# MQRC 2031: Message too large for the queue manager Source: https://wndsoftware.com/mainframe-errors/mqrc-2031 ### MQRC 2031: Message too large for the queue manager MQRC 2031 means an MQ message exceeds a queue-manager or path length limit. Compare actual bytes with queue, queue-manager and channel limits. #### Other names for this code Also written as `RC2031`, `reason code 2031`, `MQ error 2031`, `MQRC_MSG_TOO_BIG_FOR_Q_MGR`, `07EF`, `0x07EF`. ### What it means MQPUT or MQPUT1 could not place the message because its length exceeded an applicable maximum. The queue-manager limit is one part of the path; the queue and channels can impose smaller limits. IBM also documents restrictions when MQ message segmentation is requested. Check the number of bytes actually supplied, including relevant message headers. A character count or compressed file size in an application log may not describe the buffer passed to MQ. #### A troubleshooting example An order export grows from 2 MB to 6 MB. The destination queue allows 10 MB, but the queue manager still permits 4 MB. The producer sees 2031 and operators initially inspect only the queue. Build a path worksheet containing the queue-manager, queue and channel maxima, then test a payload just below and just above the agreed limit. Include any headers added by middleware. This makes the boundary explicit and prevents another component from becoming the next bottleneck. ### Common causes - A larger payload crosses the queue-manager maximum even though the target queue allows it. - An intermediate channel permits a smaller maximum than either endpoint. - The application supplies an incorrect BufferLength or assumes segmentation can split every format. ### How to find the problem - Record BufferLength at the failing call and compare successful and failing payload sizes. Confirm the units are bytes. - Inspect MAXMSGL for the queue manager, destination queue and channels on the route. Preserve the values before changing them. - Determine whether the error is returned to the producer or appears in a report message after a remote delivery attempt. - Check MsgFlags and the message format if segmentation is part of the design. Verify that consumers support the intended message handling. ### How to fix it - Correct a mistaken length first. Do not increase infrastructure limits to accommodate a buffer-size calculation bug. - If the business message legitimately needs more space, agree compatible limits across the complete path and test its largest expected form. - Consider application-level splitting or supported MQ segmentation only with a defined reconstruction and failure-recovery design. Bound retries for an unchanged oversized message. ### What it looks like ```text Illustrative diagnostic notes; not an IBM message template. MQPUT BufferLength: 6291456 bytes Queue MAXMSGL: 10485760 Queue-manager MAXMSGL: 4194304 Reason=2031: queue capacity alone is not enough. ``` ### IBM documentation [IBM MQ 9.4: 2031 MQRC_MSG_TOO_BIG_FOR_Q_MGR](https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/ibm-mq/9.4.x?topic=acrc-2031-07ef-rc2031-mqrc-msg-too-big-q-mgr). Use the documentation for your installed release. [Report a correction to WND Software](https://wndsoftware.com/contact#message). Technical reviewer: [Albert Joseph](https://wndsoftware.com/authors/albert-joseph), WND Software. Updated 2026-10-23. IBM documentation checked for this article. Written in our own words. For the full reference, check IBM’s MQ documentation for your version. ### Related codes [MQRC 2030 MQRC_MSG_TOO_BIG_FOR_Q Read →](https://wndsoftware.com/mainframe-errors/mqrc-2030) [MQRC 2080 MQRC_TRUNCATED_MSG_FAILED Read →](https://wndsoftware.com/mainframe-errors/mqrc-2080) [MQRC 2120 MQRC_CONVERTED_MSG_TOO_BIG Read →](https://wndsoftware.com/mainframe-errors/mqrc-2120) ### Questions #### How is 2031 different from 2030? 2030 identifies the queue length limit. 2031 identifies a queue-manager or relevant path limit. Inspect both rather than treating them as interchangeable. #### Will retrying a large message help? An unchanged message will still exceed the same limit. Correct the length or agree a supported size and routing design first. [IBM MQ reason codes](https://wndsoftware.com/mainframe-errors/mq-reason-codes) · [MQRC 2030](https://wndsoftware.com/mainframe-errors/mqrc-2030) · [MQRC 2033](https://wndsoftware.com/mainframe-errors/mqrc-2033) [← All error codes](https://wndsoftware.com/mainframe-errors/)