diff --git a/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc b/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc
index 35f7bbeadfa2..a9ba19701abb 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc
+++ b/CHANGELOG.next.asciidoc
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ https://github.com/elastic/beats/compare/v7.0.0-alpha2...master[Check the HEAD d
 - Remove all alias fields pointing to ECS fields from modules. This affects the Suricata and Traefik modules. {issue}10535[10535] {pull}26627[26627]
 
 *Heartbeat*
+- Remove long deprecated `watch_poll` functionality. {pull}27166[27166]
 
 *Journalbeat*
 
diff --git a/heartbeat/_meta/config/beat.reference.yml.tmpl b/heartbeat/_meta/config/beat.reference.yml.tmpl
index b097bd94b653..d4ad845228aa 100644
--- a/heartbeat/_meta/config/beat.reference.yml.tmpl
+++ b/heartbeat/_meta/config/beat.reference.yml.tmpl
@@ -71,26 +71,6 @@ heartbeat.monitors:
   # sub-dictionary. Default is false.
   #fields_under_root: false
 
-  # NOTE: THIS FEATURE IS DEPRECATED AND WILL BE REMOVED IN A FUTURE RELEASE
-  # Configure file json file to be watched for changes to the monitor:
-  #watch.poll_file:
-    # Path to check for updates.
-    #path:
-
-    # Interval between file file changed checks.
-    #interval: 5s
-
-  # The Ingest Node pipeline ID associated with this input. If this is set, it
-  # overwrites the pipeline option from the Elasticsearch output.
-  #pipeline:
-
-  # The index name associated with this input. If this is set, it
-  # overwrites the index option from the Elasticsearch output.
-  #index:
-
-  # Set to true to publish fields with null values in events.
-  #keep_null: false
-
 # Define a directory to load monitor definitions from. Definitions take the form
 # of individual yaml files.
 # heartbeat.config.monitors:
@@ -168,15 +148,6 @@ heartbeat.monitors:
     # Required TLS protocols
     #supported_protocols: ["TLSv1.0", "TLSv1.1", "TLSv1.2"]
 
-  # NOTE: THIS FEATURE IS DEPRECATED AND WILL BE REMOVED IN A FUTURE RELEASE
-  # Configure file json file to be watched for changes to the monitor:
-  #watch.poll_file:
-    # Path to check for updates.
-    #path:
-
-    # Interval between file file changed checks.
-    #interval: 5s
-
   # The Ingest Node pipeline ID associated with this input. If this is set, it
   # overwrites the pipeline option from the Elasticsearch output.
   #pipeline:
@@ -210,14 +181,6 @@ heartbeat.monitors:
   ipv6: true
   mode: any
 
-  # Configure file json file to be watched for changes to the monitor:
-  #watch.poll_file:
-    # Path to check for updates.
-    #path:
-
-    # Interval between file file changed checks.
-    #interval: 5s
-
   # Optional HTTP proxy url.
   #proxy_url: ''
 
@@ -267,16 +230,6 @@ heartbeat.monitors:
     #    equals:
     #      myField: expectedValue
 
-
-  # NOTE: THIS FEATURE IS DEPRECATED AND WILL BE REMOVED IN A FUTURE RELEASE
-  # Configure file json file to be watched for changes to the monitor:
-  #watch.poll_file:
-    # Path to check for updates.
-    #path:
-
-    # Interval between file file changed checks.
-    #interval: 5s
-
   # The Ingest Node pipeline ID associated with this input. If this is set, it
   # overwrites the pipeline option from the Elasticsearch output.
   #pipeline:
diff --git a/heartbeat/beater/heartbeat.go b/heartbeat/beater/heartbeat.go
index 85bfb79fe207..080ce347f234 100644
--- a/heartbeat/beater/heartbeat.go
+++ b/heartbeat/beater/heartbeat.go
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func New(b *beat.Beat, rawConfig *common.Config) (beat.Beater, error) {
 		config:    parsedConfig,
 		scheduler: scheduler,
 		// dynamicFactory is the factory used for dynamic configs, e.g. autodiscover / reload
-		dynamicFactory: monitors.NewFactory(b.Info, scheduler, false),
+		dynamicFactory: monitors.NewFactory(b.Info, scheduler),
 	}
 	return bt, nil
 }
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func (bt *Heartbeat) Run(b *beat.Beat) error {
 
