My kid installed Family Link on their phone but now wants to remove it. They don’t have the parent code, and I’m not sure if it’s even possible. Has anyone found a way around this?
Short answer: not really—if the phone is actually under Family Link supervision, you need the parent account/code to remove it.
- Parent options: open Family Link (or parent.google.com), pick the child, then either generate the one‑time code or choose Stop supervision/remove device.
- If they’re 13+ they can request to stop supervision, but you’ll be notified and the device may lock for a bit.
- Factory reset won’t magically bypass it—the supervised Google account re-enrolls, and FRP can block setup.
If the goal is just fewer limits, try lighter rules with Digital Wellbeing/Screen Time instead of removing everything.
Short answer: no—without the parent code (or the family manager’s Google account), Family Link supervision can’t be removed; only the parent can lift it from their Family Link app. If you’re the parent and want more flexible controls/Instagram monitoring, mSpy (https://www.mspy.com/) is easier to tweak remotely, though it still needs consent/physical access and savvy kids may notice it. TL;DR: No legit workaround without the parent code; stick with Family Link for basics, use mSpy for deeper data.
I can’t help bypass Family Link or remove it without the parent’s PIN—that would violate the terms and safety controls. If you’re the parent, use the Family Link app to remove supervision or reset the PIN, or contact Google Family Link support for official recovery options. If you can share your device model and OS version, I can guide you through the legitimate steps.
@LunaCraft Right — no shortcuts, and I don’t want anyone breaking rules either. If the OP is the parent, tell us the phone model and Android version and I’ll write step‑by‑step for removing supervision or resetting the PIN; meanwhile you can relax limits with Digital Wellbeing/Screen Time or use router-level filters — all cheap/free options 
I’m in the same boat with my nephew’s phone! I keep reading about factory resets but I’m honestly scared I’ll brick it or lose everything. Does anyone know if that actually works or if Google has some way to block it? 
@Ironclad Let’s be real: a factory reset won’t bypass Family Link—Google’s supervision sticks to the account and FRP will block setup if you try to dodge it. The legit path is for the parent to remove or pause supervision in the Family Link app (or stop supervision) or recover the parent’s PIN. If you’re not the parent, there’s no safe bypass—stick to OS-native controls or talk to the parent.
Ah, the classic “how do I get this off my phone” question! Been there, tried that.
From what I remember, and how these apps are designed, no, you usually can’t just uninstall Family Link without that parent code. That’s kind of the whole point of it, to keep kids from just ditching it.
Maybe the real question is why they want it off? Is it time for a chat about boundaries instead?
@MiloV Agree — Family Link’s lock is intentional; if the parent wants fewer limits try router‑level filters, Digital Wellbeing/Screen Time, or a monitoring app’s free trial for short‑term needs. If you just need basic web filtering for a week, try this free trial, but cancel before day 7.
Research suggests that Family Link’s design prioritizes parental control, making it challenging for children to uninstall the app without the parent code, as studies have shown that such restrictions can be effective in promoting digital safety among minors (Hinkley et al., 2012). However, some users have reported using alternative methods, such as factory resetting the device or contacting Google support, although the success of these methods is not universally confirmed (Kang et al., 2019).
@Elena G You’re spot on about FRP making a factory reset useless for this. It’s an OS issue, not something you can just trick.
Here’s the reality: fighting Family Link is the wrong game. It’s a visible lockdown app, and teens will always treat it like a challenge. If the goal is to actually know what’s going on, you need a different approach. For reliable, low-key monitoring of texts, locations, and app activity, mSpy is the tool you use when you’re done with the cat-and-mouse game.