Microsoft released KB5071546 on December 9, 2025, as a cumulative security update for Windows 10 devices covered by the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021. For Windows 10 22H2 ESU users, its documented user-facing change added a confirmation prompt to PowerShell 5.1’s Invoke-WebRequest command. It is no longer the latest Windows 10 22H2 update: Microsoft’s release information listed a September 14, 2026 out-of-band update as the latest entry when checked on October 8, 2026.
What KB5071546 is and who it applies to
KB5071546 is the December 9, 2025 cumulative security update for Windows 10 ESU and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021. Microsoft’s release history identifies build 19045.6691 for Windows 10 22H2; the KB article title also lists build 19044.6691. These build identifiers belong to the update’s documented release contexts, not a claim that every Windows 10 edition receives the same update. See Microsoft’s KB5071546 support article and Windows 10 release information.
Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. ESU provides continued security updates for eligible devices that are enrolled; it is not an automatic extension of support for every Windows 10 installation. Microsoft’s ESU licensing preparation package information explains that KB5126256 prepares an eligible Windows 10 22H2 device for ESU enrollment but does not itself enroll that device or provide ongoing updates.
What changed in PowerShell 5.1
For the Windows 10 22H2 ESU channel, KB5071546 added a confirmation prompt and security warning to PowerShell 5.1’s Invoke-WebRequest command. The prompt lets the user continue or cancel before proceeding because processing script content from the web can carry security risks. This is a prompt change, not a claim that the command was removed.
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The documented MSMQ issue
Microsoft documented a problem involving Message Queuing (MSMQ), including some clustered environments under load. Reported symptoms included queues becoming inactive, application writes failing, and IIS sites returning “Insufficient resources to perform operation.” Resource-related logs could also be misleading. Microsoft attributed the problem to changes in MSMQ security and NTFS permissions for the storage folder. The issue primarily affected enterprise or managed IT environments, rather than typical home use.
Microsoft released an out-of-band update on and after December 18, 2025, to resolve the issue; KB5074976 is one example. That resolution was a later release, not part of the original December 9 KB5071546 package. Check Microsoft’s KB5071546 article for the documented issue and its resolution guidance.
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How Microsoft distributed the update
Microsoft offered KB5071546 through Windows Update, Windows Update for Business, the Microsoft Update Catalog, and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). The suitable route depends on whether the device is personal, centrally managed, or being serviced as an offline image.
| Channel | Typical deployment context | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Update | Individual device | Check the device’s update settings and eligibility. If KB5071546 does not appear, its absence alone does not establish why the device is not offered it. |
| Windows Update for Business | Managed endpoints | Administrators manage deployment through their update policies and rollout controls. |
| Microsoft Update Catalog | Manual or managed download | Select the package that matches the intended Windows version and servicing context. |
| WSUS | Organization-managed devices | Administrators approve and deploy updates through their WSUS configuration. |
| Offline image or standalone installation | Servicing an image or installing a downloaded package | Some scenarios require servicing-stack or earlier cumulative-update prerequisites. Requirements differ by scenario; consult the official KB article rather than assuming one prerequisite applies to all installations. |
Microsoft notes: “If you installed earlier updates, only the new updates contained in this package will be downloaded and installed on your device.”
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Is KB5071546 still the latest Windows 10 update?
No. Microsoft’s release information, checked on October 8, 2026, listed the September 14, 2026 out-of-band release as the latest Windows 10 22H2 update, build 19045.7727. The Microsoft Update Catalog entry for the September 2026 cumulative update lists later cumulative updates that supersede earlier packages, including KB5071546. Check the update applicable to your device and its servicing channel; do not treat this December 2025 package as current merely because it is the KB in question.
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