Conquering Control: A Comprehensive Guide to Deleting Parental Controls

Deleting parental controls can feel like navigating a maze, but fear not! Whether you’re a teenager reclaiming your digital freedom or a parent adjusting settings as your child matures, this guide provides a comprehensive roadmap to successfully remove parental controls across various devices and platforms. The key is understanding that the method varies depending on the platform (Google Play Store, Family Link, Windows, etc.) and who set up the controls. Here’s a breakdown of how to tackle this task, followed by frequently asked questions to cover all your bases.

Deleting Parental Control: A Step-by-Step Approach

The exact steps to delete parental controls depend heavily on the specific platform or application implementing those controls. Below are some common scenarios and their corresponding solutions.

1. Google Play Store Parental Controls

If you’re dealing with parental controls set directly within the Google Play Store, here’s how to disable them:

1. Open the Google Play Store app. Locate the familiar Play Store icon on your Android device and tap it to launch the app.
2. Tap your profile image. In the upper-right corner, you’ll find your profile picture or initial. Tap it to access the account menu.
3. Tap Settings. From the menu that appears, select “Settings.” This will lead you to the Play Store’s settings panel.
4. Tap Family. Within the Settings menu, find and tap “Family.” This section houses all family-related settings, including parental controls.
5. Tap Parental Controls. Now, select “Parental Controls.” You may be prompted to enter the PIN you previously set to enable these controls.
6. Enter your PIN. If prompted, carefully enter the PIN associated with the parental controls. This step is crucial for security.
7. Toggle Parental Controls Off. At the top of the “Parental Controls” screen, you’ll likely see a toggle switch. Simply switch this toggle to the “Off” position. This will disable the parental controls entirely.

2. Google Family Link Parental Controls

Family Link offers more robust parental controls. Deactivating them requires a different approach, depending on whether you are transitioning a child’s account or removing supervision entirely.

Option 1: Transitioning a Child’s Account (Age 13+)

Once a child turns 13 (or the applicable age in their country), they have the option to manage their own Google Account. The parent can also choose to stop supervision.

1. On the child’s device (Android 7.0+), open Settings. Find the Settings app on the device and open it.
2. Navigate to Google. Look for “Google” within the Settings menu.
3. Tap Parental Controls. If the settings are managed by Family Link, you will see it indicated here. Tap on the option to manage parental controls.
4. At the top right, tap More Stop supervision. Look for three dots or a “More” option and select “Stop Supervision.”
5. Follow the on-screen instructions. You will likely need to verify your identity as the parent using your Google account password or a Parent Access Code. The on-screen instructions will guide you through the final steps of removing supervision.

Option 2: Removing Supervision (Any Age)

A parent can remove supervision at any time, though this will come with a notification to the child and potentially a disruption in access to certain services depending on the age of the child.

1. On the parent’s device, open the Family Link app. Locate the Family Link app on your device and tap it to launch it.
2. Select your child. In the Family Link app, select the child account you wish to stop supervising.
3. Tap Manage settings Account Info. You’ll find several options here related to managing the child’s account.
4. Tap Stop supervision. Depending on the version of the app, this option might be in slightly different location, but look for a phrase along the lines of “Stop Supervision” or “Remove Account.”
5. Follow the on-screen instructions. The app will guide you through the process, which includes acknowledging the consequences of stopping supervision and confirming your decision.

3. Removing Parental Controls on Windows

Windows operating systems often have built-in parental control features. Here’s how to disable them:

1. Log in with an administrator account. You need administrator privileges to change these settings.
2. Open the Control Panel. Search for “Control Panel” in the Windows search bar and open it.
3. Go to “Family Safety” or “User Accounts”. Depending on your version of Windows, this option may be labeled differently. Look for something relating to family safety or user accounts.
4. Click on “Parental Controls”. Within the Family Safety or User Accounts section, find the Parental Controls option.
5. Select the child’s account. Choose the account for which you want to disable parental controls.
6. Toggle the button next to “Enable parental controls” to the “Off” position. This effectively turns off all parental control restrictions for that account.

4. Removing Device Administrator Permissions (Android)

Some parental control apps require device administrator permissions to function properly. Removing these permissions is necessary before you can uninstall the app.

1. Go to your phone’s Settings. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Tap Security (or Security & Privacy). The exact wording may vary slightly depending on your device.
3. Look for “Device admin apps” or “Device administrators”. This section lists apps that have been granted device administrator privileges.
4. Tap the app you want to remove. A list of device admin apps will appear. Tap on the specific parental control app you want to remove.
5. Deactivate administrator privileges. Tap the toggle switch to deactivate the app’s administrator privileges. You may be prompted to confirm your decision.

Once administrator privileges are revoked, you can uninstall the app normally through the app settings.

