A parent can reset a child’s Google password through Family Link only when the account meets the applicable requirements. Having supervision added to an existing account does not automatically give a parent that password-reset power.
Check eligibility before starting
Google’s child-Gmail guide limits the parent-reset route to accounts the parent created in Family Link for a child below the applicable age. Its guidance for supervision added later says parents cannot use Family Link to check or reset that existing account’s password.
Check which account was created, the child’s age category, and your parent role. A school-managed password is handled by the school’s administrator. Do not try to change a birthday or move the account to another family to reveal a reset control.
Use the available Family Link reset
- Open Family Link with the authorized parent account.
- Select the correct child.
- Open Controls → Account settings → Change password.
- Complete the parent-account verification requested.
- Enter the new password and confirm the change.
Choose a strong password and communicate it through a private, appropriate channel. Do not post it in a family group chat or give it to a support caller. If the control is missing, use the account’s supported recovery or administrator route rather than assuming the app is broken.
Restore the child’s sign-in and protections
Google says this password change signs the child out of devices. Supervision settings will not work until the child signs in again. Plan the change while you can help them reconnect, rather than resetting during a time when they need uninterrupted device access.
The Family Link guide also says a parent password reset turns off 2-Step Verification if it was enabled, and notifies the parent and child. After access is restored, review the account’s security and re-enable an appropriate supported verification method where available.
If the reset does not solve the problem
Read the remaining error. Parent approval, an unavailable service, a device setup restriction, or a school policy is different from a wrong password. Preserve the account and any important local information while resolving that specific issue; do not delete the account or factory-reset the device as a generic next step.
Browse Gmail & Google Account help
References
- Manage your child's Google Account with Family Link
- Gmail & your child's Google Account
- Add & manage supervision on a current Google Account
Reviewed against the linked official and developer guidance on October 27, 2026. Available options and screen labels can vary by account, device, region, and organization policy.