Check out these updates to iOS 26s motion sickness feature
Apple’s recent update to iOS 26 has introduced a range of exciting new features and enhancements, but one of the standout yet understated additions is the refined Vehicle Motion Cues. Originally launched as part of Apple’s accessibility suite last year, this feature aims to alleviate the motion sickness that many users experience while using their devices in moving vehicles, such as cars, buses, or trains. By utilizing on-device sensors, Vehicle Motion Cues creates an animated border of dots around the edge of the screen that responds to the vehicle’s movements. This innovative approach helps to reduce sensory conflict, which is often the cause of motion sickness, allowing users to engage with their devices more comfortably while on the go.
With the iOS 26 update, Apple has taken Vehicle Motion Cues to the next level by offering users enhanced customization options. Now, users can choose between two animation styles: a regular pattern that offers consistent, repeating animations, or a “dynamic” option that provides a more free-flowing and visually stimulating experience. Additionally, the update allows for further personalization, enabling users to adjust the color and size of the on-screen dots to better suit their vision needs and preferences. This means that whether you’re a commuter catching up on emails or a passenger scrolling through social media, you can tailor the experience to fit your unique requirements. The feature can also be easily added to the device’s control center and automatically detects when the user is in motion, making it incredibly convenient to activate as soon as you hop into a vehicle.
Overall, the enhancements to Vehicle Motion Cues in iOS 26 exemplify Apple’s commitment to accessibility and user-centered design. By addressing a common issue faced by many device users, Apple not only improves the overall user experience but also showcases the potential of technology to enhance daily life. As we look forward to future updates, such as iOS 27, it will be interesting to see how Apple continues to innovate and expand its accessibility features, ensuring that all users can enjoy their devices to the fullest.
Apple
‘s recent iOS 26 overhaul included a plethora of major additions and complete system makeovers, but there were even more tweaks, settings, and customization settings that flew under the radar for many users.
One of those was a subtle update to a feature known as
Vehicle Motion Cues
, launched last year as part of a new suite of accessibility tools, including eye-tracking powered by machine learning, music haptics, and vocal shortcuts controlled using not just whole words, but sounds and utterances as well.
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Apple iOS 27: Everything we know so far
Using on-device sensors, Vehicle Motion Cues battle the kind of motion sickness commonly experienced by people staring at their screens while in cars, buses, and trains. When turned on, users will see an animated border of dots along the edge of your iPhone, iPad, or (in an update released earlier this year) MacBook screen. The dots move according to the movement of the vehicle, lessening the sensory conflict that leads to motion sickness.
On iOS 26, those features have
gotten even better
. Now, users can choose between a regular or “dynamic” pattern for those moving dots. The former displays consistent, repeating animations, while “dynamic” turns the dots into a more free-form, sensory-specific spectacle. Users can also now adjust the color and size of the on-screen dots, making it more adaptable to the user’s vision needs and the way they use their device while on the move.
Vehicle Motion Cues can be added to the device’s control center and automatically sense when in motion, so it’s easy to activate as soon as you get in the car.
And it’s super simple to turn on.