5. Nintendo Switch Parental Controls

The Nintendo Switch also has parental control settings that can be removed.

1. Select System Settings on the HOME Menu.
2. Scroll down to highlight Parental Controls, then select Change Settings.
3. Enter the Parental Control PIN number for the system.
4. Press the X Button (Delete Settings) to remove the Parental Controls settings and PIN number.

6. Factory Reset as a Last Resort

As a last resort, a factory reset will remove all data from a device, including parental control settings. This is a drastic measure and should only be used if other methods have failed, as it will erase all personal information and installed apps.

Important: Back up any important data before performing a factory reset. The process will vary depending on the device, but generally involves accessing the device’s settings menu and selecting an option like “Reset” or “Factory Reset.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions about deleting parental controls, with detailed answers to guide you:

1. What happens when my child turns 13 on Family Link?

On their 13th birthday (or the relevant age in your region), your child gains the ability to transition their Google Account to a standard account, which they manage themselves. You will receive a notification, and they can choose to stop being supervised. As a parent, you can also choose to remove supervision at any time after they turn 13.

2. How do I turn off parental controls on Google Chrome?

Parental controls on Google Chrome are often managed through Family Link. To change website permission settings:

1. Open the Family Link app on the parent’s device.
2. Select your child.
3. Tap Controls > Content restrictions > Google Chrome > Advanced settings.
4. Turn Permissions for sites, apps, and extensions on or off.

3. How do I remove administrator permission from an app?

1. Go to your phone’s settings.
2. Click on “Security” (or “Security & Privacy”).
3. You’ll see “Device admin apps” or “Device administrators” as a security category.
4. Click on it to see a list of apps that have been given administrator privileges.
5. Click the app you want to remove and confirm that you want to deactivate administrator privileges.

4. Does a factory reset remove parental controls?

Yes, a factory reset will restore your device to its original factory settings, effectively removing all parental controls. However, remember that it will also erase all your personal data, so back up your device beforehand.

5. How do I factory reset through Family Link?

1. On your parent device, open the Family Link app.
2. Select your child.
3. Tap Controls > Devices.
4. Select your child’s device.
5. Tap Reset device & delete data. If you don’t find “Reset device & delete data,” you can remove the child’s account from Android settings on their device.

6. How do I remove all app permissions?

1. Tap Settings.
2. Tap Privacy.
3. Tap Permission manager.
4. Tap the permission type to see which apps allow the selected permission.
5. Tap on an app and select Allow or Don’t allow.

7. Why remove admin rights from an app?

Removing local admin rights will help close the gap on external threats. A malicious actor can compromise a user’s login credentials and exploit admin privileges.

8. How do I turn off restricted mode on Family Link?

1. On your device, open the Family Link app.
2. Select Controls.
3. Content restrictions > YouTube.
4. Turn Restricted Mode on or off.

9. Where are Google parental controls located?

1. Open the Google Play app.
2. At the top right, tap the profile icon.
3. Tap Settings > Family.
4. Parental controls.

10. Can parental controls see incognito mode?

Due to Android limitations, parental control features generally cannot filter content on Google Chrome’s incognito pages on the mobile device. However, when a child has a Google account managed by Family Link, they might not be able to use Incognito Mode at all, depending on the settings enforced.

11. Can a child uninstall Family Link?

No, a child cannot uninstall Family Link without the parent’s permission. Google’s Family Link app protects itself from tampering. To uninstall Family Link on the child’s device, you must enter the parent’s group password and remove the child’s account from the group.

12. Can a parent remove Family Link entirely?

Yes. If at any time you wish to stop further collection or use of your child’s information, you can delete your child’s Google Account or profile by clicking ”Delete account” or “Delete profile” on your child’s Account or Profile Info page in the Family Link app or Family Link settings on the web.

13. How do I permanently block an app?

1. Open the Settings app of your Android device.
2. Navigate to Digital Wellbeing & parental control and open it.
3. On the new page, click on Dashboard.
4. Navigate to the app you want to block.

14. How do I change my age on my Apple ID?

1. Sign in to appleid.apple.com.
2. Select Personal Information, then choose Birthday.
3. Update your birth date and click Save. Note: There may be limitations depending on your region and existing Apple services.

15. How can I turn off my child’s phone at night?

1. Download the Family Link for Children & Teens on your kid’s phone (available for Android only).
2. On your phone, create a family manager account.
3. Once your kid’s profile is set up, select Bedtime and set the span of time your kid can’t use their phone.

Remember, communication is key. Openly discussing online safety and responsible technology use with your children is crucial, regardless of the parental controls you implement. Resources like the Games Learning Society, found at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/, provide valuable insights into engaging and educating children through games and technology.