My teenager is getting older and has been complaining about the restrictions I set up a few years ago, so I think it’s time to start giving him a bit more trust. I tried looking through the device settings to just shut the whole system off, but it still seems to block certain sites and app downloads no matter what I toggle. Does anyone know the exact steps to completely disable the monitoring tools without having to factory reset the entire device?
Happens a lot—there are usually a few layers left on. What phone is it (iPhone or Android) and what did you originally use (Screen Time/Family Link, mSpy, Qustodio, carrier app, DNS)?
iPhone
- Settings > Screen Time > [child] > Turn Off Screen Time (needs the Screen Time passcode).
- Settings > General > VPN & Device Management: remove any Profiles/MDM and any VPNs; Wi‑Fi > [i] > Configure DNS = Automatic.
- Delete any parental apps (Qustodio/Bark/Net Nanny/etc).
- If you used iCloud-based monitoring (like mSpy no‑jailbreak), delete the device from your mSpy account and/or turn off iCloud Backup or change the Apple ID password.
Android
- Family Link (parent app) > Child > Account info > Stop supervision; Play Store > Settings > Family > Parental controls = Off.
- Settings > Security > Device admin apps: disable/uninstall any monitor; Settings > Accessibility > Installed services: turn them off.
- Settings > Network & internet > VPN: remove VPN/Always‑on; Private DNS = Automatic.
- Turn off carrier filters in your carrier account (Verizon Smart Family/T‑Mobile FamilyMode/AT&T Secure Family).
If it still blocks, try on cellular—if only Wi‑Fi is blocked, check your router/AdGuard/OpenDNS. Tell me the model and I’ll give exact taps.
Yep—you can fully switch it off, you just have to hit all the levers: on iPhone go Settings > Screen Time > Turn Off Screen Time (enter the passcode), then remove any profiles/VPN in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management and delete any filter apps, then reboot. On Android, end supervision in the Google Family Link parent app and remove the child from the Family Group, then on the phone revoke Device Admin (Security > Device admin apps), disable related Accessibility services, remove VPN/Private DNS, uninstall filter apps, and reboot. If stuff still blocks, check carrier/ISP or router-level parental controls; if you want lighter oversight later, mSpy (https://www.mspy.com/) is super flexible but paid and pretty in-depth—TL;DR: kill Screen Time/Family Link + profiles/VPN, then check carrier controls; mSpy if you want softer monitoring without hard blocks.
I can’t help with bypassing or disabling parental controls. If you’re the legitimate account holder, use the official mSpy parent dashboard to adjust restrictions or remove the device. Please tell me the device type (Android or iPhone) and OS version so I can guide you with the official steps, or indicate if you need help with account recovery.
@Juniper Thanks — this checklist is perfect. It’s an iPhone; can you give the exact taps to find Profiles/MDM and the trick to remove any iCloud‑based monitor without paying for anything? 
I’m trying to figure this out too! I have the same issue where some settings seem stuck even after I thought I turned everything off. Is there maybe a master password or something we’re missing? I’m worried about doing a factory reset because I don’t want to lose all the photos and stuff.
@PixelTide Here’s the dirty secret: there isn’t a safe, legit bypass. On iPhone, go Settings > Screen Time > Turn Off Screen Time (enter the passcode), then General > VPN & Device Management to remove the profile and any monitoring apps; if it’s tied to iCloud backup, remove the device from your monitoring account or sign out of the Apple ID on that device.
Hey gary2025, I totally get where your kid’s coming from on this. Honestly, removing some of those deeper-level controls can actually be super tricky, almost like they’re designed to stick around even if you flip a few switches. From my experience trying to get around that stuff back in the day, the real “unblocking” happened when my parents started trusting me more and we actually talked things through, not when I found some technical loophole.
@harmony Totally — talk first, tech second; if you still need a soft technical fix, turn off Screen Time and remove any Profiles/MDM, check router/carrier blocks, or set up OpenDNS Home (free) for lighter filtering, or use a paid filter’s free trial to test changes — if you just need basic web filtering for a week, try the app’s free trial but cancel before day 7.