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Android: Turn Device Administrator Apps On or Off

Some apps request Device admin rights to remotely lock your phone, wipe data, or enforce security rules. If you installed an anti-virus tool, Find My Device, or a parental control app, Android may already list it under Device admin apps. Removing that access without knowing what the app actually does can break features like remote wipe or child account monitoring.

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Step 1 of 6: Tap on **Settings**

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Android 14 · Android 14
Turn On/Off Device Administrators – Android 14: step 1 – Tap on Settings
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Android

Turn On/Off Device Administrators auf Android

Device administrator apps get elevated control over your Android phone, similar to how a company IT policy manages a work phone. Apps such as antivirus tools, Find My Device, or parental control software use this permission to lock the screen remotely, wipe data, or enforce password rules.

Android keeps this list in a dedicated security menu, separate from regular app permissions. That is why an old app can still show up as device admin even after you tried to delete it, since uninstalling does not work until the admin rights are revoked first.

To check or change an app's status, open SettingsSecurity & privacyMore security & privacyDevice admin apps. Select the app from the list, then toggle Activate this device admin app on or off.

Turning off admin rights for a security or management app immediately disables features tied to that permission, such as remote lock, remote wipe, or usage restrictions. Only deactivate an app here if you no longer need those protections, or if you plan to uninstall the app right after.

Frequently asked questions

Android blocks uninstallation until you revoke admin rights first. Open SettingsSecurity & privacyMore security & privacyDevice admin apps, select the app, then turn off Activate this device admin app before you try uninstalling it again.