How to remove Family Link depends on who set it up
If you set up Family Link yourself on your own device, you can remove it through your Google Account settings. If a parent or guardian set it up on your device, you cannot remove it yourself — the person who created the Family Link account has to do it, or you have to use a device they do not manage. Google designed it this way so that a parent's settings cannot be bypassed by a child changing the device.
The removal process takes about five minutes once you have access to the right account. The tricky part is knowing which account has permission to remove it, because Family Link works differently depending on whether you are the account holder or the supervised person.
Key Takeaways
- If you created Family Link yourself, you remove it by going to myaccount.google.com, selecting Family, and choosing to delete the Family Group.
- If a parent set it up on your device, only that parent can remove it through their own Google Account or Family Link app.
- Removing Family Link on one device does not affect it on other devices — each device must be removed separately.
- If you forget the parent's password or no longer have contact with them, you will need to factory reset the device, which erases everything on it.
- On Android, you can also remove Family Link by going to Settings, then Accounts, then Google, then removing the supervised account entirely.
Removing Family Link when you are the account holder
Go to myaccount.google.com in any web browser on any device. Sign in with the Google Account that created the Family Link group. Click Family in the left menu — you may need to scroll down to see it.
You will see the Family Group listed with all supervised accounts underneath. Click the supervised account you want to remove, or click Manage family group to see options for the whole group. Select Remove member or Delete family group depending on whether you want to remove one person or shut down the entire Family Link setup. Confirm the action when prompted.
The supervised person will lose Family Link restrictions on their device within a few minutes. They will still be able to use their Google Account normally, but parental controls will no longer explore.
Removing Family Link when a parent set it up
Ask the parent or guardian who created the Family Link account to follow the steps above using their own Google Account. They will see your account listed under their Family Group and can remove you from it. This is the intended way to remove Family Link, and it takes them about two minutes.
If the parent agrees to remove it but does not know how, send them the link myaccount.google.com and tell them to click Family, then select your account, then click Remove member. They will need to sign in with their own Google Account password.
If the parent refuses to remove it or you cannot contact them, your only option is to factory reset the device. This erases everything on it — all photos, messages, apps, and files — so do this only as a last resort.
Removing Family Link on Android by deleting the supervised account
On Android phones and tablets, you can remove Family Link by removing the supervised Google Account from the device entirely. Go to Settings, then Accounts (or Accounts and backup depending on your Android version). Tap the Google Account that has Family Link on it.
Tap the three dots in the top right corner, then select Remove account. You will be asked to confirm. The Family Link restrictions will disappear when ready because the supervised account is no longer on the device.
This method works only if you have access to the device itself and can unlock it. It does not remove Family Link from the parent's view — they will still see your account in their Family Group, but the restrictions will not explore to this device anymore. If you want to completely remove yourself from Family Link, ask the parent to remove you using the steps in the previous section.
Removing Family Link on iPhone or iPad
On Apple devices, Family Link restrictions are tied to Screen Time, not to a separate app. To remove them, go to Settings, then Screen Time. Tap Change Screen Time Passcode or Turn Off Screen Time.
You will need the Screen Time passcode to turn it off. If you do not know it, you can reset it using your Apple ID, but the parent will receive a notification that Screen Time was turned off. If the parent set a separate Apple ID restriction, you will not be able to turn off Screen Time without that ID.
Like the Android method above, removing Screen Time on your device does not remove you from the parent's Family Sharing group. The parent can still see your location and manage other aspects of your account. To fully remove yourself, the parent needs to remove you from Family Sharing in their own Settings under Family.
What happens when you factory reset a device
If you cannot contact the parent or guardian and they refuse to remove Family Link, factory reset is the only way to remove it. On Android, go to Settings, then System (or About phone), then Reset options, then Erase all data. On iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then Reset, then Erase All Content and Settings.
The device will restart and return to its original state, as if it just came out of the box. All photos, messages, apps, contacts, and files will be permanently deleted. You cannot undo this. After the reset, you can set up the device again with a new Google Account or Apple ID that does not have Family Link on it.
Factory reset should be your last option because the data loss is permanent. If you are a minor and the parent is refusing to remove Family Link unfairly, talk to another trusted adult — a school counselor, relative, or teacher — before erasing your device.
Why Family Link cannot be removed by the supervised person
Google built Family Link so that the supervised person cannot remove it without the parent's permission or password. This is intentional. The system assumes that a parent set it up to protect a child, and a child should not be able to bypass parental controls by straightforward deleting the app or changing settings.
This design also means that if you are an adult whose parent set up Family Link on your device years ago and never removed it, you are stuck until they do it themselves or you factory reset. Some people in this situation contact Google Support to explain the situation, but Google generally will not remove Family Link without the parent's consent, because they cannot verify who actually owns the device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove Family Link if I do not know the parent's password?
No. Family Link is designed so that only the account that created it can remove it. If you do not know the parent's password and cannot ask them to remove it, your only option is factory reset, which erases the device. You cannot bypass this without the parent's help.
Will the parent know if I remove Family Link?
Yes, if you remove it through the parent's account, they will see that the Family Group was changed. If you remove the supervised account from the device or factory reset, the parent will notice that the device is no longer showing up in their Family Link app or that restrictions are gone. They will know something changed.
Does removing Family Link from one device remove it from all my devices?
No. Family Link is set up per device. If you have it on a phone and a tablet, you have to remove it from each one separately. Removing it from your phone does not affect your tablet.
What if I factory reset but the parent sets up Family Link again?
If the parent has access to your device and your Google Account password, they can set up Family Link again after you reset. To prevent this, you would need to change your Google Account password to something the parent does not know, or use a different Google Account that they do not manage.
Can Google Support remove Family Link for me?
Google Support will not remove Family Link without the parent's consent, because they cannot verify who actually owns the device or account. If you believe Family Link is being used abusively, contact a trusted adult or local authorities rather than trying to remove it yourself.