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Google expands Motion Assist beyond Pixel phones with latest Play Services update
The update also includes improvements for metrics shared from Wear OS watches to phones, along with several other changes.
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Joe Maring / Android Authority
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TL;DR
- Google is rolling out Motion Assist to more Android phones through the latest Google Play services update.
- The feature uses moving visual bubbles around the edges of your screen that match a vehicle’s movement to help reduce motion sickness.
- You need a phone running Android 17 or newer and an up-to-date version of Google Play services to use it.
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.
What else is new in the latest Play Services update?
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.
- [Wear] With this update, you’ll get improvements and bug fixes for real-time metric data sent from your watch to your phone.
Safety & Emergency
- [Phone] With this update, Motion Assist can help mitigate motion sickness with subtle, visual shapes that move in sync with a vehicle’s motion.
- [Phone] With this update, you can more easily find the Driving Do Not Disturb feature.
- [Phone] Updates to system management services that improve Device Performance and Stability.
- [Auto, PC, Phone, TV, Wear] This update adds support for larger and more refined system emoji font downloads.
Google Play Store v53.3 (2026-09-21)
- [Auto, PC, Phone, TV, Wear] You can now make purchases in local currency in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Ethiopia.
- [Wear] This update includes changes to the search results page.
- [Phone] You can add a pre-registered paid title to your wishlist once it’s published.
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