Using a phone while travelling can be uncomfortable for people who experience motion sickness. Reading messages, browsing social media, or watching content inside a moving car, bus, or train can create a mismatch between what the eyes see and what the body feels.
Motion Assist is an Android feature designed to help reduce this discomfort. Available on Galaxy phones that meet the required software specifications, the feature displays moving shapes around the edges of the screen. These visual cues track the device’s physical movement, helping the brain better connect visual information with the motion sensed by the body.
Here is everything you need to know about Android Motion Assist, including how to turn it on, customise its appearance, and what to expect from the feature.
How Does Motion Assist Work?
Motion sickness can occur when the eyes and inner ear send different signals to the brain. For example, when you look at a phone screen, your eyes may perceive a stable image while your body senses that the vehicle is moving.
Motion Assist attempts to reduce this conflict by placing animated geometric shapes along the edges of the display. The shapes respond to the phone’s movement and provide visual information that reflects the motion around you.
The goal is not to stop motion sickness completely, but to potentially make using a phone while travelling more comfortable.
How to Activate Motion Assist Android Phone
Motion Assist does not have a dedicated switch directly on the main Settings screen. Instead, you can enable it via the phone’s Settings search or by adding a shortcut to the Quick Panel.
Follow these steps:
- Open Settings on your Galaxy phone.
- Tap the search bar at the top.
- Search for Motion Assist.
- Open the Motion Assist settings.
- Choose how you want the feature to start.
There are two activation options available:
Automatic Activation
Turn on Start in a moving vehicle to allow the phone to detect when you are traveling in a moving vehicle. Motion Assist can then start automatically and display the visual shapes around the edges of the screen.
Manual Activation
Select Add tile to Quick Settings to place a Motion Assist shortcut in the Quick Panel. You can then turn the feature on or off manually whenever needed.
Both options can be enabled simultaneously. This allows Motion Assist to start automatically during a trip while still giving you quick access to the manual control.
Can You Customize Motion Assist?
Yes. Motion Assist includes several customization options that let you change how the visual cues appear on the screen.
Open the Motion Assist settings and tap Customize to preview the available changes.
You can adjust the following:
| Setting | Available options |
|---|---|
| Shapes | Circle, square, pentagon, and diamond |
| Opacity | Adjust the visibility of the shapes |
| Colors | Choose preset colors or use the system color palette |
| Randomization | Automatically changes the shape and color at regular intervals |
The customization controls make it possible to reduce the visual impact of the shapes if you find them distracting while still keeping the feature active.
Who Can Use Motion Assist?
Motion Assist is an Android feature rather than a Galaxy-exclusive technology. It is distributed via Google Play Services, though Galaxy users must meet specific software requirements for the feature to be available.
According to the provided requirements, compatible Galaxy phones need:
- Android 17
- One UI 9.0
- An updated version of Google Play Services
If Motion Assist does not appear after updating the phone, check whether Google Play Services has an available update.
You can check for updates by going to:
Settings > Apps > Google Play Services > App details in the store
If an update is available, install it and check the Motion Assist settings again.
Does Motion Assist Completely Prevent Motion Sickness?
No. Motion Assist is intended to help reduce motion sickness, not guarantee that the symptoms will disappear.
Google describes the feature as a way to potentially reduce feelings of motion sickness by providing visual movement cues. Its effectiveness can vary from person to person, particularly because sensitivity to motion sickness differs between individuals.
For people who feel uncomfortable while using their phones in moving vehicles, Motion Assist provides another option to try. The animated shapes may help reduce the disconnect between the movement detected by the body and the relatively stationary content displayed on the phone.
Motion Assist takes a simple approach to a common problem faced by people who use their phones while traveling. By adding movement-based visual cues around the edges of the display, the feature aims to reduce the mismatch between what the eyes see and what the body experiences.
You can let Motion Assist activate automatically when the phone detects a moving vehicle or control it manually through the Quick Panel. The ability to change shapes, opacity, and colors also gives users some control over how the feature looks.
