How to reduce motion and stop auto-play on an iPad

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 4 October 2026

Device

iPad

Shown on

iPadOS 26.5 (iPad A16)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Accessibility › Motion › Reduce Motion

Real screenshots

5 of 5 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Moving wallpaper, zooming apps and the morphing effects of the new design can be tiring or cause dizziness. One page in Accessibility controls all of it. Apple adds a warning: these settings should not be relied upon in high-risk situations or to treat a medical condition.

The screenshots show iPadOS 26.5 on an iPad (A16), held upright. In landscape the same rows sit in the same order.

Step by step

1. 

   Open Settings

   Tap the grey gear icon on the Home Screen. In the picture it is in the second row; it also sits in the Dock at the bottom.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Accessibility, then Motion

   Accessibility is the second entry in the list on the left. Motion is in the Vision group on the right, below Display & Text Size.

   Done

3. 

   Switch on Reduce Motion

   The text below says what it does: it reduces the motion of the user interface, including the parallax effect of icons.

   Done

4. 

   Decide about the three Auto-Play switches

   Auto-Play Animated Images: animated pictures such as GIFs in Messages and Safari play by themselves.

   Auto-Play Video Previews: apps such as the App Store play video previews by themselves.

   Auto-Play Message Effects: full-screen effects in Messages play by themselves. With it off you can still play an effect by tapping Replay below the message.

   Done

5. 

   Stop the blinking cursor

   Prefer Non-Blinking Cursor stops the blinking of the bar that marks where you type.

   Done

Good to know

On iPad models with a ProMotion display the page has one more switch, Limit Frame Rate, which limits the display to 60 frames per second. The iPad (A16) in the pictures does not show it.

The same on a phone: how to turn on Reduce Motion on an iPhone.

In short: Settings, Accessibility, Motion, Reduce Motion.