 // RunStaticMonitors runs the `heartbeat.monitors` portion of the yaml config if present.
 func (bt *Heartbeat) RunStaticMonitors(b *beat.Beat) (stop func(), err error) {
-	factory := monitors.NewFactory(b.Info, bt.scheduler, true)
+	factory := monitors.NewFactory(b.Info, bt.scheduler)
 
 	var runners []cfgfile.Runner
 	for _, cfg := range bt.config.Monitors {
diff --git a/heartbeat/heartbeat.reference.yml b/heartbeat/heartbeat.reference.yml
index c2c74fca2f16..14597f2a27c5 100644
--- a/heartbeat/heartbeat.reference.yml
+++ b/heartbeat/heartbeat.reference.yml
@@ -71,26 +71,6 @@ heartbeat.monitors:
   # sub-dictionary. Default is false.
   #fields_under_root: false
 
-  # NOTE: THIS FEATURE IS DEPRECATED AND WILL BE REMOVED IN A FUTURE RELEASE
-  # Configure file json file to be watched for changes to the monitor:
-  #watch.poll_file:
-    # Path to check for updates.
-    #path:
-
-    # Interval between file file changed checks.
-    #interval: 5s
-
-  # The Ingest Node pipeline ID associated with this input. If this is set, it
-  # overwrites the pipeline option from the Elasticsearch output.
-  #pipeline:
-
-  # The index name associated with this input. If this is set, it
-  # overwrites the index option from the Elasticsearch output.
-  #index:
-
-  # Set to true to publish fields with null values in events.
-  #keep_null: false
-
 # Define a directory to load monitor definitions from. Definitions take the form
 # of individual yaml files.
 # heartbeat.config.monitors:
@@ -168,15 +148,6 @@ heartbeat.monitors:
     # Required TLS protocols
     #supported_protocols: ["TLSv1.0", "TLSv1.1", "TLSv1.2"]
 
-  # NOTE: THIS FEATURE IS DEPRECATED AND WILL BE REMOVED IN A FUTURE RELEASE
-  # Configure file json file to be watched for changes to the monitor:
-  #watch.poll_file:
-    # Path to check for updates.
-    #path:
-
-    # Interval between file file changed checks.
-    #interval: 5s
-
   # The Ingest Node pipeline ID associated with this input. If this is set, it
   # overwrites the pipeline option from the Elasticsearch output.
   #pipeline:
@@ -210,14 +181,6 @@ heartbeat.monitors:
   ipv6: true
   mode: any
 
-  # Configure file json file to be watched for changes to the monitor:
-  #watch.poll_file:
-    # Path to check for updates.
-    #path:
-
-    # Interval between file file changed checks.
-    #interval: 5s
-
   # Optional HTTP proxy url.
   #proxy_url: ''
 
@@ -267,16 +230,6 @@ heartbeat.monitors:
     #    equals:
     #      myField: expectedValue
 
-
-  # NOTE: THIS FEATURE IS DEPRECATED AND WILL BE REMOVED IN A FUTURE RELEASE
-  # Configure file json file to be watched for changes to the monitor:
-  #watch.poll_file:
-    # Path to check for updates.
-    #path:
-
-    # Interval between file file changed checks.
-    #interval: 5s
-
   # The Ingest Node pipeline ID associated with this input. If this is set, it
   # overwrites the pipeline option from the Elasticsearch output.
   #pipeline:
diff --git a/heartbeat/monitors/factory.go b/heartbeat/monitors/factory.go
index 78d5aa648095..5e82969fd18d 100644
--- a/heartbeat/monitors/factory.go
+++ b/heartbeat/monitors/factory.go
@@ -34,9 +34,8 @@ import (
 // RunnerFactory that can be used to create cfg.Runner cast versions of Monitor
 // suitable for config reloading.
 type RunnerFactory struct {
-	info         beat.Info
-	sched        *scheduler.Scheduler
-	allowWatches bool
+	info  beat.Info
+	sched *scheduler.Scheduler
 }
 
 type publishSettings struct {
@@ -59,8 +58,8 @@ type publishSettings struct {
 }
 
 // NewFactory takes a scheduler and creates a RunnerFactory that can create cfgfile.Runner(Monitor) objects.
-func NewFactory(info beat.Info, sched *scheduler.Scheduler, allowWatches bool) *RunnerFactory {
-	return &RunnerFactory{info, sched, allowWatches}
+func NewFactory(info beat.Info, sched *scheduler.Scheduler) *RunnerFactory {
+	return &RunnerFactory{info, sched}
 }
 
