The situation when the device is blocked by access restriction apps causes panic among many users. You are trying to return the phone to its original state, but the system requires a password that was set a long time ago or forgotten. The standard path through the settings menu turns out to be a dead end, since the reset function is blocked by the active administrator profile. However, there are technical loopholes that allow you to bypass these restrictions and bring the gadget back to life.
In this material we will analyze in detail the algorithms of actions for different versions of the operating system Android. It is important to understand that modern versions of the OS, starting with the fifth, have implemented FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection. This means that a simple reset using the buttons may not help if you don't know the owner's credentials. We will consider both classical methods and more complex options using a computer.
Before starting any manipulations, you need to understand the risks. A complete memory wipe will destroy all your photos, contacts and installed applications beyond recovery. If you have critical information stored on your device, first try to find a way to unlock it programmatically without resorting to formatting. Otherwise, preparing for data loss is a mandatory step.
Why standard reset does not work with active control
The mechanism of parental control applications, such as Kids Place, Google Family Link or Qustodio, is based on obtaining device administrator rights. When you try to reset through the menu Settings → System → Reset, the system checks the access rights. If a profile with elevated privileges is active, the operation is blocked until a special code is entered.
This is done specifically for the safety of children so that they cannot remove restrictive software on their own. However, such protection becomes a problem if the password is lost or forgotten by an adult user. In this case, the software interface becomes unavailable, and the only solution is a forced reboot through the system recovery menu. It is worth noting that in the latest updates, Google has tightened its security policies. Now even entering recovery mode may require confirmation through the lock screen if the phone has recently been rebooted. This complicates the process, but does not make it impossible.
It is worth noting that in the latest updates Android 13 And Android 14 Google has tightened its security policies. Now even entering recovery mode may require confirmation through the lock screen if the phone has recently been rebooted. This complicates the process, but does not make it impossible.
⚠️ Attention: Trying to enter the wrong password multiple times can lead to temporary blocking of the device for several hours or to complete data encryption, after which recovery will become impossible without professional equipment.
Preparing the device for an emergency reset
Before pressing key combinations, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps. This will increase the chances of successful completion of the procedure and maintaining the integrity of system files. Chaotic actions can lead to the fact that the phone turns into a “brick.”
First of all, make sure that the battery charge is at least 60%. The formatting process and subsequent initial setup requires stable power. If the device turns off while recording system partitions, this may damage the bootloader.
You also need to remove the memory card MicroSDif it is installed. Resetting settings via Recovery sometimes affects external drives, and you risk losing files that you planned to save. In addition, remove SIM cardto avoid accidentally resetting your operator's network settings.
☑️ Ready to reset
If you have the opportunity, try putting the device in safe mode. This will temporarily disable third-party applications, including monitoring apps. To do this, you usually need to hold down the power button and then hold down the “Turn off” item on the screen for a long time until the corresponding request appears.
Reset method through the Recovery menu (Hard Reset)
The most common way to bypass locks is to use the mode Recovery. This is a special diagnostic mode built into the phone's memory, which works independently of the main operating system. This is where you can execute the command wipe data/factory resetignoring application requirements.
The key combination to enter this mode depends on the manufacturer of your device. On most modern smartphones, such as Samsung, Xiaomi or Huawei, you need to turn off the phone and then hold down the power button along with the volume up button. On some models, you need to connect a USB cable to the computer when you press the buttons.
After the logo or menu with text in English appears, control is carried out with the volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed with the power button. You need to find the item Wipe data/factory reset. Confirm the action by selecting Yes or Factory data reset.
| Manufacturer | Key combination | Input features |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Volume up + Power + Home (if available) | You need to connect a USB cable to the PC on new models |
| Xiaomi / Redmi | Volume up + Power | The menu can be in Chinese (reboot button on the right) |
| Huawei / Honor | Volume up + Power | Long hold until vibration |
| Sony | Volume down + Power | The LED blinks pink when entering |
What to do if the Recovery menu does not appear?
If when you press the buttons the phone just turns on as usual, try connecting it turned off to the computer via a USB cable, and only then hold down the key combination. On some models with Android 11+, this is a prerequisite for entering recovery mode.
After completing the cleaning process, select Reboot system now. The phone will reboot and you will see the initial setup screen. At this point, parental controls must be removed since all user data is erased.
