Family Link is a Google tool that helps make parents’ lives easier. It’s a free Android app designed to manage children’s online activity.
As a parent, with this app, you can set rules for digital content use — such as defining age and time limits for apps, viewing browser history, accessing location, changing passwords, and more.
If your child is under 13, Family Link is essential for their safety. At this age, they cannot create or manage a Google account on their own — only under full parental supervision.
However, once your child reaches the minimum age and you’re confident in their understanding of digital safety, you can easily remove Family Link from their device.
But how exactly does that work? Does the account get deleted in the process? Can parental supervision be removed if the child is still under 13?
We’ll cover all of this in the article. And as a bonus, we’ll also take a look at an alternative parental control app — mSpy. Let’s dive in!
Table Of Contents
Common Questions About Family Link
Let’s clear up some confusion about how Family Link actually works.
What happens if I disable Family Link?
If your child is over 13 years old — meaning they have reached the minimum age to own an account — the account becomes theirs. In that case, you:
- You can’t monitor their online activity anymore
- Location tracking stops working
- You can’t manage their screen time or set limits
- Any websites or apps you blocked become available again
- If your child is under 13, their Google Account gets paused or deleted.
Keep in mind: The minimum age isn’t the same everywhere. It’s 14+ in Austria, 15+ in France, and 16+ in the Netherlands, for example.
Can my child remove Family Link by themselves?
If your child is under 13, definitely no. And even if they try, their device locks, and you get a notification that they’re trying to turn off supervision. Then you’ll have to set up Family Link again before they can use their account.
But once they reach the minimum age, they can remove it themselves. In this case, their account becomes independent. You’ll also get a notification about that.
Can I keep using Family Link after my child reaches the minimum age?
You’re still responsible for keeping your child safe online until they’re adults, and you can keep using parental control apps. But with Family Link, once they reach the minimum age, they can revoke your access.
Can I remove a child from Family Link without deleting the account? (they’re 13 or older)
Of course! Your child’s account will not be deleted. If they are 13 or older, they become a regular Google user, and their account will function like any other without parental controls.
How to Stop Supervision in Minutes
The process is straightforward and only takes a few minutes. Here’s what you do:
- Open the Family Link app.
- At the top left, select your child’s profile.
- Tap Controls → Account Settings → About Supervision.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
- Tap Stop Supervision.
Before you turn off supervision, think about whether your child is really ready. Do they understand the basics of staying safe online — like spotting scams, protecting their personal info, and knowing when something feels off? And the big one: will they actually come to you if something goes wrong?
If you think that parental controls are still a good idea, have an honest conversation with your child about that. Let them know why you’re worried and how the supervision can help keep them safe.
Alternatively, you can use a parental control app that runs in hidden mode. Your child won’t know it’s there and can’t turn it off themselves. We’ll talk about one of the best options below.
mSpy Parental Control App for Continuous Monitoring
mSpy is one of the most popular parental control apps designed to help keep children safe online.
With this app, you can see almost everything your child does on their phone. You can not only view browser history, access location, or block apps and websites, but also:
- Access social media messengers (WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, and more) and read messages
Monitor your child’s AI conversations (ChatGPT, Gemini) - Listen to recordings of phone calls
- View their gallery (photos, videos) and other phone data like notes, calendar events, and contacts
- Track their complete location history
And that’s just part of what mSpy can do — there are many more advanced features.
The app also operates in hidden mode, meaning your child won’t know it’s installed and won’t be able to turn it off once they reach the minimum age. mSpy doesn’t send notifications or slow down device performance, so it leaves no visible trace — it’s a significant advantage.
Let’s Compare the Most Popular Features of mSpy and Family Link:
| Features | mSpy | Family Link |
| Hidden Mode | ✅ | ❌ |
| Child’s Ability to Disable Monitoring (after 13) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Social Media Monitoring | ✅ | ❌ |
| Text Message Monitoring | ✅ | ❌ |
| Location Access | ✅ | ✅ |
| Full Location History | ✅ | ❌ |
| Browser History Access | ✅ | ✅ |
| Website & App Blocking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Call Recording & Contacts Access | ✅ | ❌ |
| Gallery Access (Photos & Videos) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Screen Time Management | ❌ | ✅ |
| Screen Recording | ✅ | ❌ |
| Free to Use | ✅ | ✅ |
Final Words
Now you know how to remove a child from Family Link and stop supervision. The real question is: should you? You know your child better than anyone, and only you can decide what they need to stay safe.
But if you decide to continue monitoring, go for an app that offers more features and deeper insights. Your child gets stronger protection — and you gain greater peace of mind.