 // Create makes a new Runner for a new monitor with the given Config.
@@ -76,13 +75,13 @@ func (f *RunnerFactory) Create(p beat.Pipeline, c *common.Config) (cfgfile.Runne
 	}
 
 	p = pipetool.WithClientConfigEdit(p, configEditor)
-	monitor, err := newMonitor(c, plugin.GlobalPluginsReg, p, f.sched, f.allowWatches)
+	monitor, err := newMonitor(c, plugin.GlobalPluginsReg, p, f.sched)
 	return monitor, err
 }
 
 // CheckConfig checks to see if the given monitor config is valid.
 func (f *RunnerFactory) CheckConfig(config *common.Config) error {
-	return checkMonitorConfig(config, plugin.GlobalPluginsReg, f.allowWatches)
+	return checkMonitorConfig(config, plugin.GlobalPluginsReg)
 }
 
 func newCommonPublishConfigs(info beat.Info, cfg *common.Config) (pipetool.ConfigEditor, error) {
diff --git a/heartbeat/monitors/monitor.go b/heartbeat/monitors/monitor.go
index 4003cacdf422..6f976235ee35 100644
--- a/heartbeat/monitors/monitor.go
+++ b/heartbeat/monitors/monitor.go
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@
 package monitors
 
 import (
-	"bytes"
-	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"sync"
 
@@ -31,7 +29,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/elastic/beats/v7/heartbeat/monitors/stdfields"
 	"github.com/elastic/beats/v7/heartbeat/monitors/wrappers"
 	"github.com/elastic/beats/v7/heartbeat/scheduler"
-	"github.com/elastic/beats/v7/heartbeat/watcher"
 	"github.com/elastic/beats/v7/libbeat/beat"
 	"github.com/elastic/beats/v7/libbeat/common"
 	"github.com/elastic/beats/v7/libbeat/logp"
@@ -55,10 +52,6 @@ type Monitor struct {
 	internalsMtx sync.Mutex
 	close        func() error
 
-	// Watch related fields
-	watchPollTasks []*configuredJob
-	watch          watcher.Watch
-
 	pipelineConnector beat.PipelineConnector
 
 	// stats is the countersRecorder used to record lifecycle events
@@ -72,17 +65,14 @@ func (m *Monitor) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("Monitor<pluginName: %s, enabled: %t>", m.stdFields.Name, m.enabled)
 }
 
-func checkMonitorConfig(config *common.Config, registrar *plugin.PluginsReg, allowWatches bool) error {
-	m, err := newMonitor(config, registrar, nil, nil, allowWatches)
+func checkMonitorConfig(config *common.Config, registrar *plugin.PluginsReg) error {
+	m, err := newMonitor(config, registrar, nil, nil)
 	if m != nil {
 		m.Stop() // Stop the monitor to free up the ID from uniqueness checks
 	}
 	return err
 }
 
-// ErrWatchesDisabled is returned when the user attempts to declare a watch poll file in a
-var ErrWatchesDisabled = errors.New("watch poll files are only allowed in heartbeat.yml, not dynamic configs")
-
 // uniqueMonitorIDs is used to keep track of explicitly configured monitor IDs and ensure no duplication within a
 // given heartbeat instance.
 var uniqueMonitorIDs sync.Map
@@ -100,9 +90,8 @@ func newMonitor(
 	registrar *plugin.PluginsReg,
 	pipelineConnector beat.PipelineConnector,
 	scheduler *scheduler.Scheduler,
-	allowWatches bool,
 ) (*Monitor, error) {
-	m, err := newMonitorUnsafe(config, registrar, pipelineConnector, scheduler, allowWatches)
+	m, err := newMonitorUnsafe(config, registrar, pipelineConnector, scheduler)
 	if m != nil && err != nil {
 		m.Stop()
 	}
@@ -116,7 +105,6 @@ func newMonitorUnsafe(
 	registrar *plugin.PluginsReg,
 	pipelineConnector beat.PipelineConnector,
 	scheduler *scheduler.Scheduler,
-	allowWatches bool,
 ) (*Monitor, error) {
 	// Extract just the Id, Type, and Enabled fields from the config
 	// We'll parse things more precisely later once we know what exact type of
@@ -137,7 +125,6 @@ func newMonitorUnsafe(
 		scheduler:         scheduler,
 		configuredJobs:    []*configuredJob{},
 		pipelineConnector: pipelineConnector,
-		watchPollTasks:    []*configuredJob{},
 		internalsMtx:      sync.Mutex{},
 		config:            config,
 		stats:             pluginFactory.Stats,
@@ -171,20 +158,6 @@ func newMonitorUnsafe(
 		return m, err
 	}
 
