# Vcpkg integration To help you manage project dependencies and external libraries, CLion integrates with [vcpkg](https://vcpkg.io/en/index.html), a package manager for C/C++. > **Note:** > Current limitations: > > > > * The full set of vcpkg features is available for [CMake](quick-cmake-tutorial.html) projects. For other [project formats](project-models.html), only browsing and installing packages is supported. > > * Supported toolchains are all except for [Windows Cygwin](quick-tutorial-on-configuring-clion-on-windows.html#Cygwin), [WSL](how-to-use-wsl-development-environment-in-product.html), [Docker](clion-toolchains-in-docker.html), and [Remote](remote-projects-support.html). > > > > > > See [Known issues](#known-issues) for the corresponding tickets in CLion tracker. Procedure: Install vcpkg > **Tip:** > Vcpkg will be installed on your system. You can have multiple instances of vcpkg installed, each with a different set of packages. > > > > Also, you can have multiple projects linked to one vcpkg repository. 1. Select `View | Tool Windows | Vcpkg` from the main menu to open the Vcpkg tool window. 2. Click ![](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.expui.general.add.svg): ![Add vcpkg button in the vcpkg tool window](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_add_vcpkg_icon.png) 3. Specify the installation settings in the Add Vcpkg Repository dialog: ![Adding a vcpkg repository](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_add_vcpkg_dialog.png) * The name and URL of your vcpkg repository. * The installation directory (or use the default value). If you already have vcpkg installed, provide the path to its location in this field. * Add vcpkg integration to existing CMake profiles > **Note:** > This option is only available for CMake projects. CLion uses CMake toolchain file to integrate with vcpkg. Select the [CMake profiles](cmake-profile.html) you want the toolchain file to be linked to. After the installation, you can find the toolchain file added to the selected profile's CMake options via the `CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE` variable. 4. Click OK and wait for the installation to complete. The list of packages will appear in the middle pane. In the right-hand pane, you can find the description and actions for the selected package. ![Vcpkg tool window](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_toolwindow_installsuccess.png) > **Tip:** > If vcpkg is not linked to any profile, you will see it greyed out. Use the Edit vcpkg dialog (![](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.actions.edit_dark.svg)) to link it to a profile. > > > > ![Vcpkg not linked to any Cmake profile](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_noprofile.png) Procedure: Browse and install packages > **Note:** > The option to select a particular version is not implemented yet ([CPP-32366](https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/CPP-32366/vckpg-Add-ability-to-select-version-of-package)). Only the latest package version can be installed. 1. To find a particular package, start typing its name in the search field: ![Searching for a package](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_search.png) 2. Select the package and press `Enter` (Windows), `⏎` (macOS), `⏎` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⏎` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Enter` (XWin), `Enter` (GNOME), `Enter` (KDE), `Enter` (Emacs), `Enter` (Sublime Text), `⏎` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `⏎` (Xcode), `Enter` (Visual Studio), `⏎` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Enter` (ReSharper), `⏎` (ReSharper (macOS)), `Enter` (QtCreator), `⏎` (QtCreator (macOS)), `Enter` (NetBeans), `Enter` (Eclipse), `⏎` (Eclipse (macOS)) or click Install in the right-hand pane. 3. In classic mode, if the package was installed successfully, CLion will prompt you to add it to `vcpkg.json` and switch to manifest mode: ![Installation notification](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_install_addtojson_notification.png) 4. You can find the installed package under Installed | Classic Mode or Added | Manifest Mode. > **Note:** > Classic mode displays all packages that are in the repository, while [manifest mode](#switch-manifest) displays the packages that are added to `vcpkg.json`. Classic mode: ![Installed packages subtree](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_installed.png) Manifest mode: ![Packages added to vcpk.json](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_installed_manifestmode.png) Procedure: Switch to manifest mode > **Note:** > CLion switches to manifest mode automatically if there is a `vcpkg.json` file under the project root. > > > > Note that classic mode and manifest mode are mutually exclusive. 1. Click the Switch to Manifest Mode button: ![Switch to Manifest Mode](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_switchtomanifest.png) 2. Select the packages to be added to `vcpkg.json`: ![Packages to be added to vcpkg.json](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_switchtomanifest_dialog.png) 3. CLion will create a `vcpkg.json` file, add the packages, and switch the project to manifest mode: ![Switched to manifest mode](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_manifest_switched.png) Procedure: Investigate console output Console: vcpkg is a read-only tab that shows all vcpkg commands with full output. ![Vcpkg Console tab](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_consletab.png) > **Tip:** > Use the up and down arrows to jump between commands: > > ![Jumping between commands in the Console tab](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_console_jump.png) * When errors occur, for example, during package installation, CLion shows a notification message. Click Show output to open the Console tab and investigate the problem. ![Intallation error message](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_errormessage.png) * You can switch to the Console tab at any time while working with vcpkg. The tab is also accessible via the Show Console button. ![The Show Console button](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_showconsole.png) Procedure: Install/remove multiple packages 1. Select several packages in the tree. 2. Use the following shortcuts: * To install or add to `vcpkg.json`, press `Enter` (Windows), `⏎` (macOS), `⏎` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⏎` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Enter` (XWin), `Enter` (GNOME), `Enter` (KDE), `Enter` (Emacs), `Enter` (Sublime Text), `⏎` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `⏎` (Xcode), `Enter` (Visual Studio), `⏎` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Enter` (ReSharper), `⏎` (ReSharper (macOS)), `Enter` (QtCreator), `⏎` (QtCreator (macOS)), `Enter` (NetBeans), `Enter` (Eclipse), `⏎` (Eclipse (macOS)). * To remove, press `Alt+Delete` / `⌘⌫`. Procedure: Start using a package Packages should be added to [CMakeLists.txt](cmakelists-txt-file.html). For most packages, vcpkg provides the code to be included in CMake script. 