How to Remove Google Family Link Supervision in 2026

Google Family Link is free — there's no subscription to cancel. But removing the parental supervision from your child's device isn't as straightforward as you'd expect. The process differs based on your child's age.

For Children Under 13

Children under 13 (or the applicable age in your country) have Google accounts managed entirely through Family Link. You have two options:

Option A: Remove Supervision (Keep the Account)

1. Open the Family Link app on your phone
2. Select your child's profile
3. Tap Controls → Account settings
4. Tap Account info → Stop supervision
5. Follow the prompts to confirm

Note: For under-13 accounts, Google may require you to wait until the child turns 13, or you may need to convert their account. The exact options depend on your country's age requirements.

Option B: Delete the Child's Google Account

1. Open the Family Link app
2. Select your child → Controls → Account settings
3. Tap Account info → Delete account
4. Read the warnings carefully — this deletes all their Google data (emails, photos, app purchases)
5. Confirm deletion

For Teens (13+)

Teens 13 and older have more control. There are two ways to remove supervision:

Parent Removes Supervision

1. Open the Family Link app on your (parent's) phone
2. Select your teen's profile
3. Tap Controls → Account settings → Account info
4. Tap Stop supervision
5. Confirm

Teen Removes Supervision Themselves

1. On the teen's device, open Settings → Google → Parental controls
2. Tap Stop supervision
3. The parent receives a notification and has 24 hours to re-enable it
4. If the parent doesn't re-enable, the teen's device is locked for 24 hours as a safeguard
5. After the lock period, supervision is removed

What Changes After Removing Family Link

• Screen time limits are removed
• App approval requirements go away
• Location sharing stops (unless the child re-enables it voluntarily)
• Content filters (SafeSearch, YouTube Restricted Mode) revert to the child's own settings
• The child's Google account becomes a standard account
• All their data (emails, Drive files, photos) remains intact

Alternative Parental Control Options

If you want to switch to a different parental control system:

• Apple Screen Time: Built into iOS/Mac — free, works well in Apple-only households
• Qustodio: $54.95/year — cross-platform (Android, iOS, Windows, Mac)
• Bark: $14/month — focuses on monitoring rather than blocking (alerts for concerning content)
• Router-level controls: OpenDNS Family Shield (free) or Circle ($9.99/month) — filters at the network level for all devices

Troubleshooting

• "Stop supervision" option missing: Make sure you're using the latest version of the Family Link app. Try the web version at families.google.com
• Can't remove for under-13 account: In some regions, you must wait until the child turns 13 or delete the account entirely
• Family Link stuck on device: After removing supervision, restart the child's device. If the app persists, uninstall it manually