Windows 7 Parental Controls

Parental controls are installed on Windows 7 computers and gaming system primarily to limit access to age inappropriate content and to constrain usage by setting time limits. Read on to find out how to remove parental controls on your device.

Turn Off Parental Controls with Admin Account

Turn the controls off temporarily with the admin password. It is not recommended you delete the parental controls on the computer completely, as you’ll lose all the settings for the account. Only turning them off temporarily will also give you the option of turning the controls back on, if necessary.

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Choose Set Up Parental Controls for Any User beneath the heading User Accounts and Family Safety. The Parental Controls window appears, listing all accounts on the computer.
3. Choose the account to control; click its icon.
4. The User Controls window opens.
5. Slide the button to OFF to turn the Parental Controls off. To turn them back on, slide the button to ON.

Turn Off Parental Controls with Services

This method shows you how to Start/Stop Parental Controls from Services.msc

Please perform the following steps:

1. Please go to Start button and click on the Search programs and files
2. Type services.msc and press Enter
3. Locate Parental Controls observe his current status and open to make changes.
4. From General tab you can Start/Stop and change the Startup type of Parental Controls.
5. To finish press ok button and close Services window.

Turn Off Parental Controls with MSCONFIG

This method shows you how to prevent Parental Controls from starting with the operating system using System Configuration (msconfig.exe).

Please perform the following steps:

1. Please go to Start and click on the Search programs and files
2. Write msconfig and press Enter.
3. In System Configuration please go to Services tab and locate Offline Files.
4. Uncheck the box to prevent this service to start and then press OK to finish.

Turn Off Parental Controls with System Repair

Turn off parental controls without the admin password through startup repair. WARNING: This will change the administrator password.

1. Restart your computer. As soon as it begins restarting (you see Starting Windows), abruptly shut it off by pulling the plug.
2. Restart your computer again. You should now be given the option to Launch Startup Repair. Select it.
3. When it asks if you want to restore your system, click Cancel. NOTE: the startup repair program will now run for five to ten minutes.
4. When the repair program is finished, it will give you two options – Send Information About this Problem or Don’t Send. Ignore them, and instead click the arrow next to View problem details.
5. Scroll down to the last link: X:\windows\system32\en-US\erofflps.txt. Click it to open a text file.
6. Now go to File > Open within the text file. Click on Computer and select the Local Disk.
7. Click on Windows. Under “Files of Type” change to All Files.
8. Open the System32 folder and look for the file labeled sethc.
9. Right click and select rename. Add a 0 to the end of the name, and then click away to save.
10. Find the file labeled cmd. Right click and copy it. Scroll all the way down and paste it to create a copy (cmd – Copy).
11. Right click on the new file and rename it to sethc. Click away to save.
12. Close the open file box and the text file.
13. Click Don’t Send at the startup repair prompt. Then click Finish. Your computer will now restart.
14. At the login screen, press the shift key five times. The command prompt will appear.

15. Type: net user (your parent’s username) *. Don’t forget to leave the space before the asterisk. Press enter.

    NOTE: If there is a space in the user name, replace the space with an underscore. I.e. User Name would become User_Name.

16. You can now change the password, or press enter twice to leave no password.
17. Now login and follow the admin instructions to turn off parental controls.

Asking for Permission to Turn off Parental Controls

Talk to your parents or the administrator of the account about adjusting the controls. This is perhaps the easiest and safest way to adjust the parental controls, as the person who imposed the parental controls has your best interests at heart and may be more willing to adjust them if you discuss the reasons why you think the controls should be lifted.

• Start by asking your parents or the administrator why they have imposed Parental Controls on your account. Are you using social media like Facebook too much or playing certain inappropriate games too often? Are you neglecting your health, social circle or studies as the result of too much time online?
• After understanding main reasons for the parental controls, try to initiate a change in your behavior or at least show your parents you are trying to change your approach to online activities. This might make them reconsider their actions and agree to an adjustment of the parental controls.