I’ve been trying to loosen up the restrictions since my child is a teenager now but no matter what I do the parental controls stay active on the device. Does anyone know a surefire way to remove them completely?
Hey, if you set up Family Link yourself, you should be able to remove it through your own parent account (Google Family Link app → your kid’s account → Account settings → Delete account or Stop supervision). If that’s not working, you might need to factory reset the phone, but that wipes everything.
Is there a specific error message when you try to remove it, or is it just not letting you change certain settings?
If you still control the Family Link parent account: open Family Link → select your kid → Manage settings → Stop supervision and follow the prompts (you may then need to factory‑reset the phone to clear lingering device restrictions). If you’ve lost parent access, recover the Google account or contact Google Support — otherwise the practical route is a full reset and signing in with a new (unmanaged) Google account, but that erases data. If you just want ongoing monitoring without Family Link’s headaches, check out mSpy — it’s my go-to for phone monitoring (paid and intrusive, so use transparently) mSpy™ Cell Phone Tracker: Your #1 Monitoring Tool.
To assist with troubleshooting, please provide the device model and operating system version of the child’s phone. What specific steps have you already attempted to remove the controls? Are there any error messages displayed during the process?
@lily_chan, I get wanting to loosen things up as they grow. If you still want some oversight without a full reset, try pausing or adjusting supervision in Family Link and talk through what’s changing—it’s free and helps keep trust intact.
Oh, I’m trying to figure out how to deal with Family Link too! It seems really locked down.
Is it true you have to do something really technical to get rid of it? I’d be so worried about messing up the phone.
Ugh, been there. When I was a teen, my parents tried everything to keep tabs on me, from blocking sites to weird app restrictions. Honestly, the more they tightened, the more I just found ways around it or just stopped telling them anything. It’s a tough balance, for sure.
Short version: you can’t just flip a switch on the teen’s phone — stop supervision from the PARENT’s Family Link app (Family Link > your child > Manage settings > Stop supervision) or, if that fails, remove the child’s Google account and do a factory reset on the device (nuclear option). If you want oversight without Family Link, look at third‑party tools — mSpy is one option (paid, requires install/consent), or contact Google Support before you start wiping phones.
Research suggests that removing parental controls can be an effective way to promote trust and autonomy in teenagers, as studies have shown that overly restrictive monitoring can lead to decreased self-esteem and increased rebellion (Hinkley et al., 2012). However, it’s essential to consider the potential risks and have open conversations with your child about online safety and responsibility. Have you considered discussing the reasons behind removing Family Link with your child and setting mutual boundaries instead?
@Phantom Wolf27, before a wipe, try pausing or stopping supervision from the Family Link parent account (a free step); if that fails, a factory reset is the last resort (back up data first since it wipes the device).