Parental controls can be turned off if you know the PIN or password, but the method depends on your device type and which system set them up

Parental controls lock down what a device can do — blocking apps, websites, screen time, or purchases. To turn them off, you need the PIN or password that was used to set them up. If you set them yourself, you can disable them directly. If someone else set them up on your device, you will need that person's PIN or password, or you may need to reset the device entirely.

The steps differ sharply between Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android. Each system stores parental controls in a different place and uses different terminology. This guide covers the most common scenarios: you own the device and want to remove controls you set, or you have permission from whoever set them up.

Key Takeaways

  • Parental controls require a PIN or password to disable, and you cannot bypass this without that credential or a full device reset.
  • Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android each store parental controls in different settings menus and use different names for the same feature.
  • If you forgot the PIN, you can reset the device to factory settings, but this erases everything on it unless you have a backup.
  • Some controls (like screen time limits on iPhone) can be disabled by the person who set them up, while others require the original password.

Disabling parental controls on Windows

On Windows 10 and 11, parental controls are called Family Safety and live in Settings. Open Settings, go to Accounts, then Family & other users. You will see a list of accounts with parental controls applied. Click the account you want to change, then select Edit.

From there, you can turn off individual restrictions: app and game limits, screen time, content filtering, and spending limits. Each toggle can be switched off independently. If you are the account owner (the person who set up the computer), you can do this without a password. If someone else set up Family Safety on your account, you will need their password to make changes.

If you do not have the password and cannot contact the person who set it up, you can reset Windows to factory settings. This removes all parental controls but also erases all files, programs, and settings on the device. You will need a Windows installation disk or USB drive to do this.

Disabling parental controls on Mac

On macOS, parental controls are called Parental Controls (older systems) or Screen Time (newer systems). The location depends on your macOS version. On recent versions, open System Settings, click Screen Time in the sidebar, then select the account you want to change.

If you set up Screen Time yourself, you can turn it off by clicking the account and selecting Turn Off Screen Time. You will be asked for your Apple ID password. If someone else set it up, you will need their password to disable it.

On older Macs, go to System Preferences, click Parental Controls, select the account, and click the lock icon to unlock it. You will need the administrator password. If you do not have it, you can reset your Mac by restarting and holding Command + R to enter Recovery Mode, then use Disk Utility to erase the drive and reinstall macOS.

Disabling parental controls on iPhone and iPad

Apple calls parental controls Screen Time on iPhone and iPad. Open Settings, tap Screen Time, then tap the account name at the top. If you set it up yourself, you can turn it off by scrolling down and tapping Turn Off Screen Time. You will need your Apple ID password.

If someone else set up Screen Time on your device, you cannot disable it without their password. You can ask them to turn it off by going to Settings > Screen Time on their own device, selecting your account, and choosing Turn Off Screen Time. Alternatively, you can reset the device to factory settings, which removes all Screen Time restrictions but erases everything on the device.

To reset an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap General, select Transfer or Reset, then choose Erase All Content and Settings. You will need your Apple ID password to complete the reset. If you do not have the Apple ID password, you cannot reset the device without contacting Apple Support.

Disabling parental controls on Android

Android parental controls are usually called Family Link (Google's system) or Samsung Kids (on Samsung phones). The steps differ depending on which system is active on your device.

For Family Link, open the Family Link app, select the account you want to change, tap Settings, scroll to the bottom, and tap Remove Account. You will need the parent's Google account password. If you are the parent and set it up yourself, you can do this directly. If someone else set it up, you need their password.

For Samsung Kids, open the app, tap Settings (the gear icon), then tap Remove Samsung Kids. You may be asked for a PIN. If you do not have the PIN, you can reset the phone to factory settings by going to Settings, tapping General Management, selecting Reset, and choosing Reset All Settings. This removes parental controls but keeps your files. A full factory reset (Reset to Factory Defaults) erases everything.

What to do if you forgot the PIN or password

If you set up parental controls but forgot the PIN or password, your options depend on the device. On Windows, you can reset the computer to factory settings using a Windows installation disk. On Mac, you can use Recovery Mode to reset the administrator password. On iPhone or iPad, you can reset the device if you know your Apple ID password, or contact Apple Support if you do not.

On Android, the process varies. If you set up Family Link with a Google account, you can sign into that account on a web browser and remove the account from there. If you forgot the PIN for Samsung Kids, you may be able to reset it by answering security questions, or you can factory reset the phone.

Factory resetting a device erases everything on it — all apps, photos, documents, and settings — unless you have a backup. Before you reset, check whether you have a backup of your files. On Windows, use File History or System Image. On Mac, use Time Machine. On iPhone, use iCloud. On Android, use Google Drive or Samsung Cloud.

Parental controls set up by your school or workplace

Some devices are managed by a school or employer, not by a person. These use Mobile Device Management (MDM) software that locks down the device remotely. You cannot disable these controls yourself — you must contact your school's IT department or your employer's IT support to have them removed.

If you own the device personally but it is enrolled in a school or work management system, you can unenroll it. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap General, select VPN & Device Management, and remove the profile. On Android, go to Settings, tap Security, select Device Admin Apps, and uninstall the management app. On Windows or Mac, go to Settings and look for Device Management or Mobile Device Management to unenroll.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I disable parental controls without the PIN?

No. You need the PIN or password to disable parental controls through the settings menu. Your only other option is to reset the device to factory settings, which erases everything on it. If the device is managed by a school or employer, you must contact their IT department.

What happens if I factory reset my device?

A factory reset removes all parental controls, but it also erases all apps, files, photos, and settings. Before you reset, back up your important files using iCloud (iPhone), Google Drive (Android), OneDrive (Windows), or Time Machine (Mac). After the reset, you can restore your backup.

Can I disable parental controls on someone else's device?

No. If you do not have the PIN or password, you cannot disable parental controls without their permission. Attempting to bypass them without authorization may violate the device owner's rights. Ask the person who set them up to remove them for you.

Why can't I turn off Screen Time on my iPhone?

If you cannot find the Turn Off Screen Time option, someone else may have set it up using their Apple ID. You need their password to disable it. Ask them to turn it off from their own device, or have them change the Screen Time password so you can do it yourself.

What if my school locked down my personal device?

If your school enrolled your personal device in their management system, you can unenroll it yourself through Settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management and remove the school's profile. On Android, go to Settings > Security > Device Admin Apps and uninstall the management app. Your school cannot prevent you from unenrolling a device you own.