How to Enable Adaptive vibration on a Pixel phone

Another option is to have your Pixel vibrate in response to its environment. Adaptive vibration, a feature devised by Google, can now adjust the intensity of vibrations in real time to fit your surroundings. This option keeps your phone's vibration responsive even when you are not touching it, available on Android 15 smartphones like the Pixel 7 and later models.

The process for activating adaptive vibration and its location

Adaptive vibration was one of the latest features included in Android 15; depending on the system stability level, it may enable or disable various types of vibration-from runtime to pixel. Aggregating data from the phone's microphones and sensors, this smart component modulates sensitivity to external conditions, prompting one to either lower or raise the warning level. The user is required to enable this modulated experience, as, by default, the vibration will be turned off.

If you are on an Android 15 Pixel device and want to enable adaptive vibration, here is how to do it:

Open the Settings app on your Pixel device.

Please head to Sound and vibration.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and find "Vibration & haptics".

Once you find Adaptive Vibration, tap on it.

Tap on the toggle to enable the adaptive vibration feature.

For now, Adaptive Vibration is available only on the Pixel 7 and onwards, so if you have one of those phones, you can experience all the haptic goodness that Android has to offer without having to lift a finger. It's available on the Pixel 7, Pixel Fold, and Pixel 8, but I tried it on the latter two running Android 15.

Improved notification experience with adaptive vibration

With the recent Android 15 update, Pixel phones have become more responsive; Google has introduced adaptive vibration that provides a whole new level of user experience. With the introduction of high-quality haptic feedback, the Pixel series expands the experience with changes in environment response. After you switch it on, your phone's sensors will find out that you are around it, and they send a vibe to your pocket regarding a call, message, or notification.

Note that this effect, as provided by Android 15, is not natively supported by older models like the Pixel 6a due to hardware limitations.

Whether your phone's in your pocket, backpack, or just sitting flat on a surface, it'll vibrate better if you've updated your Pixel 7 or newer to Android 15. Also, Google says this feature doesn't store or send any info about its use, making it both private and responsive.

How Android 14 and 15 are different in adaptive vibration

On Android 14, this might show up as Adaptive Alert Vibration, or a similar name. Additionally, this version lessens the intensity of the vibrations, but only while it is lying flat and not being used; otherwise, it doesn't do anything. The Pixel 8 version on Android 14 devices carries this version of the tech. Android 15 brings the full Adaptive Vibration version on all Pixel 8 models.

It should be mentioned that due to hardware limitations, older models like the Pixel 6a do not natively support Adaptive vibration as rendered by Android 15. To make the most of Android's haptic features, adaptive vibration is now only tuned for the Pixel 7 and later devices.

With this update, the sensor will learn by itself without your interference and make necessary adjustments with the help of smart, privacy-first sensors.

Adaptive Vibration is a responsive design made for Pixel users and Android 15, dynamically controlling notifications. This upgrade enables the sensor to learn on its own, without your involvement, and it will make necessary adjustments using clever, privacy-first sensors.

By using vibration, a phone can create a more personalized alert experience that is immersive yet sensitive, allowing you to more easily discern what may require your attention.