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Google’s Motion Assist feature is now moving beyond Pixel devices to more Android phones thanks to the latest Google Play services update.
The September 21 Play services v26.37 release notes list Motion Assist under the Safety & Emergency section. The update says the feature can “help mitigate motion sickness with subtle, visual shapes that move in sync with a vehicle’s motion.””
Google’s support documentation now also makes it clear that Motion Assist isn’t limited to Pixel phones. The feature requires an Android device running Android 17 or higher with Google Play services updated.
Motion Assist was announced as part of Google’s September Android Drop and began appearing on Pixel phones last month.
When switched on, the feature puts small visual bubbles along the edges of the screen. These bubbles use your phone’s motion sensors to move in real time with the vehicle. Google says they are designed to help your brain synchronize what your eyes see with what your body feels.
You can also customize how the bubbles look, including their opacity, color, shape, and whether they change over time. Google supports automatic activation when it detects that you’re in a moving vehicle, or you can manually switch the feature on from a Quick Settings tile.
Motion Assist isn’t the only change in Google Play services v26.37. The update also brings improvements and bug fixes for real-time metrics sent from Wear OS watches to phones. Google is also making the Driving Do Not Disturb feature easier to find.
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