# Android, Animations and Reduced Motion

DevFeed: [Android, Animations and Reduced Motion](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/android-animations-and-reduced-motion-38453.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://eevis.codes/blog/2022-12-12/android-animations-and-reduced-motion/>)

Author: Eevis Panula

Published: 2023-09-04T03:33:55.156000Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Eevis Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/eevis-blog.md>)

Topics: [Accessibility](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/accessibility.md>), [Android](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/android.md>), [App](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/app.md>), [Code](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/code.md>)

Tags: [accessibility](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/accessibility.md>), [android](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/android.md>), [app](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/app.md>), [code](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code.md>), [developers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developers.md>), [how-to](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/how-to.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial explains how Android animations interact with the operating system's reduced-motion setting, including when developers need to check the setting and when animations are disabled by default. It argues that respecting reduced motion is important for accessibility because unexpected motion can cause distraction, sickness, or migraines for some users.

## Source excerpt

I don't like animations, and I'm not alone. The Verge published an article by s. e. smith: My war on animation as part of their Accessibility week, and I loved it. I was able to relate to that article on so many levels. For me, animation and motion on a website or app can be a problem for two reasons: They might make me physically sick and distract me. Especially when I'm tired, distraction is a huge problem. So, now you might wonder, how can I survive the internet today? Animations are everywhere. There's an app for that! Or, rather, a setting. I can turn motion off (or reduce it) with operating system settings on my phone and computer. When this setting is on, operating system level animations are turned off. How about websites and apps, then? Do they respect that setting? Yes and no. It entirely depends on the developers implementing the reduced motion-media query on the web. On the other hand, in apps, it depends on how the animations are built. In this blog post, I'm talking about Android animations and how to respect that setting. I also discuss when you need to implement the check and when the animations are turned off by default. But first, let's talk a bit about why you should care about respecting that setting. Why is this Important? It's the right thing to do. I mean, users have expectations on how apps work, and one of these expectations is that operating system-level settings are respected. Sometimes not respecting that setting creates inconveniences, but sometimes it's about real, life-affecting symptoms that might get triggered. Nobody enjoys having a migraine or feeling sick after encountering something unexpected in the app - something that could have been prevented with a few lines of code. I know there's not much knowledge about the need for reduced motion. I've worked with multiple devs, designers, and product people who've had no idea about that. And animations are here to stay - they drive engagement (or that's what everyone keeps telling me),