Google is giving Android users a new way to use their phones during car journeys without dealing with the discomfort of motion sickness.
The company has started rolling out Motion Assist to Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy smartphones running Android 17. The feature uses animated bubbles positioned around the edges of the display to provide visual cues that correspond with the movement of a moving vehicle.
Motion Assist is aimed at passengers who experience nausea or discomfort when reading, browsing or watching content on their phones while travelling. Rather than preventing users from looking at their screens, the feature attempts to make the visual experience better match the physical movement detected by the phone.
Google says the bubbles respond to the device’s motion sensors, moving as the vehicle turns, accelerates or brakes. This is intended to help synchronize what a passenger sees with what their body feels, potentially reducing the sensory mismatch associated with motion sickness.
The feature forms part of Google’s September 2026 Android Drop, which introduced several new tools across the Android ecosystem. In its announcement, Google described Motion Assist as a way to “help reduce motion sickness during your ride” while allowing passengers to continue using their phones.
Google’s official Android documentation says Motion Assist can be configured to start automatically when a moving vehicle is detected. Users can also add a dedicated Motion Assist tile to Quick Settings, allowing them to activate or deactivate it manually whenever necessary.
The feature is not limited to one fixed visual design. Android users can customize the bubbles by changing their opacity, colour theme and shape. There is also a randomization setting that can change the bubbles’ colours and shapes periodically.
Google recommends enabling both automatic activation and the Quick Settings option because vehicle-motion detection may not always recognize when a user is travelling. Motion Assist can also be located by searching for the feature directly within the Settings app.
However, the feature comes with a software requirement. Google says users need a device running Android 17 or higher and updated Google Play Services to access Motion Assist.
The rollout marks another example of Google using smartphone sensors and software to address an everyday problem. For Pixel and Samsung users on Android 17, a feature that once sounded experimental is now becoming a practical tool for more comfortable phone use on the road.
