If you start feeling queasy, dizzy or clammy after a few minutes of looking at your phone in the car, you're not imagining it. Reading, scrolling or watching something on a screen while travelling can trigger motion sickness, even if you normally have no problem with car journeys.
But there is a little-known iPhone setting designed specifically to help.
Called Vehicle Motion Cues, it adds small, animated dots around the edges of your screen. They move according to the movement of the vehicle, giving your eyes a visual indication of what your body is experiencing.
And the feature is particularly timely because Google has introduced its own version for Android, called Motion Assist, as part of its September 2026 Android Drop.
So if you've ever had to put your phone away halfway through a journey because you suddenly felt sick, here's what the setting does and how to switch it on.
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Why does looking at your phone make you feel sick?
Motion sickness can happen when your eyes and inner ear send your brain conflicting information.
When you're sitting in a moving car, your inner ear detects acceleration, braking, turning and bumps in the road. But if you're looking at your phone, your eyes are focused on a screen that may appear relatively still compared with the movement your body is sensing.
Your brain is therefore receiving two different messages. Your body knows you're moving, while your eyes are focused on something that isn't.
That mismatch can contribute to nausea, dizziness, sweating and that horrible feeling that you need to put your phone away immediately.
Looking out of the window gives your eyes a visual reference that matches the movement of the car. Vehicle Motion Cues aim to provide some of that information without making you stop using your phone.
What are the moving dots doing?
The dots appear around the edges of your iPhone screen and move in response to the vehicle's movement.
When the car turns, accelerates, brakes or changes direction, the dots move accordingly. They don't cover the content you're looking at, but provide a visual reference that matches the motion your body is experiencing.
But why should that help with motion sickness?
The dots are designed to give your eyes an extra cue while you keep looking at the screen. Instead of seeing only still text or video, your eyes also pick up small movements that reflect what the car is doing.
So, if the car turns, accelerates or brakes, the dots shift too. The idea is to narrow the gap between what your eyes see and what your inner ear senses, which may make it easier for your brain to process the movement.
Apple says the feature can help reduce motion sickness when you're using your iPhone as a passenger in a car or other road vehicle, and it works best when you're sitting facing forwards.
How to turn it on
The setting is tucked away in Accessibility, which is probably why many people have never come across it.
Go to:
Settings → Accessibility → Motion → Vehicle Motion Cues
You'll then be able to switch it on or choose Automatic.
Automatic is useful if you regularly travel as a passenger because the iPhone can detect when you're in a moving road vehicle and display the cues. They disappear when the movement stops.
You can also add Vehicle Motion Cues to Control Centre, allowing you to switch it on and off quickly when you need it.
You can customise the dots
If you find them distracting, there are several options under:
Settings → Accessibility → Motion → Vehicle Motion Cues → Customise Appearance
You can adjust the appearance of the cues, including their colour, size and visibility.
There are also two pattern options. Regular provides a more stable and predictable movement, while Dynamic creates a more varied visual effect.
The aim is for the cues to provide a useful visual reference without getting in the way of whatever you're doing on your phone.
Android users can get involved too
Apple isn't the only one offering this now. Google has introduced Motion Assist as part of its September 2026 Android Drop, giving Android users a similar way to reduce motion sickness when using their phone in a moving vehicle.
Like Apple's feature, Motion Assist places small bubbles around the edge of the screen. They move in response to the vehicle, using the phone's motion sensors to react to things such as turning, speeding up and braking.
There is one important catch: Motion Assist is for phones running Android 17, and availability may depend on your device and rollout timing. Early reports suggest Pixel phones are among the first to see it, so older or unsupported Android phones won't necessarily have it.
If your phone has the required software and the rollout has reached your device, search for Motion Assist in the Settings app. On supported phones, it may also appear through:
Settings → Google → All services → Personal & device safety → Motion Assist
Once it's available, you can choose to have it switch on automatically when your phone detects that you're travelling in a moving vehicle, or add a Motion Assist shortcut to Quick Settings so you can turn it on yourself.
The bubbles can also be customised, so you can make them less distracting while you're reading or watching something.
Will it definitely stop you feeling sick?
Unfortunately, no. Both features are designed to help reduce motion sickness rather than guarantee that you can use your phone without feeling unwell.
They won't work for everyone, either. If the moving dots or bubbles make you feel worse, switch the feature off. If you're already feeling very sick, putting your phone down and looking out of the window may still be the simplest solution.
Remember, these settings are intended for passengers, not drivers. They should never be used as a reason to look at your phone while driving.
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