If you use apps on your computer, smartphones, or tablets, you know that some serious privacy concerns go through your mind. Unfortunately, many of these apps have access to our messages and texts, and we need to make sure that this doesn’t happen. In this tutorial, I will show you how to prevent apps from accessing texts or messages on Windows 10 computers.

Prevent Apps From Accessing Texts

You can prevent apps from accessing your texts and messages through the Settings app and the registry editor. I will show you both ways, and you can pick whichever you find the most convenient.

Method 1:

Step-1: Go to the Start Menu and click on the Settings cog. (Shortcut keys: Win + I)

Step-2: Select Privacy.

Step-3: On the left side of the Settings window, you will see a list of options. Scroll down and click on Messaging under App permissions.

Step-4: Under Allow apps to read or send messages, an On/Off toggle switch. If you turn it Off, no app will be able to access texts. If you want to pick and choose which apps can receive messages, keep the toggle On and move to the next step.

Step-5: Under the section, Choose which apps can read or send messages, thereis a list of apps. You can turn the toggle Off next to the apps that you don’t want to give access to your texts.

Step-6: Once you are done, close Settings and your changes will be applied.

Method 2:

Step-1: First, make sure that you back up the registry editor. To do this, follow these steps:

Go to Start Menu and type Registry Editor. Click Open.You will be asked. Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device? Click Yes.On the left pane, right-click on Computer. Select Export.Name the file and select a location to save the backup file. Your backup will now be saved as a .reg file.

Step-2: Press Win + R keys to open the Run box.

Step-3: Type Regedit and hit Enter.

Step-4: You will be asked Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device? Click Yes.

Step-5: Add the following path to the bar at the top of the Registry editor window:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\chat

Step-6: Hit Enter.

Step-7: Double-click Value on the right pane.

Step-8: Where it says Allow (highlighted)in the Value Data bar, write Deny and press OK.

Step-9: Restart your computer

By following one of these two methods, you will prevent apps from accessing your texts and messages.