How to remove parental blocks depends on who set them and what device they're on
If you installed parental controls on your own device and now want to turn them off, the process is straightforward—you go into settings and disable them with your password or PIN. If someone else set them on a device you use, you'll need either their password or to reset the device to factory settings, which erases everything on it. If you're a teenager and a parent installed them, the honest path is asking them to remove the controls or adjust them; the technical workarounds exist but damage trust and often don't work anyway because the controls are designed to survive most attempts.
This guide covers the actual steps for each situation, what happens when you try common workarounds, and what to do if you're locked out of a device that's supposed to be yours.
Key Takeaways
- Parental controls you set yourself can be removed by going to settings, finding the parental controls section, and entering your PIN or password.
- If someone else set the controls and you don't have the password, factory reset is the only reliable method, but it deletes all data on the device.
- Workarounds like changing your device's date, using a second account, or searching for bypass codes rarely work on modern systems because controls are designed to prevent them.
- If a parent set controls on a device you own, the conversation about removing or loosening them is more effective than technical attempts to circumvent them.
- Some devices let you remove controls through account recovery if you can verify you own the account, but this requires proof of purchase or identity.
Removing controls you set yourself on Windows, Mac, or Android
On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings, go to Accounts, then Family & other users. Click on the account with parental controls, select Parental controls, and choose Remove. You'll need to enter your Microsoft account password. If you forgot the password, use the account recovery process on the Microsoft sign-in page.
On Mac, open System Settings, go to General, then Parental Controls (or Screen Time on newer versions). Click the lock icon in the bottom left, enter your admin password, select the restricted account, and click the minus button to remove controls. If you don't remember the password, you can reset it using your Apple ID or a recovery key you created when you set up the controls.
On Android, the process depends on which app manages the controls. If it's Google Family Link, open the app, select the child's account, tap Menu, then Account info, then Remove account. If it's Samsung Kids or another third-party app, open that app, find settings, and look for an option to disable or remove the profile. You'll need the PIN you created when you set it up.
Removing controls set by someone else: factory reset as the only reliable path
If another person set parental controls on your device and you don't have their password, factory reset is the method that actually works. This erases everything on the device—all apps, photos, documents, and settings—and returns it to the state it came in. You'll need to set it up again from scratch and sign in with your own account.
On Windows, go to Settings, System, Recovery, and choose Reset this PC. Select Remove everything. The system will ask if you want to remove files securely (slower, more thorough) or quickly (faster). You'll need to sign in with a Microsoft account after the reset completes.
On Mac, restart the computer and hold Command + R to enter Recovery Mode. Go to Utilities, then Erase Mac. Choose your startup disk and click Erase. After the drive clears, you can reinstall macOS and set up the computer with your own account.
On Android, go to Settings, System, Reset options, and choose Erase all data (factory reset). The phone will restart and return to setup. On iPhone, go to Settings, General, Transfer or Reset, then Erase All Content and Settings. Both require you to know the Apple ID or Google account password associated with the device, or you'll be locked out after the reset.
Why common workarounds don't work on modern devices
Changing your device's date and time to bypass time limits, creating a second user account to avoid restrictions, or searching for "parental control bypass codes" are methods that circulate online but fail on current systems. Modern parental controls are tied to the operating system itself and your account, not just a straightforward timer or filter that can be tricked by changing settings.
When you change the date on Windows or Mac, the parental control system checks the actual time from the internet, not your device clock, so the restriction stays in place. Creating a second account doesn't help because the controls explore at the device level, not the account level—the second account is either restricted too or doesn't exist because the controlling account prevents new accounts from being created. Bypass codes don't exist in the way people imagine; what you find online are either outdated methods that no longer work, scams, or instructions for factory reset (which we've already covered).
The reason these workarounds fail is that parental controls are designed by companies that know people will try to circumvent them. The controls run at a level of the system that regular user accounts can't override.
Removing controls through account recovery if you own the account
If parental controls are linked to your Google account (on Android) or Apple ID (on iPhone or Mac), you may be able to remove them by recovering access to that account. Go to the account recovery page for Google or Apple, answer security questions or use a recovery email address, and reset your password. Once you're back in your account, you can remove the parental controls from the device settings.
This works only if the account is actually yours—meaning you created it, you know the recovery email, or you can answer the security questions. If a parent created the account and controls are tied to it, recovery won't help unless you can prove to Google or Apple that you own the account. Some services ask for a photo of your ID or proof of purchase; the process takes a few days.
What to do if you're a teenager and a parent set the controls
The technical options—factory reset, account recovery, workarounds—all work, but they come with costs. Factory reset erases your data. Account recovery requires proof you own the account. Workarounds don't work on modern systems. And if you do manage to remove the controls without permission, your parent will know something happened, and the trust damage usually outweighs whatever freedom you gained.
The more effective path is a conversation. Explain specifically what you want to do that the controls prevent—whether that's using a certain app, staying online past a time limit, or accessing a website. Ask what your parent is worried about. Propose a compromise: maybe the time limit moves later on weekends, or you get access to a specific app if you show you're using it responsibly. If the controls are too strict for your age, say that directly.
Parents often set controls because they don't know what else to do, not because they want to frustrate you. A conversation that shows you understand why they're concerned and have thought about a solution is more likely to work than a technical end-run that gets discovered later.
Removing controls from a device that's supposed to be yours
If you bought the device with your own money, or it was given to you as a gift, and a parent installed controls without your knowledge or consent, that's a different situation. You own the device, and you have the right to control what runs on it. The conversation here is about ownership and autonomy, not about sneaking around restrictions.
Start by saying clearly: "This is my device, and I need to be able to manage it myself." Explain that you understand they want to keep you safe, but that safety doesn't require controlling a device you own. Offer to share your location, let them see your app list, or check in regularly—ways to stay connected without remote control of your device. If they refuse and you're old enough to have your own income, you can factory reset the device and set it up with your own account, knowing that this will create conflict but also knowing you're within your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove parental controls if I don't know the PIN?
Factory reset is the only reliable method if you don't have the PIN. This erases all data on the device. If the device is linked to your own Google or Apple account, you can try account recovery, but you'll need access to your recovery email or the ability to answer security questions. If the account belongs to the person who set the controls, recovery won't help.
What happens if I factory reset a device with parental controls?
The device returns to its original state, as if it just came out of the box. All apps, photos, files, and settings are deleted. You'll need to set it up again and sign in with your own account. If the device is linked to someone else's account, you may be locked out after the reset until you enter their account credentials or your own.
Will my parent know if I try to remove parental controls?
If you successfully remove them, yes—they'll notice when the restrictions stop working. If you try a workaround that doesn't work, they may see unusual activity like repeated failed attempts or strange settings changes. If you factory reset, the device will be completely wiped, which is obvious. The only way to avoid detection is not to try.
Can I remove parental controls on someone else's device?
Not without their password or a factory reset. If it's your device and someone else set the controls, factory reset works. If it's genuinely someone else's device, removing controls without permission is not your call to make—it's their device and their rules.
Do parental control bypass codes actually exist?
No. What you find online are either outdated methods that no longer work, instructions for factory reset (which we've covered), or scams. Modern parental controls are built into the operating system and can't be bypassed with a code. The only ways to remove them are the ones in this guide: entering the correct password, recovering your account, or factory resetting the device.