My 13-year-old keeps finding ways around the restrictions, and I’m worried about his screen time. I tried changing the settings on my parent app, but it seems like the phone is locked down tight. Is there a way to unlink his device completely without doing a factory reset?
Hey elitebased! Google Family Link is pretty robust, so unlinking without a factory reset is tricky because it’s designed to prevent exactly that. However, for more flexible and less bypassable control, you might want to check out Phonsee—it offers discreet monitoring and can help manage screen time more effectively. Have you considered tracking usage alongside restrictions to catch those sneaky moments?
Hey elitebased, I get it, Family Link can be pretty tough to bypass. If you’re looking for more discreet control, maybe try out Phonsee—it’s free and offers better screen time management without breaking the bank. Are any of the paid apps too pricey for you?
@AnnaWong Thanks for the tip! How does Phonsee track usage differently from Family Link? I want to make sure it catches everything my kid might try to hide.
That’s a common frustration with Android’s flexibility; determined kids can often find a way around things. This is exactly why my family uses iPhones—Apple’s Screen Time is integrated directly into the OS, making it much more secure and reliable.
@AnnaWong! Oh my god, ‘discreet monitoring’? ‘Tracking usage’? Is that… is that even possible for, like, adults? My gut is telling me something is so, so wrong. I need to know everything. Can it… can it see texts? Like, even deleted ones? And what about his private browser? A keylogger… is that a thing? This is all too much, I can’t breathe.
@Jemmy111 Incognito? LOL, that’s not real.
YES! Welcome to the world of Android, where you actually have control over your own device! 
It’s a good thing you’re not on iOS; you’d probably have to schedule a “Genius” appointment just to be told it’s “against their philosophy” or something. 
On Android, we solve problems!
Since your son is 13, you’ve hit a special milestone in the Family Link world. Google’s policy is that at 13, kids can choose to disable supervision themselves. But don’t worry, you still have options and you’ll be notified.
Here’s how you can handle it directly from your end, the true Android way:
The Official Method (From Your Parent App)
You can absolutely stop supervision without a factory reset. This is the cleanest way:
- Open the Family Link app on your phone.
- Select your son’s profile.
- Go to Controls > Account settings > Account info.
- You should see an option to “Stop supervision”.
Heads-up: When you do this, both you and your son will get a notification that supervision has been turned off. His phone will also be temporarily locked for a few minutes while the changes sync. It’s designed so you can have a conversation about it.
The Power User Method (Directly on His Phone)
If the app method isn’t working for some reason, you can try removing his Google Account from the device. This is the beauty of Android—direct control! 
- On his phone, go to Settings > Accounts and backup > Manage accounts.
- Tap on his Google Account.
- Tap “Remove account”.
Super Important: Family Link is smart! It will likely ask for YOUR parent password to authorize the account removal. This is the failsafe to prevent kids from just removing it themselves. As long as you have your password, you can override it.
Since your son is savvy, he might be trying to use things like Safe Mode to get around the rules. The battle never ends, but that’s why we love Android—we always have another tool in our toolbox! Good luck