To turn on Motion Assist on a Pixel, open Settings → profile → All services → Personal & device safety → Motion Assist. Google says the feature requires Android 17 or later and updated Google Play Services. You can set it to start automatically in a moving vehicle or switch it on manually from Quick Settings.
What Motion Assist does on screen
Motion Assist places small shapes along the edges of the screen. They move in response to the phone’s motion sensors, providing passengers with visual cues intended to correspond more closely to the movement they feel.
What your phone needs
Google lists two requirements: Android 17 or later and updated Google Play Services. A device running Android 17 may still lack the Motion Assist setting, since the rollout can vary by device.
Turn on Motion Assist on a Pixel
The Pixel setup path is:
- Open Settings to begin in the phone’s settings.
- Tap your profile to reach the services menu.
- Select All services to open the full list.
- Tap Personal & device safety to find the feature.
- Select Motion Assist to open its controls.
Menus can differ on phones from other brands.
Choose automatic or manual activation
In Motion Assist settings, turn on Start automatically in a moving vehicle if you want the feature to start on its own. Vehicle detection may not reliably recognize every moving vehicle, so add Motion Assist to Quick Settings if you want a manual way to switch it on or off.
Customize the visual cues
Motion Assist lets you adjust the shapes’ colors, opacity and form. Its Randomization option changes colors and shapes while the feature runs. When enabled, the shapes respond to the phone’s motion sensors along the screen edges.
An aid for passengers, not a guarantee
Motion Assist is intended for passengers, not drivers. Its moving visual cues are designed as an aid for motion sickness, not a guaranteed way to prevent it.
