Removing Family Link requires access to the supervising account or the child account password
Google Family Link is a parental control tool that restricts what a device can do — it blocks app downloads, limits screen time, and prevents settings changes. If you are the parent who set it up, you can remove it from the child's device through your own Google account. If you are the child or teen whose device is supervised, you will need either the parent's account password or, on some devices, permission from the parent to unlink yourself.
The removal process differs slightly depending on whether you are removing it from an Android phone, a Chromebook, or a Google account that supervises multiple devices. The steps below cover the most common scenario: a parent removing Family Link from a child's Android phone.
Key Takeaways
- Parents can remove Family Link by opening the Family Link app on their own device, selecting the child's account, and choosing the option to remove supervision.
- Teens aged 13 and older in some countries can request to remove Family Link themselves, but the parent must approve the request.
- Removing Family Link from a Chromebook requires signing out of the supervised account and signing in with an unsupervised account.
- Once Family Link is removed, the device will no longer enforce app restrictions, screen time limits, or location tracking.
- If you forget the parent password, you will need to verify your identity through Google's account recovery process before you can make changes.
How a parent removes Family Link from a child's Android phone
Open the Family Link app on your own device — the one where you originally set up the supervision. Tap the child's name or account you want to unlink. Scroll down and tap Controls on Google Play or Device settings, then look for an option labeled Remove supervision, Unlink account, or Delete account. The exact wording depends on your Android version.
Tap that option and confirm when the app asks you to verify. Google will ask for your password to confirm the action — this is a safety step to prevent accidental removal. Enter your Google account password and tap Confirm. The child's device will no longer be supervised, and Family Link restrictions will stop explore when ready.
After removal, the child can read apps, change settings, and adjust screen time without restriction. Any apps that were blocked by Family Link will remain on the device but will now be usable. Location sharing will also stop, so you will no longer see the device's location in the Family Link app.
How a teen can request to remove Family Link themselves
If you are a teenager aged 13 or older in the United States, Canada, or certain other countries, Google allows you to request that Family Link be removed. Open the Family Link app on your supervised device and look for an option that says Request to remove supervision or Unlink account. Tap it and follow the prompts to send a request to your parent.
Your parent will receive a notification in their Family Link app that you have requested removal. They can approve or deny the request. If they approve it, Family Link will be removed from your device. If they deny it, the supervision will remain active and you will not be able to remove it yourself until you reach the age of majority in your location or your parent chooses to remove it.
This feature exists because Google recognizes that older teens may want more independence. However, the parent always has the final say unless you reach the legal age at which parental supervision is no longer valid.
Removing Family Link from a Chromebook
Chromebooks handle Family Link differently than Android phones. The supervised account itself cannot remove Family Link — instead, you must sign out of the supervised account and sign in with a different, unsupervised Google account.
At the Chromebook login screen, click Add person or the plus icon. Sign in with a Google account that is not supervised by Family Link. Once you are signed in to this new account, the Chromebook will no longer enforce Family Link restrictions for that account. The supervised account will still exist on the device, but you will not be using it.
If you want to completely remove the supervised account from the Chromebook, open Settings, go to Users and accounts, find the supervised account, and click the three dots next to it. Select Remove this user. The account will be deleted from the device, though it will still exist as a Google account if the parent wants to supervise it on another device later.
What happens if you forget the parent password
If the parent account password has been forgotten, you cannot remove Family Link through the normal process. Google requires the parent's password as a security measure to prevent unauthorized removal of parental controls.
The parent can recover their Google account password by going to accounts.google.com, clicking Sign in, and then clicking Forgot password? Google will ask for recovery information — usually a phone number or backup email address associated with the account. Once the parent verifies their identity, they can set a new password and then use it to remove Family Link as described above.
If the parent cannot recover the account through the standard process, they may need to contact Google Support with proof of account ownership. This process can take several days.
What changes after Family Link is removed
Once Family Link is no longer active, the device behaves like any other unsupervised device. App downloads are no longer blocked, so the user can install anything from Google Play. Screen time limits disappear, meaning there is no automatic shutdown or usage warnings. Settings can be changed freely — the user can modify privacy settings, disable location services, or change the device password without restriction.
Location sharing stops when ready. The parent will no longer see the device's location in the Family Link app. If the parent wants to continue tracking the device for safety reasons, they would need to use a different method, such as Google's Find My Mobile service, which requires the device owner's consent.
Any apps that were blocked by Family Link will still be installed on the device if they were previously downloaded. Apps that were never installed because Family Link blocked them will now be downloadable, but they will not automatically appear.
Removing Family Link from multiple devices at once
If a child has Family Link on more than one device — for example, a phone and a tablet — you must remove it from each device separately. Open the Family Link app on your parent device, select the child's account, and you will see a list of all devices under that account. Tap each device and follow the removal steps for that device type.
Removing Family Link from one device does not affect the others. If you want the child to have full freedom on all devices, you will need to go through the removal process for each one. This is intentional — it prevents accidental removal of supervision from all devices at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove Family Link if I do not have the parent's password?
No, not through the normal process. If you are the parent, you can recover your Google password at accounts.google.com. If you are the child or teen, you can request removal if you are 13 or older in a supported country, but the parent must approve the request. Otherwise, you will need the parent's password or permission.
Will removing Family Link delete the child's Google account?
No. Removing Family Link only removes the parental supervision — it does not delete the account itself. The child's Google account, email, and data will remain intact. The account will straightforward no longer be supervised.
Can a parent remove Family Link remotely, or do they need access to the child's device?
Parents can remove Family Link entirely from their own device using the Family Link app. They do not need to touch the child's device. The removal takes effect on the child's device within a few minutes once the parent confirms it in their own Family Link app.
What if the child's device is lost or stolen after Family Link is removed?
Removing Family Link does not affect the device's security features. The child can still use Google's Find My Mobile service to locate, lock, or erase the device remotely if it is lost. Family Link and Find My Mobile are separate tools.
Can I remove Family Link and then set it up again later?
Yes. If you remove Family Link and later want to supervise the device again, you can set up Family Link from scratch. The child's account will not remember the previous supervision settings — you will configure them as if it were the first time.