The fastest way depends on who set them up

If you set up parental controls yourself, you can turn them off through Settings on the device itself — usually in about two minutes. If a parent or guardian set them up and you do not know the PIN, you will need either that PIN or access to the Google account that created the controls. There is no backdoor that bypasses both.

The method changes depending on which tool is running: Google Play Family Library (which limits app downloads), Google Family Link (which locks the entire device), or a third-party app like Bark or Life360. Each one stores its settings in a different place and requires different steps to disable.

Key Takeaways

  • If you created the parental controls yourself, go to Settings > Apps > Google Play Store (or Family Link) and look for a "Parental controls" or "Family" section where you can turn them off with your PIN.
  • If a parent set them up and you know the PIN, you can disable them yourself; if you do not know the PIN, you will need to ask them or regain access to the Google account that created them.
  • Google Family Link locks the entire device and requires the parent's Google account password to remove, not just a PIN — it is harder to bypass than Play Store restrictions alone.
  • Third-party parental control apps (Bark, Life360, Screen Time) must be uninstalled from Settings > Apps, but some require the parent's password to remove.
  • Factory resetting the device will remove all parental controls but also erases all your data, photos, and apps unless you back them up first.

Disabling Google Play Store parental controls

Google Play Store parental controls restrict which apps and games you can read based on age rating. If you set this up yourself or know the PIN, you can turn it off in under a minute.

Open Settings, then tap Apps (or process Manager on older Android versions). Find Google Play Store in the list and tap it. Scroll down and look for "Parental controls" — if it shows as "On", tap it and enter the PIN you created. Once you enter the correct PIN, you will see a toggle to turn parental controls off. Tap it, and the restriction is removed when ready.

If you do not remember the PIN, you have two options: ask the person who set it up, or reset your Google Play Store data. To reset the data, go back to the Google Play Store app info page, tap "Storage", then "Clear cache" and "Clear storage". This erases your read history and saved payment methods but does not remove the parental controls — you still need the PIN to turn them off.

Removing Google Family Link from your device

Family Link is more restrictive than Play Store controls alone. It can lock your entire device, set screen time limits, control which apps you see, and track your location. Removing it requires the parent's Google account password, not just a PIN.

If you are the parent and want to remove Family Link from a child's device, open the Family Link app on your own phone, select the child's account, tap "Controls on Google Play", then "Parental controls", and toggle it off. You can also remove the child's account from the device entirely by going to Settings > Accounts > Google on the child's phone and deleting the linked account.

If you are the child and the parent set up Family Link, you cannot remove it without the parent's Google password. Family Link is designed specifically to prevent children from bypassing it. The only workaround without the password is a factory reset, which erases everything on the device.

Uninstalling third-party parental control apps

Apps like Bark, Life360, Screen Time, and Qustodio install as regular apps but often lock themselves so they cannot be uninstalled without a password. The steps to remove them depend on whether the app is set as a device administrator.

Go to Settings > Apps and find the parental control app by name. Tap it, then look for a button that says "Uninstall" or "Remove". If the button is grayed out, the app is set as a device administrator. Tap "App permissions" or "Device admin apps" (the exact name varies by Android version), find the parental control app, and toggle it off. Once you remove it as an admin, go back to the Apps list and uninstall it normally.

Some third-party apps require a parent password even after you remove them as admin. If you see a password prompt when you try to uninstall, you will need that password. If you do not have it, ask the parent or guardian who installed it.

What a factory reset does and does not do

A factory reset erases all parental controls, but it also erases everything else on your device: photos, messages, apps, contacts, and settings. It is the nuclear option and should be your last resort.

Before you factory reset, back up your data. Open Settings > System > Backup (or Settings > Accounts > Google > Backup, depending on your Android version) and make sure your photos, contacts, and app data are synced to your Google account. You can also plug your phone into a computer and copy files manually.

To factory reset, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (or Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset on Samsung phones). You will be asked to confirm. After the reset, the device will restart and ask you to set it up as new. When you sign back in with your Google account, your backed-up data will restore, but all parental controls will be gone.

Why parental controls exist and what they actually prevent

Parental controls are designed to limit access to age-inappropriate content and control screen time, not to prevent all tech use. They work best when there is trust between the parent and child about why they are in place.

If you are frustrated by parental controls, the conversation worth having is not how to bypass them — it is why they are there. Controls that feel unfair often mean the parent is worried about something specific: too much screen time, access to adult content, or contact with strangers. Knowing what the actual concern is makes it possible to address it directly instead of working around the restriction.

If you are a parent reading this because you want to understand what your child might do: parental controls slow down access but do not stop determined users. They are most effective as part of a conversation about digital safety, not as a substitute for one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove parental controls if I do not know the PIN or password?

Not without either the PIN, the parent's Google account password, or a factory reset. There is no master code or backdoor. If you genuinely forgot your own PIN, you can try resetting your Google account password through the Google Account Recovery page, which may let you regain control of Family Link.

Will my parents know if I turn off parental controls?

If they check the device or the Family Link app, yes — they will see that controls are no longer active. If you remove the app entirely, they may notice when they try to open it. Disabling controls without telling them usually leads to a bigger conversation than asking for them to be removed.

What is the difference between Family Link and Play Store parental controls?

Play Store controls only restrict app downloads. Family Link controls the entire device: it can lock the screen, set bedtime, limit screen time, and track location. Family Link is much harder to remove because it requires the parent's account password, not just a PIN.

If I factory reset, will my photos and messages come back?

Only if you backed them up to your Google account or to a computer before the reset. Photos backed up to Google Photos, contacts synced to your Google account, and app data saved to Google Drive will restore when you sign back in. Anything not backed up is permanently erased.

Can parental controls track my location even if I turn them off?

No — disabling Family Link or uninstalling a tracking app stops location sharing. However, your parent can still see your location through Google Maps or Find My Mobile if they are signed into your account or have their own location sharing enabled with you. Those are separate from parental controls.