Google removed its Keep note‑taking app from the Apple Watch on June 30, 2025. The change ends a five‑year run that began when Keep first arrived on watchOS in 2019. Apple Watch users can no longer open or sync Google Keep on their wrists.
Why Google dropped Keep from watchOS
Google keeps watchOS apps that generate revenue or deepen engagement. Maps and YouTube Music still appear on the Apple Watch because they support advertising and subscriptions. Google Keep offered no clear path to profit. The effort required to maintain a standalone watchOS app outweighed the benefits for Google.
Impact on Apple Watch users
Anyone who tapped notes into Keep on the wrist must now switch to another solution. Apple’s own Notes app will gain a dedicated watchOS companion with the fall 2025 release of watchOS 26. Third‑party options such as Microsoft OneNote, Bear, and Drafts also sync quickly to the Apple Watch.
Google’s pattern of shutting down apps
Google’s history of retiring apps is long and well-documented. Services such as Google Podcasts, Jamboard, and Stadia have all closed in recent years. The independent tracker “Killed by Google” lists more than 200 discontinued products. Each shutdown can leave devoted users scrambling for replacements.
How to replace Keep on Apple Watch
Apple Watch owners should check the App Store on their iPhone for any watchOS note app. In Notes on iOS, parents and students can create iCloud folders to sync on the watch. OneNote can sync to Apple Watch via its mobile companion. For writers and sketchers, Bear and Drafts both offer Watch shortcuts to capture text or voice.
What this means for cross‑platform users
Users who relied on Google’s full ecosystem must adapt. Notes captured on the iPhone must now be moved into a new service to appear on the wrist. Google’s removal of Keep underscores the risk of trusting a single provider for critical tools. Google has forced iWatch users to find their own way to access their Google Keep items without a direct connection. Luckily, there are some good alternatives in the watchOS App Store. Users will have to be agile in their capacity to select the apps that satisfy them as platforms and services evolve.
