You need the parent's password or a recovery method they set up
Google Family Link doesn't have a "remove parent access" button that works without the parent's involvement. The access code itself isn't the lock — the parent's Google account password is. To remove Family Link from your device, you need either the parent's password, a recovery email address they control, or a recovery phone number they set up on their account.
If you're a teenager whose parent set up Family Link and you want it off, the direct path is asking them for the password. If that's not possible, the technical routes all require access to something the parent set up before locking the account — usually a backup email or phone number. Google built it this way intentionally: the system assumes the parent is the decision-maker.
If you're an adult whose parent set up Family Link on your device years ago and you've lost contact with them, or if you're trying to regain access to a device you own but can't reach the parent who set it up, the process is longer but possible.
Key Takeaways
- Family Link removal requires the parent's Google account password, a recovery email address the parent set up, or a recovery phone number they registered.
- If you have the parent's password, you can remove Family Link directly through the Family Link app or Google Play Family Library settings.
- If you don't have the password but have access to the recovery email or phone number, you can reset the parent's password and then remove Family Link.
- If you cannot reach the parent and don't have recovery information, you can factory reset the device, but this erases all data and may require a Google account sign-in depending on your device's Android version.
- If you're an adult and the parent refuses to remove it, you have legal options including contacting Google directly or pursuing account recovery through your own identity verification.
Removing Family Link when you have the parent's password
If the parent gives you their Google account password, removal takes a few minutes. Open the Family Link app on your device, go to Settings, and look for the option to remove the supervised account. You'll be asked to confirm the parent's password. Once confirmed, Family Link is disabled on that device.
Alternatively, on the parent's own device or computer, they can open the Family Link app or go to families.google.com, select your account, and choose "Remove" or "Delete account from family group." This removes you from the family group entirely, which also disables Family Link on your device.
The parent can also remove Family Link through Google Play Family Library. They sign into their Google account on any device, go to Play Store settings, find Family Library, and remove your account from it. This doesn't delete your account but stops the parental controls.
Resetting the parent's password if you have recovery information
If you don't have the password but you know the recovery email address or phone number the parent set up on their Google account, you can reset their password. Go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery, enter the parent's email address, and choose "I don't know my password." Google will ask you to verify using the recovery email or phone number.
If you can access the recovery email (for example, if it's a family email you still have access to), click the password reset link Google sends. If you have the recovery phone number, Google will text or call a verification code. Once you reset the password, you can sign into the parent's account and remove Family Link as described above.
This route only works if the recovery information is something you actually have access to. If the parent set up a recovery email at their personal work address or a recovery phone that's no longer in service, you won't be able to use this method.
Factory resetting the device if you have no other options
If you cannot reach the parent, don't have their password, and don't have access to recovery information, a factory reset will remove Family Link. This erases everything on the device — all photos, messages, apps, and files. Back up anything you need before starting.
To factory reset, go to Settings, then System or About Phone (exact location varies by device), find Reset or Factory Reset, and choose "Erase all data." The device will restart and return to its original state. Family Link will be gone because the supervised account will be gone.
After the reset, you'll need to sign in with a Google account. If the device is running Android 5.1 or earlier, you may be able to skip this step. If it's Android 6.0 or later, Google requires account sign-in as a security measure. You can sign in with your own account or create a new one. Once you're signed in, Family Link is no longer active on that device.
What happens if you're an adult and the parent won't cooperate
If you're legally an adult and a parent set up Family Link on a device you own, you have options beyond the technical ones. Contact Google Support directly and explain that you are an adult whose account is being supervised without consent. Provide your ID if asked. Google can review the situation and may remove the family link based on your account age and the circumstances.
You can also change your Google account password from a different device or computer. Go to myaccount.google.com, select Security, and change your password. This doesn't when ready remove Family Link, but it prevents the parent from signing in as you, which limits what they can see and control.
If the parent set up Family Link on a device you own and you want to keep the device but remove their access, a factory reset followed by signing in with your own account (with a new password) is the cleanest option. You lose the data on the device, but you regain full control.
Why Family Link is hard to remove without the parent's involvement
Google designed Family Link to be difficult to bypass because the system is meant to protect children from removing parental oversight on their own. The parent's Google account password is the master key because it's assumed the parent is the account owner and decision-maker. This design protects legitimate parental control but also means that if a parent and child have a conflict, the parent has structural power.
The recovery email and phone number are backup locks for the same reason: they're meant to be things only the parent knows or controls. If a teenager could easily remove Family Link by guessing a recovery email, the system would fail at its core purpose.
This creates a real problem when a teenager is being monitored in a way they feel is unfair, or when an adult is still supervised by a parent they've lost contact with. The technical solution exists (factory reset), but it's destructive. The better solution is conversation — either between the teenager and parent about what monitoring feels reasonable, or between an adult and Google about account recovery.
Preventing Family Link from being set up in the first place
If you're setting up a new device and want to avoid Family Link, don't use a family Google account. Create your own independent Google account and sign in with that. Family Link can only be set up by someone with access to the parent account, and if you control your own account, a parent cannot add supervision without your password.
If a parent has physical access to your device and your Google account password, they can still set up Family Link. The only way to prevent this is to not share your password and to keep your device with you. If you're a teenager and a parent insists on Family Link as a condition of having a device, that's a conversation to have with them about trust and privacy, not a technical problem to solve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove Family Link without the parent knowing?
Not without either their password, recovery information, or a factory reset. If you factory reset, they'll notice the device is wiped. If you have their password or recovery access, you can remove it without telling them, but this usually damages trust when they find out.
What if the parent's recovery email or phone number is no longer active?
You cannot reset their password without access to one of those recovery methods. Your options are asking the parent directly, contacting Google Support if you're an adult, or factory resetting the device.
Does removing Family Link delete my Google account?
No. Removing Family Link just removes the parental supervision. Your Google account, email, photos, and other data stay intact. Only a factory reset of the device erases data.
Can I remove Family Link if I'm under 18?
Technically, yes, if you have the parent's password or recovery information. Legally and practically, it depends on your situation. If your parent set it up with your knowledge and you've agreed it should come off, ask them for the password. If they refuse and you feel the monitoring is unfair, that's a conversation to have, not a technical workaround to pursue.
What if I factory reset but the device still asks for the parent's account?
This happens on some Android devices as a security feature. After a factory reset, the device may require you to sign in with the account that was previously on it. If you don't have that password, you're stuck. Contact Google Support with proof that you own the device, and they can help you regain access.