1. If there is a hint from vcpkg, you will see the Add packages to CMakeLists.txt option in the notification: ![Adding packages to CMakeLists.txt](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_add_cmakelists.png) 2. Copy the suggested code into your `CMakeLists.txt` file. If required, change the target link name (which is `main` by default) to the one you want the packages to be linked to. ![Code to paste in CMakeLists.txt](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_add_cmakelists_code.png) Procedure: Update vcpkg and packages Use the following tool window actions for update and upgrade: * Update All updates the vcpkg Git repository to the latest version and then checks it for available package updates. ![Update all icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_updateall_icon.png) * Upgrade All updates the vcpkg Git repository to the latest version and then updates all installed packages to their latest versions. ![Upgrade all icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_upgradeall_icon.png) * Check for Updates (the ![The three dots icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/toolbox-ide-settings-icon.png) menu) checks whether there is a newer version of the vcpkg Git repository. * Update Repository (the ![The three dots icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/toolbox-ide-settings-icon.png) menu) checks the current version of the vcpkg Git repository for available package updates. * Upgrade Repository (the ![The three dots icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/toolbox-ide-settings-icon.png) menu) checks the current version of the vcpkg Git repository for available package updates and installs them. * Update Vcpkg Repository (the ![The three dots icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/toolbox-ide-settings-icon.png) menu) updates the vcpkg Git repository to the latest version. Procedure: Upgrade packages one by one Packages that can be upgraded are indicated by a warning sign. * Select a package and click the Upgrade package icon in the right-hand pane: ![Upgrading packages one by one](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_updatepackages_onebyone.png) Procedure: Auto-update repositories * Click ![](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.expui.general.settings.svg) on the toolbar and select Auto-update repositories on IDE start to allow CLion to check for repository updates on each IDE start. ![Option to auto-update repositories on IDE start](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_autoudate_onrestart.png) Procedure: Use quick-fixes to add missing packages * If you include a header from a package that is not yet installed, compilation will fail with the file not found error. Click Fix next to the error message: ![Quick-fix link in the build error message](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_quickfix.png) CLion will suggest to install the missing package: ![Suggestion to quick-fix for a missing package](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_quickfix_suggestion.png) * In case there are multiple candidates for installation, open the list from the Fix menu: ![Fix menu](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_quickfix_candidates.png) Select the package to install in the dialog: ![Package candidates dialog](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_quickfix_candidates_dialog.png) > **Tip:** > Fix also works for the profiles not linked to the package manager. Procedure: Force the use of system CMake and Ninja You can [force](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/vcpkg/users/config-environment#vcpkg_force_system_binaries) vcpkg to use CMake and Ninja from the [profile](cmake-profile.html) environment. 1. Click the Edit vcpkg button in the left-hand pane: ![The Edit vcpkg icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_editicon.png) 2. Expand the Advanced Settings section and set the Use system binaries checkbox: ![Force the use of system binaries](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_usesysbins.png) Procedure: Troubleshooting: vcpkg installs x64-windows triplets instead of MinGW triplets When you add a package on MinGW, the standard vcpkg installs a x64-windows triplet instead of a [MinGW triplet](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/vcpkg/users/platforms/mingw#mingw-native). CLion can fix this automatically. 1. Click Fix in the error message: ![Fix for MinGW triplets](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_vcpkg_mingw_fix.png) 2. In classic mode, CLion will add `VCPKG_TARGET_TRIPLET` to CMake options of the current profile. In manifest mode, CLion will add `VCPKG_TARGET_TRIPLET` to CMake options, along with two environment variables: `VCPKG_DEFAULT_TRIPLET` and `VCPKG_DEFAULT_HOST_TRIPLET`. ## Known issues and limitations * Currently, vcpkg support is not working for the following toolchains: Cygwin ([CPP-31665](https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/CPP-31665)), Remote ([CPP-30683](https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/CPP-30683)), Docker ([CPP-30684](https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/CPP-30684)), and WSL ([CPP-30685](https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/CPP-30685)). * Quick-fix for missing packages in the editor is under development ([CPP-31662](https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/CPP-31662)). ## See also ### External Links [vcpkg's GitHub page](https://github.com/microsoft/vcpkg) ### How tos [Quick CMake tutorial](quick-cmake-tutorial.html) [CMake profiles](cmake-profile.html) [CLion toolchains](how-to-create-toolchain-in-clion.html) ### Procedures [Conan plugin](conan-plugin.html)