Bypassing FRP protection and Google account
After performing a Hard Reset, you will be faced with a new obstacle - FRP protection. The system will require you to enter the login and password for the Google account that was synchronized with the device before the reset. This is an anti-theft measure, and it is extremely difficult to bypass it without account information.
If you know the owner’s account information, simply enter it. If the phone was purchased secondhand or the account is forgotten, the situation becomes more complicated. In some cases, resetting the date and time settings or using vulnerabilities in the settings browser helps, but these methods depend on the specific firmware version.
For devices Samsung there is a specific method through an application Smart Switch on a PC, which sometimes allows you to unlock the bootloader with a receipt of purchase. For other brands, it is often necessary to flash the device through special utilities, such as Odin or SP Flash Tool.
⚠️ Attention: Bypassing FRP using third-party software may violate the terms of the warranty and lead to loss of warranty on the device. Use these methods only if you are the legal owner of the gadget.
If you have a receipt for purchasing the device, contact the manufacturer's official service center. Once ownership is verified, they can remove the FRP lock officially and for free.
Using the ADB utility to remove the lock
A more advanced method involves using USB debugging. If your device previously had developer mode enabled and debugging enabled USB Debugging, you can remove the blocking application or reset the settings through your computer. This method does not require logging into Recovery.
You will need to install drivers ADB on your computer and connect your phone with a cable. Through the command line, you can send a command to remove the parental control package. This only works if the system is not completely locked and allows shell interaction.
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.apps.kids.familylinkThis command replaces the package name with the appropriate one for your application. For example, for Kids Place it will be com.cpul.kidsplace. After running the command, the application will disappear from the system, and you can go into settings and perform a normal reset without any problems.
Unfortunately, on most devices with active parental controls, debugging is disabled by default. However, it is worth trying to connect the phone to the PC and enter the command adb devices. If the device is detected, you're in luck and can issue the reset command:
adb shell recovery --wipe_dataThe ADB method is only effective if debug mode was enabled before the lock was set. Otherwise, the computer will not have access to the phone’s file system.
Reset specifics on different versions of Android
Protection algorithms change with each operating system update. What worked for Android 8.0 Oreo, may not be useful on Android 12. Understanding these differences will help you choose the right strategy.
On older versions (before 6.0), it was often enough to simply uninstall the application through safe mode or erase data in the application menu. Starting from Android 9 Pie, administrator rights began to block not only resetting, but also logging out of a Google account without a password.
In Android 10 and newer, the “Search for Device” function appeared, which strictly links the device to the account. Even a complete flashing via a computer sometimes does not remove the lock if Google servers do not receive a signal to unlock. In such cases, only waiting 24 hours after the last password entry on Google servers helps.
- 📱 Android 6-8: Safe mode and manual deletion of the APK control file often helps.
- 🔒 Android 9-11: Reset via Recovery is required, but knowledge of the Google account is required.
- 🛡️ Android 12-14: Maximum protection, bypass is possible only through official services or complex exploits.
Shell interfaces also make their own adjustments. For example, Xiaomi requires unlocking the bootloader, which is impossible without a linked Mi account. In MIUI Xiaomi requires unlocking the bootloader, which is impossible without a linked Mi account. IN OneUI Samsung provides protection Knoxthat can permanently block some functions if unauthorized intervention is attempted.
⚠️ Attention: Interfaces and security functions are constantly updated. If the described methods do not work, check the exact model and software version on the manufacturer's official website, since the details of the protection implementation may differ even within the same version of Android.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will parental controls be removed after resetting the settings?
Yes, when performing a full reset (Hard Reset) through the Recovery menu, all user applications, including parental control apps, will be deleted. However, the setup screen may require you to enter the Google account that was previously used on the device.
What should I do if the phone requires a Google account password after resetting?
This is FRP protection. You need to enter the username and password for any Google account that was synchronized with this phone before the reset. If you do not remember the data, you can officially restore access only through the Google account recovery form on another device.
Is it possible to reset the settings without pressing the buttons on the screen?
If the screen is locked and does not respond to touches, the only option is to use the hardware buttons to enter Recovery mode. In this case, a soft reset through settings is impossible without unlocking the screen.
Will photos and contacts be saved after the reset?
No, Hard Reset completely erases the internal memory of the device. You can save data only if it was previously synchronized with Google Photos cloud storage or exported to a SIM card/external storage before the lock.
Will removing the SIM card help remove the lock?
No, removing the SIM card does not affect the operation of parental control applications or FRP protection. These mechanisms are tied to the device itself and accounts, and not to the phone number or telecom operator.