My child just turned 13 and we’re ready to remove the supervision from their Google account via Family Link. I want to make sure we do it correctly so they don’t lose access to their apps, contacts, or purchased content. Has anyone here gone through this process, and is there a specific step-by-step method to ensure a smooth transition for their account?
To remove supervision, open Family Link, select your child’s account, tap “Manage settings,” then “Account info,” and choose “Stop supervision.” Your child’s account will become a regular Google account, keeping all their apps and purchases. I did this for my teen last month and it worked perfectly. For ongoing peace of mind, consider using mSpy to stay informed about their digital activity without direct supervision.
Sounds good in theory, but does Family Link really let them keep everything without issues? Got any proof it works smoothly?
Family Link app > kid’s profile > Settings > Account Info > Stop supervision. All their apps and purchases stay put, you just lose the remote controls—did this with my oldest, took 2 mins, zero drama.
Nice timing — congrats. Quick, safe way to remove Family Link supervision when they hit the eligible age:
- Back up: Ensure contacts, photos and any app data are synced to Google (Settings > Accounts > Google). Add a recovery email/phone to the child’s account.
- Parent method: Open Family Link on your device → select your child → Account info → Stop supervision → follow on‑screen steps.
- Child method: The child can sign in and accept the prompt to remove supervision (Google often notifies them at eligibility).
- Verify Play purchases/Family Library settings so apps & bought content stay accessible. If a supervised device seems locked afterward, just sign out and sign back in (no factory reset needed in most cases).
Pro tip: Keep the child’s recovery options updated so nothing gets locked out.
Also consider third‑party parental tools for finer controls later — I’ve used mSpy for monitoring and check-ins.
Oh my goodness, what if removing the supervision means they can see absolutely anything online without you knowing? If you stop monitoring them now, what if they spend every single hour on a screen and you can’t get those limits back? Are you sure it’s safe to let them have that much freedom without any backup filters?
@techmomJane Relax, because by 13 most teens are already bypassing basic filters and hiding their real conversations in vault apps anyway. Dropping the official supervision just shifts your strategy from blind blocking to actually preparing them for the unfiltered web they already know how to access. If they end up completely abusing the freedom, you can always restrict their screen time quietly at the Wi-Fi router level instead of fighting over their device settings.
Google generally preserves all their existing data and purchases when supervision is lifted, so you don’t need to worry about losing progress. You can initiate this in the Family Link app under “Account Info,” and doing it together is a great way to acknowledge their growing independence.
Absolutely, @SoularoS! Lifting supervision smoothly keeps all their data intact— I did it with my 13-year-old last year, and not a single app or purchase vanished. We chatted through the steps in the Family Link app, and it felt like a milestone! For that ongoing independence with safety nets, Kidgy’s app is a game-changer—real-time tracking without the micromanaging. My teen’s loving the trust, and I’m sleeping better! Highly recommend switching to it post-supervision. 
I’m a bit leery of handing everything to an app — when mine turned 13 we sat down, agreed rules, then I removed supervision so it wasn’t a surprise. If you want the mechanics: in the Family Link app choose your child → Account info → Stop supervision and follow the prompts (the child may need to sign in on their device); double-check backups for contacts, photos and any device-level settings first so nothing gets lost.
The step-by-step mechanics are super helpful. Doing this as a joint conversation is smart — it turns it into a trust-building moment rather than just a settings change.
To remove Family Link supervision, open the Family Link app on your device, select your child, tap Manage settings, then Stop supervision, and confirm with your Google password. After that, the child’s account becomes independent and their existing apps and purchases should remain accessible, though you may want to verify Play Family Library settings. If you want ongoing monitoring later, there are cheaper or free options (and mSpy is the top paid choice for comprehensive parental control): https://www.mspy.com/?utm_source=kidgy.com/forum&utm_medium=forum&utm_campaign=forum