Android users who get queasy while scrolling in a moving car may soon have a built-in option, as Motion Assist begins appearing on select Pixel phones.
Motion Assist, an Android 17 feature designed to reduce motion sickness when people use their phones in moving vehicles, has started appearing on select Pixel phones, according to Android Authority. Google has not formally announced the rollout.
The rollout appears to be happening in phases rather than through a broad Android update. Android Authority said some users in its contributor AssembleDebug’s Telegram group had spotted Motion Assist, while the outlet found the feature on its own Pixel 11 Pro XL but not on a Pixel 10 Pro XL running Android 17. That means having Android 17 does not necessarily guarantee access yet.
How Motion Assist works
Motion Assist places moving dots or other shapes around the edges of the display and adjusts their movement based on the vehicle’s motion. The feature uses the phone’s accelerometer and gyroscope to provide visual cues that correspond with movement.
The idea is to reduce the sensory mismatch behind motion sickness. When someone looks at a stationary phone screen while their inner ear detects acceleration, braking or turning, the conflicting signals can trigger nausea. Motion Assist adds visual movement to the screen to give the brain another indication that the body is moving.
Users can customize the indicators, including their color, shape and opacity. Google also offers a randomization setting that changes those visual characteristics automatically. Motion Assist can activate automatically when the phone detects that it is in a moving vehicle, or users can switch it on manually through a Quick Settings tile. A notification also appears while the feature is active.
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Google fixed an earlier limitation
The feature has been in development for some time. Android Authority first spotted it as Motion Cues in December 2024, when Google’s implementation relied on Android’s standard screen-overlay system.
That approach prevented the motion indicators from appearing over some system interfaces, including Settings, notifications, Quick Settings and the lock screen.
Android Authority reported that Google subsequently added operating system-level API support, allowing the indicators to appear over apps and system interface elements. That change makes the feature more useful because the visual cues don’t disappear when users move between different parts of Android.
A small feature that could make a big difference
Motion Assist is arriving after Apple introduced a similar Vehicle Motion Cues feature on the iPhone in 2024, while some Android manufacturers have already offered comparable tools.
A wider rollout could give Android users a more consistent option without requiring a manufacturer-specific feature or third-party application.
The catch is that Google still hasn’t made the feature broadly available. For now, Motion Assist has been spotted only on select Pixel phones running Android 17. Google has not announced its availability or said whether it will reach other Android devices.
Pixel owners can open Settings, select their profile, choose All services, and look under Personal & device safety for Motion Assist. If it is not there, the absence likely reflects the staged rollout rather than a problem with the phone. Until Google confirms wider availability, users should not assume that installing Android 17 alone will enable the feature.
Read more: Explore the most notable Android 17 features, including new privacy controls, multitasking tools, security upgrades, and Gemini-powered capabilities.
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