate the function as soon as the phone recognizes that you are driving a car.

Když nechcete čekat na automatiku, přidáte si dlaždici do Rychlého nastavení a spínáte ručně. Že funkce běží, poznáte z oznámení, přes které ji jde zase vypnout. Vzhled teček si navíc můžete osahat – mění se barva, tvar i průhlednost, volba Randomizace je pak obměňuje sama od sebe.

However, the rollout is gradual. The feature is currently mainly being received by Pixels, and even among them, in batches – as noted by Android Authority, it’s already on one Pixel with Android 17, but not yet on another. I can confirm this myself: on my Pixel 11 Pro XL, I can already see the tile and add it to Quick Settings, but Motion Assist itself cannot be activated, and I cannot even access its settings. So, if you don’t see it, you’ll likely just need to wait a little longer.

What has changed since the first hints?

In the meantime, Google has also technically refined the feature. In an early version, it relied on the “Display over other apps” permission, and the dots couldn’t appear over some system elements – such as Settings, the status bar, notifications, Quick Settings, the lock screen, or the volume panel. This would be a significant limitation for a tool intended to work continuously.

Reportedly, the company has now opted for interventions directly at the system level. As a result, the dots will appear over other applications and the system interface, so they won’t disappear just when you’re switching something in the settings. Similar functionality, under the name Motion Cues, is also offered by OPPO and vivo phones; Honor, for example, introduced it earlier.

Do you get sick from your phone in the car? Will you try Motion Assist when it arrives for you?

Sources: Android Authority, The Verge, own