cmake/Help/variable/CMAKE_FIND_USE_PACKAGE_REGISTRY.rst

CMAKE_FIND_USE_PACKAGE_REGISTRY
-------------------------------

.. versionadded:: 3.16

Controls the default behavior of the :command:`find_package` command for
whether or not to search paths provided by the :ref:`User Package Registry`.

By default this variable is not set and the behavior will fall back
to that determined by the deprecated
:variable:`CMAKE_FIND_PACKAGE_NO_PACKAGE_REGISTRY` variable.  If that is
also not set, then :command:`find_package` will use the
:ref:`User Package Registry` unless the ``NO_CMAKE_PACKAGE_REGISTRY`` option
is provided.

This variable takes precedence over
:variable:`CMAKE_FIND_PACKAGE_NO_PACKAGE_REGISTRY` when both are set.

In some cases, for example to locate only system wide installations, it
is not desirable to use the :ref:`User Package Registry` when searching
for packages.  If the ``CMAKE_FIND_USE_PACKAGE_REGISTRY``
variable is ``FALSE``, all the :command:`find_package` commands will skip
the :ref:`User Package Registry` as if they were called with the
``NO_CMAKE_PACKAGE_REGISTRY`` argument.

See also :ref:`Disabling the Package Registry` and the
:variable:`CMAKE_FIND_USE_CMAKE_PATH`,
:variable:`CMAKE_FIND_USE_CMAKE_ENVIRONMENT_PATH`,
:variable:`CMAKE_FIND_USE_INSTALL_PREFIX`,
:variable:`CMAKE_FIND_USE_CMAKE_SYSTEM_PATH`,
:variable:`CMAKE_FIND_USE_SYSTEM_ENVIRONMENT_PATH`,
:variable:`CMAKE_FIND_USE_SYSTEM_PACKAGE_REGISTRY`,
and :variable:`CMAKE_FIND_USE_PACKAGE_ROOT_PATH` variables.