-	err = m.makeWatchTasks(pluginFactory)
-	if err != nil {
-		return m, err
-	}
-
-	if len(m.watchPollTasks) > 0 {
-		if !allowWatches {
-			return m, ErrWatchesDisabled
-		}
-
-		logp.Info(`Obsolete option 'watch.poll_file' declared. This will be removed in a future release.
-See https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/beats/heartbeat/current/configuration-heartbeat-options.html for more info`)
-	}
-
 	return m, nil
 }
 
@@ -227,74 +200,6 @@ func (m *Monitor) makeTasks(config *common.Config, jobs []jobs.Job) ([]*configur
 	return mTasks, nil
 }
 
-func (m *Monitor) makeWatchTasks(pluginFactory plugin.PluginFactory) error {
-	watchCfg := watcher.DefaultWatchConfig
-	err := m.config.Unpack(&watchCfg)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if len(watchCfg.Path) > 0 {
-		m.watch, err = watcher.NewFilePoller(watchCfg.Path, watchCfg.Poll, func(content []byte) {
-			var newTasks []*configuredJob
-
-			dec := json.NewDecoder(bytes.NewBuffer(content))
-			for dec.More() {
-				var obj map[string]interface{}
-				err = dec.Decode(&obj)
-				if err != nil {
-					logp.Err("Failed parsing JSON object: %v", err)
-					return
-				}
-
-				cfg, err := common.NewConfigFrom(obj)
-				if err != nil {
-					logp.Err("Failed normalizing JSON input: %v", err)
-					return
-				}
-
-				merged, err := common.MergeConfigs(m.config, cfg)
-				if err != nil {
-					logp.Err("Could not merge config: %v", err)
-					return
-				}
-
-				p, err := pluginFactory.Create(merged)
-				m.close = p.Close
-				m.endpoints = p.Endpoints
-				if err != nil {
-					logp.Err("Could not create job from watch file: %v", err)
-				}
-
-				watchTasks, err := m.makeTasks(merged, p.Jobs)
-				if err != nil {
-					logp.Err("Could not make configuredJob for config: %v", err)
-					return
-				}
-
-				newTasks = append(newTasks, watchTasks...)
-			}
-
-			m.internalsMtx.Lock()
-			defer m.internalsMtx.Unlock()
-
-			for _, t := range m.watchPollTasks {
-				t.Stop()
-			}
-			m.watchPollTasks = newTasks
-			for _, t := range m.watchPollTasks {
-				t.Start()
-			}
-		})
-
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
 // Start starts the monitor's execution using its configured scheduler.
 func (m *Monitor) Start() {
 	m.internalsMtx.Lock()
@@ -304,10 +209,6 @@ func (m *Monitor) Start() {
 		t.Start()
 	}
 
-	for _, t := range m.watchPollTasks {
-		t.Start()
-	}
-
 	m.stats.StartMonitor(int64(m.endpoints))
 }
 
@@ -322,10 +223,6 @@ func (m *Monitor) Stop() {
 		t.Stop()
 	}
 
-	for _, t := range m.watchPollTasks {
-		t.Stop()
-	}
-
 	if m.close != nil {
 		err := m.close()
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/heartbeat/monitors/monitor_test.go b/heartbeat/monitors/monitor_test.go
index b0d02f819f6b..0f00828bf9b2 100644
--- a/heartbeat/monitors/monitor_test.go
+++ b/heartbeat/monitors/monitor_test.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func TestMonitor(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	defer sched.Stop()
 
