# Changing Install path CMAKE\_INSTALL\_PREFIX

**URL:** https://discourse.vtk.org/t/changing-install-path-cmake-install-prefix/16270
**Category:** Support
**Tags:** build
**Created:** [February 4, 2026, 10:28am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/changing-install-path-cmake-install-prefix/16270 "2026-02-04T10:28:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![francek](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/francek/32/10505_2.png) [@francek](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/francek)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2026, 10:28am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/changing-install-path-cmake-install-prefix/16270/1 "2026-02-04T10:28:52Z")

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Hi,

I built VTK 9.4.1. I would like to change install path however. What is the fastest/correct way to do that please ?

 ![image](https://discourse.vtk.org/uploads/default/original/2X/d/dd48eb30bf40b28444dccbc9d64a6f508ae9e5b2.png)

After generating new Cmake configuration, do I need to rebuild the whole VTK ? Or building ‘INSTALL’ project is enough ?

 ![image](https://discourse.vtk.org/uploads/default/original/2X/a/acf787a8c765f2610588f8b8efa38706c10f0c8a.png)

Thank you

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### Author: ![Paulo\_Carvalho](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/paulo_carvalho/32/370_2.png) [@Paulo\_Carvalho](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/Paulo_Carvalho)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2026, 12:02pm UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/changing-install-path-cmake-install-prefix/16270/2 "2026-02-05T12:02:19Z")

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Hello,

After changing any configuration value in CMake, you need to regenerate it in order to have an updated VS solution file. Doing a `make install` is enough if you’re using plain Makefiles, but we’re talking about Microsoft technology here. I wouldn’t be surprised if by building only the INSTALL target fails to incorporate the update. Close VS, change it, regenerate, open the solution in VS, build INSTALL and see what happens. If the binaries go to where you wanted, then it’s ok.

best,

PC

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### Author: ![francek](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/francek/32/10505_2.png) [@francek](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/francek)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2026, 10:28am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/changing-install-path-cmake-install-prefix/16270/3 "2026-02-06T10:28:25Z")

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Splendid - worked exactly as you said. Thank you @Paulo_Carvalho

_**\>\>“Close VS, change it(step 1), regenerate(step 2), open the solution in VS(step 3), build INSTALL”**_

 ![image](https://discourse.vtk.org/uploads/default/original/2X/7/78d07214c0d9fb0616f8a67b6aefb2ccc357efdd.jpeg)

All cmake\_install.cmake files (218 in total) were updated with the new install path. No other projects were built.

_ **\>\>“the binaries go to where you wanted”** _  
They did.

 ![image](https://discourse.vtk.org/uploads/default/original/2X/c/c5a826f3a7f4c30fdcff7b6da59e0429a323a951.png)