Using your phone while traveling in a car has become part of daily life, whether to reply to messages, browse the internet, or keep up with work, but many people suffer from dizziness and nausea after just a few minutes of looking at the phone screen, a condition known as “motion sickness.”

This problem occurs when the eye, brain, and inner ear receive conflicting signals; the eye focuses on a stationary screen, while the balance organ in the ear senses the car's movement, causing feelings of nausea, dizziness, and headache.

When focusing on the phone screen, the brain's ability to perceive the road's motion decreases, increasing the conflict between what the eye sees and what the body feels, especially when driving on winding or congested roads.

Effective Tips to Reduce Motion Sickness When Using the Phone

To reduce motion sickness when using your phone in the car, it is recommended to look at the road or horizon from time to time instead of continuously focusing on the screen, limit phone usage time, and take frequent breaks. Sitting in the front seat, if you are not driving, also helps alleviate the sensation of movement compared to the back seats.

Some simple habits also help reduce symptoms, such as maintaining good ventilation inside the car, avoiding phone use on winding roads, drinking enough water to prevent dehydration, and eating a light meal before traveling instead of heavy meals that may increase nausea.

Motion Sickness Reduction Settings in iPhone

iPhones include a special feature that displays moving dots on the edges of the screen that move in sync with the car's motion, helping the brain adapt to movement and reducing nausea for some users. It can be activated by going to Settings, then Accessibility, then Motion, and turning on "Vehicle Motion Cues," with the option to have it turn on automatically when the phone detects the user is in a moving vehicle.

Motion Sickness Reduction Apps in Android

As of now, there is no similar built-in feature in most Android phones like the one mentioned in iPhones, but there are apps that perform the same function by displaying moving indicators on the screen. We recommend the free app KineStop, which uses the phone's sensors to simulate motion and reduce dizziness while reading or watching video. You can also try the Motion Cues app, which shows moving dots that match the car's movement and works with various apps.

Reports indicate that Google is working on integrating a similar feature into the Android system in the future, making it available system-wide without the need for third-party apps.

It is worth noting that Samsung recently launched the Hearapy app, which plays a low-frequency tone through earphones to stimulate the balance organ in the inner ear. The company says it may help some users reduce motion sickness symptoms before or during travel, though its effectiveness varies from person to person.

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June 29, 2026 | Last updated: June 30, 2026

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