3DS:Remove Parental Controls

This page is about how to remove Parental Controls, assuming you do not know the PIN or the answer to the secret question.

Disclaimer: You should only do this on consoles that you fully own or where you have been granted permission. We are not liable for any consequences that may come from removing Parental Controls on someone else's console.

With homebrew (CFW required)

3DS-ParentalUnlock can remove Parental Controls.

If you cannot enter Homebrew Launcher due to Parental Controls, try using a different target title to load homebrew: 3DS:Troubleshooting/manually entering homebrew launcher

Using mkey generator (CFW not required)

This method does not require custom firmware to be installed on your device, as it uses a website to generate a master key for your device.

If there is a Nintendo Network ID for a child linked to the console, Parental Controls cannot be disabled with System Settings. Instead you will need to use the homebrew program 3DS-ParentalUnlock. Note that you can still set up homebrew and custom firmware even if Parental Controls are enabled.

1. Launch System Settings on your console
2. Navigate to the Parental Controls menu
3. When asked if you would like to change your Parental Control settings, select "Forgot PIN"
4. When asked for the answer to your secret question, select "I Forgot"
5. If asked if you would like to send a master key to the e-mail address registered with the account, select "Cancel"
   • If you do not see this prompt, you should skip this step
6. You should now see a screen with the title "Obtaining a master key." Open the mkey generator at Nintendo Homebrew and input the following information:
   • Set the "Device type" to "3DS"
   • Set the "System date" to your console's current date, displayed at the top right of the top screen
   • Leave the "Additional data" field blank
   • Set the "Inquiry number" to the number in the middle of the bottom screen
7. Select the "Go" button on the website
8. Select the "OK" button on the console
9. Input the master key outputted at the top of the webpage.
10. When asked to choose a new PIN, select "Cancel"
11. Select "Clear Settings" then "Delete" to delete Parental Controls
    • If settings cannot be deleted due to a child Nintendo Network ID being linked, instead change the PIN to one that you can remember and remove it later with homebrew.