Where Does vcpkg Store Installed Packages?
vcpkg installed packages and build trees relative to the vcpkg root directory.
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vcpkg keeps everything under its own root: installed packages in installed, downloads in downloads, build trees in buildtrees. No system directories involved.
Root-relative layout means the whole tree moves by moving the folder, though dependents embedding absolute paths need reconfiguration afterward.
Where vcpkg stores this, by platform
[vcpkg root]\installed
Per-triplet installed headers and libs live here. Downloads and buildtrees siblings can be cleaned to reclaim space. Keep the root path stable for dependents.
Frequently asked questions
How do projects find vcpkg libraries?
Point CMake at the toolchain file ([root]/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake). Installed headers and libs resolve automatically per triplet. Keep the root path stable or reconfigure dependents.
How do I free vcpkg disk space?
Run vcpkg remove --recurse plus vcpkg clean, or delete the installed triplet folder. Build trees under buildtrees can be wiped freely; they regenerate on next install.
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