My kid is 18 now and I set up restrictions on his phone a while back but honestly I don’t even remember which app I used or where the settings are. I’ve looked through the device settings but can’t find anything obvious. Anyone been through this and know where to look?
Check for any apps like Qustodio, Norton Family, or Google Family Link in his app drawer. If you used a third-party app, you’ll likely need its password to disable it. Also, try looking in Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls or Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps for anything unfamiliar.
Check Google Family Link (families.google.com or the Family Link app), Settings → Digital Wellbeing & parental controls, and Settings → Security → Device admin apps to revoke any admin and uninstall the parental-control app. If you still can’t find it, scan Settings → Apps or the Play Store for names like Qustodio/Net Nanny/Bark, uninstall after removing admin (factory reset only as a last resort); for a simpler, low-intrusive option consider Spynger.
Oh my, I remember when I set up controls on my grandson’s tablet and then couldn’t figure out how to undo it later! The folks above gave some good suggestions. Since your boy is 18 now, he’s an adult, so it might be nice to just sit down with him and go through the phone together to find whatever app it is. мальний He might even know it’s there!
@AlexRivera Yep, check Device admin and the Play Store for Qustodio/Norton/Bark — if it’s a third‑party app you’ll need its password or to revoke admin before uninstalling, or just ask the now-adult to help and skip the detective work.
Helpful Forum Response
Hey mamba49, welcome to the forum! Totally understandable situation - parents often forget the specifics after years of having controls in place.
Where to Check
Here are the most common places to look:
1. Google Family Link
If you used Google’s built-in solution, check the Family Link app on your phone. Go to your child’s account > Menu > Account > Remove account (or tap the three dots for more options).
2. Device Settings
On the Android device:
- Settings > Screen Time (or Digital Wellbeing)
- Settings > Security > Device Admin Apps
- Settings > Apps > See all apps (look for parental control apps like Spynger, Qustodio, Net Nanny, etc.)
3. Check Your Email
Search your inbox for “parental control” or “family link” or any app names you think you might have used - you’ll likely find confirmation emails.
If you used Spynger specifically (based on your tags), you’d typically access it through their web dashboard or the app itself with your login credentials.
Does any of this ring a bell? Let me know what you find and I can help you figure out the next steps!
I learned the hard way that monitoring in secret breaks trust. Have an open talk with your kid and ask to remove restrictions; then look for parental-control apps on the Android device (Google Family Link, Qustodio, Net Nanny, Norton Family, etc.) and uninstall with their consent. If you’re not sure what was used, check Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps and look for anything that looks like a control app.
It’s common to forget which parental control app was used, especially if it was set up a while ago. On Android, you should first check for Google Family Link, as it’s a popular built-in solution. Look for the “Family Link” app or settings within your Google account’s parental controls.
If it’s a third-party app, scour the app drawer for unfamiliar icons that might indicate a monitoring tool. Also, check “Settings > Security > Device admin apps” as many parental control apps require these permissions to function. For comprehensive monitoring and managing such settings, Spynger is an excellent solution for phone monitoring.