Microsoft has acknowledged a significant issue stemming from the December 2025 Patch update (KB5071546) for Windows 10, specifically affecting the Message Queuing (MSMQ) component. This bug predominantly impacts businesses, as consumer PCs typically do not have MSMQ installed or activated, nor do consumer applications rely on it.
For those unfamiliar, MSMQ is a vital component that facilitates the sending of messages to a queue, allowing another application or service to process them at a later time. It is primarily utilized by enterprise applications to manage background tasks. When MSMQ malfunctions, it can halt numerous background processes, thereby obstructing the primary application or website. Users reliant on MSMQ may encounter difficulties accessing applications or sites that depend on Internet Information Services (IIS), which is responsible for locally hosting these services. The error message that may appear is:
System.Messaging.MessageQueueException: Insufficient resources to perform operation.
How Microsoft broke MSMQ with Windows 10 December 2025 update
According to Windows Latest, the December 2025 update (KB5071546), intended solely for ESU (Extended Security Update)-enrolled PCs, appears to have altered the operational dynamics of MSMQ, particularly its security behavior. Microsoft also modified the NTFS permissions for the directory where MSMQ stores its queue data, located at:
C:WindowsSystem32MSMQstorage
Post-update, the account utilizing MSMQ now requires write access to this storage folder. In many real-world implementations, MSMQ is accessed by IIS app pool identities, LocalService, or NetworkService, or by a restricted service account that lacks the necessary write permissions. Consequently, MSMQ is unable to create or write its message files, leading to operational failures.
One user reported to Windows Latest that their queues were unable to connect, displaying an “inactive” state, which indicated an underlying issue. Attempts to restart the service or the server, or even to reinstall MSMQ via the optional features in Control Panel, proved futile. However, users discovered that manually navigating to the Windows Update history and uninstalling Windows 10 KB5071546 restored MSMQ functionality. Reports have also surfaced regarding similar issues on Windows Server 2019, although testing could not replicate the problem on Windows Server 2022.
One affected user noted, “I also noticed that the NTFS-Security-Descriptor gets changed from D:P to D:PAI. The AI-Flag (auto-inherited) seems that the DACLs get modified or changed. That could lead to Users like iis_iusrs / localservice /networkservice to be not allowed anymore on this folder.” Another system administrator who installed KB5071544 on Windows Server 2019 faced analogous issues, including MSMQ errors related to “insufficient disk space or memory.”
As one user explained, “Correct, my IIS apps that require MSMQ to function completely stop, and my monitor records it as a 500 error.” The error message “Insufficient resources to perform operation” serves as a clear indicator of the MSMQ complications.
Microsoft confirms MSMQ failure as a known issue in the latest update for Windows 10 or Windows Server
Microsoft has confirmed that it is actively investigating the MSMQ issues that arise following the installation of Windows 10 KB5071546. The company has not provided further details at this time. In an update to the support document, Microsoft stated, “After installing this update, users might face issues with the Message Queuing (MSMQ) functionality. This issue also impacts clustered MSMQ environments under load.” Notably, this problem does not extend to Windows 11, making it an isolated incident within Windows 10. This raises questions about how Microsoft could inadvertently disrupt older features in an operating system that is currently under extended security support, with minimal updates being rolled out.
How to fix MSMQ issues in Windows 10
For those experiencing difficulties following the updates, the recommended course of action is to uninstall Windows 10 KB5071546 and temporarily pause further updates while Microsoft develops a patch. To remove the update and resolve MSMQ issues, follow these steps:
- Open Settings > Updates & Security > Windows Update > Update history.
- Click “Uninstall updates.”
- This will open the Control Panel.
- Select the KB noted above and click “Uninstall.” This will remove the update.
- Reboot your system to complete the changes.
Have you encountered issues following the December patch? While significant problems are not reported on Windows 11 with the December 2025 update, a few exceptions, such as installation errors, have been noted.
