Motion Assist adds a moving bubble to an Android phone’s screen to give your eyes a motion cue while you look at the display in a moving vehicle. Google introduced it in the September 2026 Android Drop for phones running Android 17.
It is designed for passengers, not drivers.
What Motion Assist does
When you read a stationary screen in a moving car, what your eyes see can conflict with what your body feels. Motion Assist places small bubbles near the screen edges that move with the vehicle. Google’s idea is to make that visual cue less jarring. It is a comfort feature, not a treatment or a guarantee that motion sickness will go away.
How to turn on Motion Assist
- Make sure your phone is running Android 17 and has received the update that includes Motion Assist.
- Open Quick Settings and tap the edit button to add tiles.
- Look for Motion Assist and add it. The tile will appear only on supported software builds.
- Tap the tile before riding as a passenger to turn the bubbles on.
Google has not documented one Settings path that applies across every Android phone maker. If the tile is missing, search Settings for Motion Assist and check for a system update. If neither appears, the feature may not have reached your device yet.
Adjust the bubbles
You can change the bubble appearance, including its shape, colour and opacity. Start with a setting that is visible without covering text, then adjust it to suit the app and screen you are using.
What to know before using it
- Use Motion Assist only as a passenger. Do not handle your phone while driving.
- It may not prevent discomfort for everyone. Stop reading if you feel unwell.
- Whether the tile appears depends on the Android version and the update available for your device.
Google’s September Android Drop also includes other features, including Find Hub updates and Guided Vision. Our September Android features guide explains the broader update.
One response to “Motion Assist on Android: How to Turn It On”
[…] Motion Assist puts a subtle bubble on screen that moves with the vehicle, helping reduce the mismatch between what you see and feel while using your phone in a car. Google says it requires Android 17. That means the feature will depend on your phone receiving Android 17, not just an update to the Google app. We explain the feature and how to check for it in our Motion Assist guide. […]