Fix for Windows 10 Extended Security Update Breaking MSMQ Functionality

Users of Windows 10 who rely on Message Queuing (MSMQ) for managing background tasks faced issues after installing this month’s extended security update. Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and is now rolling out an out-of-band update (KB5074976) via Update Catalog to address it.

The out-of-band release is not available on Windows Update or WSUS but can be downloaded from the Update Catalog. If you are experiencing MSMQ issues, it is recommended to install this update.

Root Cause of MSMQ Issues in Windows 10

Following the December 9, 2025, Windows updates, users started reporting problems with MSMQ functionality. Microsoft attributes these issues to changes in security features affecting MSMQ unintentionally.

The reported issues include inactive message queues, messages about resource insufficiency, inability to write to message queues, errors in message creation, and alerts about disk space or memory constraints.

Further testing by Microsoft revealed that the problem also impacts clustered MSMQ environments under heavy load. The company emphasizes that regular Windows Home or Pro users are unlikely to face these challenges, as the issue primarily affects enterprise or managed IT environments.

Only PCs enrolled in Windows 10 ESU and experiencing problems with MSMQ functionality should download the out-of-band update.

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