Google Keep and Maps back compatible with Wear OS 2

Some may recall that Google Keep on Wear OS has undergone a redesign in recent months aimed at implementing the Material You design, but only recently it was learned that support for older Wear OS 2 devices has been dropped, or at least so it seemed. In fact, in recent days, if you searched for Google Keep in the Play Store with a Wear OS 2 device, the application was not found, and the same fate it was also up to Google Maps. And with a web search the compatibility list confirmed it: both apps were broken on the Wear OS 2 device.

Checking the Pixel Watch shows that version 5.22.452.00.97 is the latest with “Android 11 and up” listed as a requirement, however it’s hardly time to break compatibility with the previous OS version for smart watches. Here is a screenshot as evidence of what is written.

The Material You revamp arrived in September, and while it’s no surprise that the redesign is only for Wear OS 3, the removal of support is always bad news. Wear OS 3 devices are definitely on the rise, but the active Wear OS 2 user base may not be that insignificant, even as more and more manufacturers are updating their devices.

At this point, the following proprietary apps are available on Wear OS 2: Google, Gboard, Fit, Wallet, Messages, Camera, Clock, Google Smartwatch Wear OS and YouTube Music. Of course, Wear OS 2 users who already had Keep installed shouldn’t be affected, but be aware that if you reset your device, the app will be lost.

In the meantime, a few weeks ago we told you that the Wear OS application has reached 50 million downloads and the milestone came about 8 years after its release. More details in the original news linked just above.

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Apparently it was one temporary unavailability: Both Google Keep and Maps have been re-entered in the list of apps compatible with Wear OS 2as well as the Mountain View company itself confirmed to Android Authority:

Google Keep and Maps for Wear OS 2 devices were temporarily removed from the Play Store last week. Google engineers have restored their availability in the Play Store.