The following error keeps getting logged in the Windows Server 2016 System Logs.

Event ID: 10016
Source: DistributedCOM
Level: Error
The application-specific permission settings do not grant Local Activation permission for the COM Server application with CLSID {8D8F4F83-3594-4F07-8369-FC3C3CAE4919} and APPID
{F72671A9-012C-4725-9D2F-2A4D32D65169} to the user NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM SID (S-1-5-18) from address LocalHost (Using LRPC) running in the application container Unavailable SID (Unavailable). This security permission can be modified using the Component Services administrative tool.

While these errors in most cases can be safely ignored, if you don’t want them to clutter your system logs, here is the resolution:

• Open Component Services (dcomcnfg).
• Navigate to Component Services > Computers > My Computer > DCOM Config
• Find the application in question
• Go to Properties > Security > Edit > Add
• Add the user account mentioned in Error 10016 and give it appropriate permissions (i.e. Local Launch and Local Activation)

If you can’t find the application in question:

• Open Registry Editor (regedit.ext)
• Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\
• Find the CLSID mentioned in Error 10016
• Look for the application name and match it to the name in Component Services

If the Edit button in Component Services is greyed out:

• Open Registry Editor (regedit.ext)
• Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\
• Find the AppID mentioned in the Error 10016
• Go to Permissions > Advanced and give yourself Full Control access (you may need to take over ownership)
• If necessary, repeat in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\
• Close and re-open Component Services and the Edit button should now be active.

June 2025
Windows Server 2016
Oxford, Oxfordshire