The package pthreads provides CMake targets: find_package(pthreads REQUIRED) target_link_libraries(main PRIVATE PThreads4W::PThreads4W) #or target_link_libraries(main PRIVATE PThreads4W::PThreads4W_CXXEXC) #or target_link_libraries(main PRIVATE PThreads4W::PThreads4W_STRUCTEXC)