Why Google Removed Android Wear From The Google Store

Google has pulled all its Android Wear smartwatches from its online store and may have caused a stir regarding the future of the wearable devices. However, it has now been confirmed that Google did this so that its store will now only be for products made by the company itself.

Right after Google’s hardware event on Wednesday, 9To5Google noticed a huge change in the Google Store. Android Wear devices were no longer available to purchase from the online store. It used to be a place where customers could purchase LG’s smartwatches, the LG Watch Sport and the LG Watch Style.

The Android Wear page was still active, but when users try to look up LG’s smartwatches, search results would deliver nothing. Android Police also noticed that the LG Watch Sport and Style were listed as “no longer available” on the Google Store.

At first, it was speculated that the Google Store was simply given a redesign to accommodate the company’s newly announced devices. Google announced a pair of Pixel 2 smartphones, the new Pixelbook, Google Home Mini and the second generation Daydream View VR headset. It was then assumed that perhaps the pages for the Android Wear devices were simply neglected from being updated.

The removal of Android Wear products on the Google Store caused a bit of confusion in the community. Some saw it as Google’s way of quietly dropping support for the wearable devices, so that it could focus more on its own AI-centric hardware efforts. However, that’s not really the case.

Hoi Lam, a Googler who’s part of the Android Wear team, confirmed on his Twitter page that the smartwatches were removed because Google only wants to stock Google-made hardware on its online store.

“Our team knew the plan for a year now and invested in custom store fronts with online retailers,” Lam said on Twitter while also citing Amazon as one its official online retailers. “Together with all our partners (online/offline), we will reach more people all over the world than ever before. When I visited partner stores in London and Shanghai, they couldn’t be more excited about our line up this fall!”

Google’s strategy right now is to sell its own products on its online stores. The LG Watch may be Google’s flagship Android Wear device right now, but Google didn’t actually make it. Separating it from Google Store could help Google cement itself as a real hardware manufacturer, but it could affect Android Wear sales. However, it’s still too early to tell how this will impact the LG Watch and Android Wear as whole.

Even though the Google Store is now only selling Google-made products, other third-party accessory makers are now part of the store. Google recently launched its new “Made for Google” program that allowed third-party manufacturers to create officially licensed accessories for Google’s devices. Google’s partners include Anker, Belkin, Incipio, DBrand, Under Armour, Speck, Tech21, Urbanears and Libratone.

These manufacturers will be able to create accessories like cases and headphones for the Pixel 2 and have them available to purchase from the Google Store. The Verge has described this new program as being similar to how Apple recommends accessories for its own products.