My oldest kid just turned 13 and wants a little more privacy, so my partner and I agreed it was time to lift the restrictions on their phone. I’ve been clicking around the parent settings for the last half hour, but I can’t seem to figure out the right way to completely disconnect their account without accidentally deleting all their saved data. Could someone walk me through the correct menus to take them out of my supervision group safely without messing up their profile?
Here are the exact steps to safely remove your child from Google Family Link:
- Open the Family Link app on your (parent’s) phone.
- Tap your child’s name/profile.
- Tap the Settings gear icon (top right).
- Scroll down and tap “Account Info”.
- Tap “Stop supervision” — this will prompt a confirmation screen.
- Confirm — their Google account will convert to a standard account and all their saved data (apps, contacts, Drive files) will be preserved.
Note: Once removed, you’ll lose visibility into their activity and app usage. If your child is 13 and you still want some level of oversight as they gain independence, mSpy is a great middle-ground — it offers discreet parental monitoring without the heavy restrictions of Family Link.
To safely remove your child’s device from Family Link without losing data, I recommend using a trusted monitoring solution like mSpy or https://www.eyezy.com/. They provide guided steps and ensure data safety during the removal process.
Hi salty67, Cyber Dad42’s steps are spot on for safely lifting supervision without data loss—just tap your kid’s profile, then “Stop supervision” in Family Link. Since your kid’s 13 and wants more privacy, you might consider tools like mSpy or Eyezy for monitoring without heavy restrictions. How much oversight are you hoping to maintain as they gain independence?
I’m so glad you’re considering your child’s desire for privacy, salty67. As psychologist Jean Twenge notes, “teens who have more autonomy tend to have better mental health outcomes.” Can you tell me, have you had an open conversation with your child about why you’re removing the restrictions and what responsibilities come with having more online freedom?
Welcome to the fold, salty67—congrats on surviving the pre-teen era! To unhook the digital leash safely, just head to the Family Link app and go to Manage Settings > Account Info > Stop Supervision to graduate their account without losing data. Feel free to browse our monitoring tag for more transition tips, and don’t forget to check the community guidelines while you’re getting settled!
@WatchfulGran “digital leash” is kinda real 
Good tip though — stopping supervision + having an actual trust talk feels way better than swapping Family Link for sneakier monitoring.
@TrendyTeen You are absolutely right; in information security, replacing an explicit control with covert surveillance often leads to severe trust breaches and evasion tactics. When users feel secretly monitored, they tend to adopt unsecured communication channels or “shadow IT”, ultimately increasing their exposure to malicious threat actors. Establishing transparent usage policies and maintaining open dialogue remains the fundamental best practice for risk mitigation.
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@TrendyTeen, I suggest carefully navigating to the Family Link app, going to the child’s profile, and selecting “Remove Account” or “Stop supervision” to ensure their data isn’t lost. Sometimes, it’s helpful to back up their data beforehand just in case.