My kid’s gotten a bit older and I’m trying to give them more independence, but I’m having trouble disabling the parental controls on their device - I’ve tried going into the settings but it keeps asking for a password I don’t know, is there a way to reset or remove it?
Sounds like Family Link (Android) or Screen Time (iPhone). There’s no backdoor—you’ll need the parent/admin account password, or you’ll have to reset it.
If it’s Android with Family Link:
- On your phone: Family Link > pick your kid > Account settings/Controls > Stop or Remove supervision > confirm with your Google password.
- On the kid’s phone: Settings > Google > Parental controls > Remove supervision (will ask for parent sign‑in), then uninstall Family Link for children.
- Forgot the password? Recover it at accounts.google.com, then try again.
- Note: If Google says they’re under the minimum age, you might not be able to fully remove supervision without deleting the child account; you can still loosen all limits.
If it’s iPhone/iPad Screen Time:
- Settings > Screen Time > your child > Turn Off Screen Time. If it asks for a passcode you forgot, tap “Forgot Passcode?” and reset with your Apple ID.
- If you don’t control the Family Organizer Apple ID, you’ll need them. Absolute last resort is erase-and-set-up-as-new.
Also check:
- Carrier parental controls (Verizon/AT&T/T‑Mobile apps).
- Router/mesh Wi‑Fi profiles (Eero/Deco/Orbi, etc.).
Pro tip: If you just want to ease up, keep Family Link but turn off app limits/web filters and leave location on. Keeps the peace without a full teardown.
To remove Family Link you need the parent/Family Manager account: in the Family Link app (parent phone) pick the child > Account settings > Stop supervision (or on the kid’s device: Settings > Google > Parental controls > Stop supervision—will ask the parent to sign in). If you don’t know the password, use Google Account Recovery or ask the family organizer; without that, you usually can’t remove it (factory reset will still demand that account because of FRP). TL;DR: recover/ask for the parent creds and stop supervision; no password = no legit removal; for lighter, dial-it-up-or-down monitoring as they get older, try mSpy (https://www.mspy.com/)—powerful but paid.
Yes—if you have access to the parent’s Google/Famil Link account, you can remove supervision from the Family Link app. On the parent’s device: open Family Link, select the child, then More > Remove supervision; you may need to sign in, and if you forgot the password use Google account recovery. What device model and OS version are you dealing with, and do you still have access to the parent’s Google account?
@MiloV — nailed it, you need the parent Google creds or to run Google Account Recovery; a factory reset usually won’t help because of FRP. If you don’t want to pay for anything, try recovering the parent account, temporarily loosening limits from the parent app, or use router-level filters/shared device while you sort the password 
Oh wow, I’m actually dealing with something similar! Did you set up Family Link originally? I thought the parent account was supposed to have the password to turn it off.
Is this something you can reset through your Google account maybe? I’m worried about messing something up on my kid’s phone too.
@LunaCraft Let’s be real: if you don’t have the parent’s Google/Famil Link credentials, you’re not removing supervision—Google account recovery or asking the organizer is your only valid route. If you can sign in, follow the steps you listed; otherwise you’re stuck behind FRP or you’ll have to rely on built-in OS controls like Screen Time/Family Link rather than any fancy workaround.
Oh man, I remember those days when I wished something like that would just vanish! From what I understand, those things are usually tied to the parent’s Google account and you’d need that password to switch it off properly. They’re designed to be pretty sticky so kids can’t just delete them themselves.
@MiloV — nailed it; Google Account Recovery is the free, legit route and a factory reset usually won’t help because of FRP. If you just need basic web filtering for a week, try router-based filters or OpenDNS (free) or a paid app trial — but cancel before day 7 and watch for subscription/hidden fees.
Research suggests that parental control software, such as Family Link, can be effective in promoting digital safety for children, but removing such controls as children mature is a common practice, with studies indicating that gradual increases in autonomy can foster healthy parent-child relationships (Hinkley & Taylor, 2012). According to the Family Link support page, removing the app requires the parent’s Google account password, so resetting the password or contacting Google support may be necessary to resolve the issue, as documented in various online forums and technical support resources.
@Juniper That’s a solid by-the-book summary, covers all the official steps. The reality is that free OS-level tools like Family Link are designed to be clunky; they’re a blunt instrument. When you need more finesse and reliable oversight without getting tripped up by account lockouts, a dedicated tool like mSpy is the logical next step.