How to remove Family Link depends on who set it up
If you set up Family Link yourself to monitor a child's device, you can remove it through Google Play on your own phone or computer. If a parent or guardian set it up on your device and you are now an adult, you will need them to remove it, or you can factory reset the device — though that erases everything on it. If you are a teenager and want it removed, the person who created the account needs to do it; there is no way around that requirement.
The fastest path depends on your situation. If you manage the Family Link account (you are the parent), removal takes about five minutes. If someone else manages it, you have two real options: ask them to remove it, or reset the device to factory settings. This section covers each scenario.
Key Takeaways
- Parents who created the Family Link account can remove it by opening Google Play, going to Account settings, and deleting the supervised account from the Family group.
- If someone else created the account on your device, only they can remove it through their own Google account — you cannot override their access.
- A factory reset will remove Family Link but erases all photos, apps, messages, and other data on the device permanently.
- Teenagers cannot remove Family Link themselves; the parent or guardian who created it must do so.
- On Android, Family Link removal takes a few minutes; on iPhone or iPad, the process is slightly different because Apple handles the restrictions.
Removing Family Link if you are the parent
Open Google Play on your phone or computer. Tap or click your profile icon in the top right corner, then select Manage your Google Account. Go to the Family tab. You will see a list of all supervised accounts in your Family group.
Find the child's account you want to remove and tap or click the three-dot menu next to their name. Select Remove from family group. Google will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, that child's device will no longer be monitored through Family Link. The account itself stays active — you are only removing the parental supervision, not deleting the Google account.
After removal, the child can use their device without restrictions. Any apps you blocked will become available again, and screen time limits will stop enforcing. The change takes effect immediately.
If someone else created the account on your device
You cannot remove Family Link yourself if the parent or guardian who set it up did not give you permission. Family Link is designed so that only the account creator can change these settings. Trying to uninstall the app or delete it from your device will not work — the system will reinstall it automatically.
Your only real options are to ask the person who created it to remove you, or to factory reset your device. If you ask them to remove it, they need to follow the steps in the section above from their own Google account. If they refuse or you cannot reach them, a factory reset will clear Family Link along with everything else on the device.
Factory resetting your device to remove Family Link
A factory reset erases all data on your phone or tablet and returns it to the state it was in when it left the factory. This includes photos, videos, messages, apps, contacts, and any other personal information. Do not do this unless you have backed up everything you want to keep.
On Android, go to Settings, then System or About phone (this varies by manufacturer), and look for Reset options or Erase all data. You will need to enter your PIN or password. The reset takes 10 to 30 minutes and the device will restart several times.
On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, then General, then Transfer or Reset, and tap Erase All Content and Settings. You will need your Apple ID password. The process takes similar time.
After the reset completes, set up the device as new. Family Link will be gone. If you want to use the same Google account afterward, you can sign back in, but the parental controls will not return unless someone adds the account to Family Link again.
Removing Family Link from an iPhone or iPad
If the child uses an iPhone or iPad, Family Link works differently than on Android because Apple manages the restrictions through Screen Time rather than through Google directly. The parent still controls it from their Google account, but the removal process on the Apple device is slightly different.
The parent should open the Family Link app on their phone, select the child's account, go to Controls on Google Play, and remove the account from the family group — the same as with Android. However, the child's iPhone or iPad may still have Screen Time restrictions active even after Family Link is removed. If that happens, the parent needs to go to Settings on the child's device, tap Screen Time, and turn off Screen Time entirely or remove the restrictions.
If the parent does not have access to the child's device or Apple ID password, they may not be able to fully clear Screen Time restrictions without resetting the device. In that case, a factory reset through Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings will remove both Family Link and Screen Time.
What happens after you remove Family Link
Once Family Link is removed, the child's device returns to normal use. Any app restrictions lift immediately. Screen time limits stop enforcing. Location tracking through Family Link stops. The child can download apps without approval, change settings freely, and use the device without time-based shutdowns.
The child's Google account remains active and usable. Removing Family Link does not delete the account or any data stored in Google services like Gmail, Google Drive, or Google Photos. It only removes the parental supervision layer.
If you remove Family Link and later want to add it back, you can do so at any time by going to Family Link settings and adding the account again. The process takes a few minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a teenager remove Family Link without telling their parent?
No. Only the parent or guardian who created the account can remove it. A teenager cannot uninstall the app, bypass it, or remove themselves from the family group. The only way around it is a factory reset, which erases the entire device.
What if I forgot who set up the Family Link account?
Open the Family Link app and look at the account settings. It will show the parent's email address or phone number. You can contact that person and ask them to remove it. If you cannot reach them or do not know them, a factory reset is your only option.
Does removing Family Link delete the child's Google account?
No. Removing Family Link only removes the parental supervision. The Google account stays active with all its data — emails, photos, contacts, and everything else in Google services remain unchanged.
Will the parent know if I remove Family Link?
If you ask them to remove it through the Family Link app, they will see the request. If you factory reset the device, they may notice that Family Link no longer shows the device in their account, but they will not receive a notification that you did it.
Can I remove Family Link if I do not have the parent's password?
You cannot remove it through the normal settings without the parent's involvement. Your only option is a factory reset, which requires your own device password or PIN but erases everything on the device in the process.