-	mon, err := newMonitor(serverMonConf, reg, pipelineConnector, sched, false)
+	mon, err := newMonitor(serverMonConf, reg, pipelineConnector, sched)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	mon.Start()
@@ -90,11 +90,11 @@ func TestDuplicateMonitorIDs(t *testing.T) {
 	defer sched.Stop()
 
 	makeTestMon := func() (*Monitor, error) {
-		return newMonitor(serverMonConf, reg, pipelineConnector, sched, false)
+		return newMonitor(serverMonConf, reg, pipelineConnector, sched)
 	}
 
 	// Ensure that an error is returned on a bad config
-	_, m0Err := newMonitor(badConf, reg, pipelineConnector, sched, false)
+	_, m0Err := newMonitor(badConf, reg, pipelineConnector, sched)
 	require.Error(t, m0Err)
 
 	// Would fail if the previous newMonitor didn't free the monitor.id
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func TestCheckInvalidConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	defer sched.Stop()
 
-	m, err := newMonitor(serverMonConf, reg, pipelineConnector, sched, false)
+	m, err := newMonitor(serverMonConf, reg, pipelineConnector, sched)
 	// This could change if we decide the contract for newMonitor should always return a monitor
 	require.Nil(t, m, "For this test to work we need a nil value for the monitor.")
 
@@ -133,5 +133,5 @@ func TestCheckInvalidConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Equal(t, 0, built.Load())
 	require.Equal(t, 0, closed.Load())
 
-	require.Error(t, checkMonitorConfig(serverMonConf, reg, false))
+	require.Error(t, checkMonitorConfig(serverMonConf, reg))
 }
diff --git a/x-pack/heartbeat/heartbeat.reference.yml b/x-pack/heartbeat/heartbeat.reference.yml
index c2c74fca2f16..14597f2a27c5 100644
--- a/x-pack/heartbeat/heartbeat.reference.yml
+++ b/x-pack/heartbeat/heartbeat.reference.yml
@@ -71,26 +71,6 @@ heartbeat.monitors:
   # sub-dictionary. Default is false.
   #fields_under_root: false
 
-  # NOTE: THIS FEATURE IS DEPRECATED AND WILL BE REMOVED IN A FUTURE RELEASE
-  # Configure file json file to be watched for changes to the monitor:
-  #watch.poll_file:
-    # Path to check for updates.
-    #path:
-
-    # Interval between file file changed checks.
-    #interval: 5s
-
-  # The Ingest Node pipeline ID associated with this input. If this is set, it
-  # overwrites the pipeline option from the Elasticsearch output.
-  #pipeline:
-
-  # The index name associated with this input. If this is set, it
-  # overwrites the index option from the Elasticsearch output.
-  #index:
-
-  # Set to true to publish fields with null values in events.
-  #keep_null: false
-
 # Define a directory to load monitor definitions from. Definitions take the form
 # of individual yaml files.
 # heartbeat.config.monitors:
@@ -168,15 +148,6 @@ heartbeat.monitors:
     # Required TLS protocols
     #supported_protocols: ["TLSv1.0", "TLSv1.1", "TLSv1.2"]
 
-  # NOTE: THIS FEATURE IS DEPRECATED AND WILL BE REMOVED IN A FUTURE RELEASE
-  # Configure file json file to be watched for changes to the monitor:
-  #watch.poll_file:
-    # Path to check for updates.
-    #path:
-
-    # Interval between file file changed checks.
-    #interval: 5s
-
   # The Ingest Node pipeline ID associated with this input. If this is set, it
   # overwrites the pipeline option from the Elasticsearch output.
   #pipeline:
@@ -210,14 +181,6 @@ heartbeat.monitors:
   ipv6: true
   mode: any
 
-  # Configure file json file to be watched for changes to the monitor:
-  #watch.poll_file:
-    # Path to check for updates.
-    #path:
-
-    # Interval between file file changed checks.
-    #interval: 5s
-
   # Optional HTTP proxy url.
   #proxy_url: ''
 
@@ -267,16 +230,6 @@ heartbeat.monitors:
     #    equals:
     #      myField: expectedValue
 
-
-  # NOTE: THIS FEATURE IS DEPRECATED AND WILL BE REMOVED IN A FUTURE RELEASE
-  # Configure file json file to be watched for changes to the monitor:
-  #watch.poll_file:
-    # Path to check for updates.
-    #path:
-
-    # Interval between file file changed checks.
-    #interval: 5s
-
   # The Ingest Node pipeline ID associated with this input. If this is set, it
   # overwrites the pipeline option from the Elasticsearch output.
   #pipeline: