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Set up Apple Watch and use it as a remote

The KeptNote watch app comes with the iPhone app. When your iPhone is nearby, your wrist is a remote for it.

Where this stands

KeptNote for iPhone and Apple Watch is coming to the App Store. It is not there yet. This article describes how the watch app works.

Install the watch app

You need an Apple Watch paired with your iPhone, watchOS 26 or later, and KeptNote on the iPhone. The watch app is part of the iPhone app.

  1. Install KeptNote on your iPhone and open it once.

  2. Open the Watch app on the iPhone. If KeptNote is not on your watch, find it in the list of available apps and press Install.

  3. Open KeptNote on the watch. You see the Ready screen.

The watch asks for microphone access only the first time you record on the watch itself. A remote recording never needs it, because the iPhone does the recording.

The Ready screen

Ready shows the reef, one Record button, and a small label beside the clock that says where the recording will happen: iPhone or Watch. There is no title and no question.

Turn the Digital Crown to reach Settings. Under Record on, choose iPhone (When it is nearby) or This watch (Every time). The first choice is the starting one. If recordings from the watch are still on their way to the iPhone, Ready says so, for example 2 still sending.

If the screen says Unlock KeptNote on your iPhone to record., the iPhone app is not unlocked for recording, for example because its trial ended. Open KeptNote on the iPhone.

Record on the iPhone from your wrist

  1. With the iPhone nearby, press Record. The iPhone starts recording, and the watch shows the time.

  2. Press Mark to mark a moment. See Mark a moment.

  3. Turn the Digital Crown to the second page for Pause or Resume, and Stop.

  4. Press Stop. The watch asks Stop and write the note? with Stop and Keep recording. If you do not answer, the question goes away after five seconds. Asking once keeps a brush against your sleeve from ending a meeting.

  5. The watch shows Kept. and then On your iPhone. The iPhone writes the note.

The iPhone does the recording, the Live Activity and the note, exactly as when you press record on the phone. The watch sends commands and shows the state.

If the iPhone goes out of reach

An iPhone recording keeps going if you walk away from the phone. The watch says iPhone out of reach, still recording, keeps the clock running, and dims Pause and Stop. Mark still works. The watch sends the marks when the iPhone is back in reach.

If a command gets no answer, the watch says iPhone did not answer. Try again once the iPhone is near.

Was something unclear? Write to hello@keptnote.com.