www.makeuseof.com Google Keep Won't Sync on Android? Try These 10 Fixes

Google Keep offers a handy solution for organizing notes, lists, and images on your phone. And since the app works across various devices, it's a reliable platform for keeping all of your important information in one place.

But while Google Keep is a great tool, it does not always work as expected. You may be unable to access notes and images stored in it due to sync issues. Below, we outline several steps that you can use to fix synchronization errors with Google Keep across Android and your other devices.

1. Reboot All Devices

Rebooting your phone, tablet, and computer can fix all sorts of issues. A restart clears the local cache memory and resolves any temporary hiccups.

To restart most Android devices, simply press and hold the physical Power button on your phone. When the menu appears, tap Restart (which may appear under a Power menu).

After a reboot, open the Google Keep app and it should automatically sync images, lists, and notes. This is a common solution that usually fixes the issue within a few minutes. If it doesn't work, continue on to deeper troubleshooting.

2. Check Your Internet Connection

The Google Keep app can run into synchronization errors or get disconnected if the connection speed of your device is poor. You can use Speedtest.net to check the strength of your Wi-Fi and mobile data connection. If it's slow, try syncing Google Keep again when you're back on a stronger connection.

You should also check to make sure that network basics are in order. On all the devices you use Google Keep on, confirm the following:

1. Double-check your Wi-Fi connection to see if it's enabled. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi to do this.
2. If you want to use a mobile connection, check whether you're currently on a mobile network with data. On the same menu as above, tap Mobile network to see this.
3. Check your signal strength; you might be experiencing network errors due to mobile service outages or poor reception.

For best results, you should sync Google Keep on Wi-Fi.

3. Confirm You're Signed Into Your Google Account Everywhere

Since Google Keep syncs using your Google account, you must be logged into your Google account on all devices to access your notes. Make sure you're signed into the right Google account on your tablet, web browser, or any other device you're syncing Google Keep to.

Read more: Useful Google Keep Tips and Features for Better Lists

If you have more than one Google account, double-check to see if you're using the same one across devices. You may need to re-enter your password if you've changed it recently.

4. Review Sync Settings for Your Google Account

If you're signed into your Google account correctly but still not seeing your notes sync across devices, you might have disabled synchronization. Thus, you should review the sync settings for notes saved in your Google account:

1. On your Android device, open Settings.
2. Select Accounts and Backup. Depending on your device, this may be Accounts & Sync, Accounts, Data Synchronization, or similar.
3. Tap Manage Accounts (if needed).
4. Select the Google account that you wish to sync with Keep.
5. Select Account sync.
6. In the resulting list, make sure Keep Notes is enabled, as well as anything else you want to sync across your devices.
7. When you're done, tap the three-dot menu button and choose Sync now. After a few minutes, your Keep notes should be available everywhere.

Depending on your devices and version of Android, some of the above menus may look different or use different names.

5. Refresh Google Keep

If you haven't opened Google Keep in a while, the app might be dormant and not refreshing regularly. In this case, opening it and giving it a quick refresh will usually solve the problem. Once you've confirmed proper connectivity above, this is a quick step you can take in the future at any point.

Related: Google Keep: Control Your Notes With These Keyboard Shortcuts

To refresh Google Keep on Android, simply open the app, then pull down from the top of the screen in a downward scroll. After waiting a moment, you should find all your notes appearing across devices. Do the same on any other devices you use Keep with.

6. Update the Google Keep App

If you're still experiencing synchronization issues, you should next check to make sure that your copy of Google Keep is updated. There's a chance that you have a buggy version installed, so updating could resolve issues and get it working normally again.

To update Google Keep:

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Play Store app.
2. Tap your Profile icon at the top-right.
3. Select Manage apps and device.
4. On the Overview tab, if there is an update available for any app, it will show up under Updates available. Tap this.
5. Look for an update available for Google Keep and tap Update next to it. You can also hit Update All to install all available updates.

After updating, open Google Keep again and try to sync it as above.

7. Reinstall the App and Sign Back Into Your Google Account

Moving onto a more drastic step, you can next try to fix sync errors by uninstalling and re-installing Google Keep. Before you do so, it's a good idea to back up your Google Keep content to another note-taking app.

To uninstall, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all X apps. Find Google Keep, then hit Uninstall on its info page. Once it's gone, reinstall the app from the Play Store.

If this doesn't work, try signing out of your Google account completely then logging back in. You can do this by following these steps:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Accounts (this may be Accounts and Backup or similar, depending on your device).
3. Tap Manage Accounts, if needed.
4. Select the Google account you're using with Keep and choose Remove Account.
5. Tap Add account.
6. Enter your Google account credentials to sign back in again. You should be able to see your Google account listed on the page again.
7. Tap Sync Account, then enable sync for Keep notes.
8. Refresh the app and check for correct syncing.

8. Update Your Phone’s Android Version

While it's unlikely to fix Google Keep directly, installing any available Android updates can resolve issues with your device. It's worth a try if you're still having trouble.

To update Android:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on Software Update. For some devices, this may be under System > Advanced > System update.
3. Download and install an update, if available.
4. Restart your device, then try syncing again.

9. Remove Background Usage Limits

Android will put apps into a "sleep" state if you don't use them for a while. This can cause apps like Keep to stop syncing properly. To avoid this problem, try the following steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Battery and Device Care (just Battery on some devices).
3. Select Battery.
4. Disable Power Saving mode.
5. Select Background Usage limits.
6. Press Sleeping Apps to check if you have put the Google Keep app in "sleep" mode.
7. Select Google Keep and remove it from "sleep" mode.

The battery saver mode is usually recommended for optimum Android battery health and overall device performance. However, if that’s not working, try the steps above. Some devices allow battery settings to be updated to "no restrictions."

10. Check Date and Time Settings

To prevent sync errors, you need to have the correct date and time on your Android device. To review this:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select the General Management tab (System on some devices).
3. Select Date and Time.
4. Enable Automatic Date and Time or Use network-provided time.

Make Google Keep Work Smarter for You

Google Keep sync errors can happen, but they are usually easy to fix. It usually comes down to an issue with your network, account settings, or battery optimization. By following these steps, you can make sure Google Keep is always updated across devices to take full advantage of what it offers.

And if nothing works, there are always great alternatives to try.

If you are looking for a free alternative to Google Keep that is more suited to your note-taking needs, check out our list.

Cheryl is a Content creator and strategist with a focus in lifestyle, mobile applications, and digital media. She has reviewed tech products and applications for content, usability and accessibility. She works closely with individuals and businesses to design campaigns that connect brands with customers using the appropriate mix of words and visuals.

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