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therealecubed
Participant
April 3, 2026
Question

Child Account No Longer Linked

My child's account (10-12) is no longer linked to mine for some reason.  This just started randomly in the last few weeks.  I bought him a new game for his birthday, but discovered I could not pass it along to him after entering the code.  I have hit a dead end with the Meta Support site.  I have tried logging into his account online, but I cannot get the code to send to his email. He does not remember his password and I get an error message when I try to reset his password. I tried the invite link route, but it only added my account to his headset.  Does anyone know what I can do to get the account linked again in order to gift the game to him?

    24 replies

    steve40
    steve40
    Honored Contributor
    April 3, 2026

    My child's account (10-12) is no longer linked to mine for some reason

    What makes you say the account is "unlinked"? Does it still appear on the Family Center "Go to supervision" website? If he has a profile on his headset, then it follows that he has an account set up in Family Center. It's not possible to "unlink" the two or he would not be able to use his headset at all.

    but I cannot get the code to send to his email

    What code are you talking about? I've never been asked for any codes when managing my 12 yo daughter's account. Also, 10-12 yo child accounts don't have an email associated with them.

    He does not remember his password

    I was never asked to set a password when setting up my 12 yo daughter's Family Center account. There's an option to set one in the Account Center, but I just leave it alone. So possibly, your son doesn't have a password set, so there's nothing to reset.

    I tried the invite link route, but it only added my account to his headset

    The invite link is used to add a profile to a headset. Your son's profile is already set up on his headset.

    in order to gift the game to him

    Which game are you trying to gift? There are some restrictions that parents cannot bypass and some games cannot be gifted.

    therealecubedAuthor
    Participant
    April 3, 2026

    He no longer shows up in the family center on the web or in the phone application.

    During my troubleshooting online it wants me to log into the account linked to the headset, my account is not linked to the headset.  That's where it is looking for a verification code or his password.

    I am trying to gift him Among Us, which I would assume is not age restricted.  

    When he tries to add games it no longer prompts me to approve anything.  This all started within the last couple of weeks.  I made a post on Reddit and another users said they are experiencing the same issue.  I opened a ticket with Meta support, but they have yet to respond.

     

     

    steve40
    steve40
    Honored Contributor
    April 3, 2026

    When he tries to add games it no longer prompts me to approve anything.  This all started within the last couple of weeks.

    The only explanation that I can think of is that he turned 13 (or the birth date that was used for his account would have him now being 13) so he got upgraded to a self-managed 13+ account. Is that possible? Teen accounts have the ability to turn off parental supervision.

    Contact Meta official support but use the "chat with customer support" option to talk to someone live.

      Lmcd03
      Participant
      May 24, 2026

      hey steve_40​ - any chance you know contact info for any type of escalations or complaints?  Not that I expect you to - you were just kind enough to provide the chat link so thought I'd ask. 

      Lmcd03
      Participant
      April 3, 2026

      This is EXACTLY what I came here for!   I'm on day 3 of troubleshooting this and it is maddening. I can't get the verification code to send to the email, can't log on through his app or device, and he isn't showing under Family Members.

      Choleni
      Choleni
      Honored Contributor
      April 3, 2026

      Lmcd03​  contact Meta support as steve_40​  suggested.

      He provided a direct link to support in this thread.

      Lmcd03
      Participant
      May 7, 2026

      I already connected with support - right after my initial reply on this thread. Long chat. Escalated issue. And here we are 4 weeks later no resolution yet.

      therealecubedAuthor
      Participant
      May 30, 2026

      Here was the answer from today's chat...

       

      "I don't have an exact estimated timeframe from the engineering team right now. However, because I have prioritized your case today, I am pushing the team for a concrete update. You will receive an email shortly with the latest details on your case status and our next steps."

      Lmcd03
      Participant
      May 31, 2026

      I'm impressed with the word "concrete".  I bet that means it will definitely get fixed this time.  In my last email, I used all the words I shouldn't have in hopes it would trigger something (st0l3n, h0s*@ge,....),  but nothing. This is so dang maddening! I realize access to VR is totally a "first world problem", but this is jacked up. My poor kid...  He feels so defeated but has complained only once. He's never going to trust a company to do what they say they're going to ever again. 

      therealecubedAuthor
      Participant
      June 4, 2026

      Still no fix and my son is now getting a message that his account has been disabled which means he is unable to play any games on his headset.  This whole thing is beyond frustrating.  I will never buy another Meta product again.  

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