diff --git a/.github/actions/checkout/action.yml b/.github/actions/checkout/action.yml
index 6932843965..28dc2aa894 100644
--- a/.github/actions/checkout/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/checkout/action.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ runs:
       # This repository can't do depth.
       git -c protocol.version=2 submodule update --init 3rd-party/xz-decoder/xz-embedded
       git -c protocol.version=2 submodule update --init --force --depth=1 --recursive
+      git -C 3rd-party/vcpkg fetch --unshallow
 
   - name: Fetch tags
     shell: bash
diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index 88b666a623..cf80a1d46b 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@
 [submodule "3rd-party/scope_guard"]
 	path = 3rd-party/scope_guard
 	url = https://github.com/ricab/scope_guard.git
-[submodule "3rd-party/fmt"]
-	path = 3rd-party/fmt
-	url = https://github.com/fmtlib/fmt.git
 [submodule "3rd-party/vcpkg"]
 	path = 3rd-party/vcpkg
 	url = https://github.com/microsoft/vcpkg
diff --git a/3rd-party/CMakeLists.txt b/3rd-party/CMakeLists.txt
index a8cbaa672a..b0a5fa7f0b 100644
--- a/3rd-party/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/3rd-party/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -89,12 +89,6 @@ target_link_libraries(yaml INTERFACE
 # libssh config
 add_subdirectory(libssh)
 
-# fmt header only library
-add_library(fmt INTERFACE)
-target_compile_definitions(fmt INTERFACE FMT_HEADER_ONLY=1)
-target_include_directories(fmt INTERFACE
-  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/fmt/include)
-
 # premock header only library to mock c-functions
 add_library(premock INTERFACE)
 target_include_directories(premock INTERFACE
diff --git a/3rd-party/fmt b/3rd-party/fmt
deleted file mode 160000
index 0c9fce2ffe..0000000000
--- a/3rd-party/fmt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Subproject commit 0c9fce2ffefecfdce794e1859584e25877b7b592
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 473c92257c..fdea0d490a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -138,6 +138,10 @@ find_package(OpenSSL REQUIRED)
 # gRPC config
 find_package(gRPC CONFIG REQUIRED)
 
+# fmt config
+find_package(fmt CONFIG REQUIRED)
+# targets: fmt::fmt, fmt::fmt-header-only
+
 # Needs to be here before we set further compilation options
 add_subdirectory(3rd-party)
 
diff --git a/src/cert/CMakeLists.txt b/src/cert/CMakeLists.txt
index ce0b3e101d..b88e640b49 100644
--- a/src/cert/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/cert/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ target_compile_options(cert PRIVATE
 )
 
 target_link_libraries(cert
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   utils
   OpenSSL::SSL
   OpenSSL::Crypto
diff --git a/src/client/cli/CMakeLists.txt b/src/client/cli/CMakeLists.txt
index 052631b2e1..b8aa3ba804 100644
--- a/src/client/cli/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/client/cli/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ add_library(client STATIC
 target_link_libraries(client
   client_platform
   commands
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   formatter
   rpc
   scope_guard
diff --git a/src/client/cli/formatter/CMakeLists.txt b/src/client/cli/formatter/CMakeLists.txt
index 5afde760a8..43abd0beb9 100644
--- a/src/client/cli/formatter/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/client/cli/formatter/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ add_library(formatter STATIC
 
 target_link_libraries(formatter
   client_common
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   rpc
   settings
   utils
diff --git a/src/client/common/CMakeLists.txt b/src/client/common/CMakeLists.txt
index 49a5d2b363..69f9eabfaa 100644
--- a/src/client/common/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/client/common/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ add_library(client_common STATIC
 
 target_link_libraries(client_common
   cert
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   platform
   rpc
   settings
diff --git a/src/daemon/CMakeLists.txt b/src/daemon/CMakeLists.txt
index 826c91895e..38cb4f1791 100644
--- a/src/daemon/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/daemon/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ include_directories(daemon
 target_link_libraries(daemon
   cert
   delayed_shutdown
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   logger
   petname
   platform
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ add_library(delayed_shutdown STATIC
   ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/multipass/delayed_shutdown_timer.h)
 
 target_link_libraries(delayed_shutdown
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   logger
   ssh_common
   Qt6::Core
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ target_link_libraries(delayed_shutdown
 add_executable(multipassd daemon_main.cpp)
 
 target_link_libraries(multipassd
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   daemon)
 
 install(TARGETS multipassd
diff --git a/src/iso/CMakeLists.txt b/src/iso/CMakeLists.txt
index 82a8fc1261..2261281c1e 100644
--- a/src/iso/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/iso/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -18,6 +18,6 @@ add_library(iso STATIC
   cloud_init_iso.cpp)
 
 target_link_libraries(iso
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   utils
   Qt6::Core)
diff --git a/src/logging/CMakeLists.txt b/src/logging/CMakeLists.txt
index dc0e1be84f..dbd901edfd 100644
--- a/src/logging/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/logging/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,5 +19,5 @@ add_library(logger STATIC
   standard_logger.cpp)
 
 target_link_libraries(logger
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   Qt6::Core)
diff --git a/src/network/CMakeLists.txt b/src/network/CMakeLists.txt
index afafe9f79c..6ff29717d4 100644
--- a/src/network/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/network/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ add_library(ip_address STATIC
             ip_address.cpp)
 
 target_link_libraries(network
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   logger
   utils
   Qt6::Core
diff --git a/src/platform/backends/libvirt/CMakeLists.txt b/src/platform/backends/libvirt/CMakeLists.txt
index 184ac8c17d..2d2f667e85 100644
--- a/src/platform/backends/libvirt/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/platform/backends/libvirt/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ function(add_libvirt_target TARGET_NAME)
   target_include_directories(${TARGET_NAME} PRIVATE ${LIBVIRT_INCLUDE_DIRS})
   target_link_libraries(${TARGET_NAME}
     daemon
-    fmt
+    fmt::fmt-header-only
     ip_address
     qemu_img_utils
     Qt6::Core
diff --git a/src/platform/backends/lxd/CMakeLists.txt b/src/platform/backends/lxd/CMakeLists.txt
index d94582219e..f9e0db518c 100644
--- a/src/platform/backends/lxd/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/platform/backends/lxd/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ add_library(lxd_backend STATIC
 target_link_libraries(lxd_backend
   Qt6::Core
   Qt6::Network
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   ip_address
   logger
   network
diff --git a/src/platform/backends/qemu/CMakeLists.txt b/src/platform/backends/qemu/CMakeLists.txt
index 868ffa540a..ffc18c737c 100644
--- a/src/platform/backends/qemu/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/platform/backends/qemu/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ add_library(qemu_backend STATIC
   ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/multipass/process/process.h)
 
 target_link_libraries(qemu_backend
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   ip_address
   logger
   qemu_img_utils
diff --git a/src/platform/backends/shared/linux/CMakeLists.txt b/src/platform/backends/shared/linux/CMakeLists.txt
index cb27718dfc..9692569698 100644
--- a/src/platform/backends/shared/linux/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/platform/backends/shared/linux/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ function(add_target TARGET_NAME)
 
   target_link_libraries(${TARGET_NAME}
     apparmor
-    fmt
+    fmt::fmt-header-only
     scope_guard
     shared
     utils
diff --git a/src/platform/backends/shared/qemu_img_utils/CMakeLists.txt b/src/platform/backends/shared/qemu_img_utils/CMakeLists.txt
index 91f96a9eb0..eb98ff29bd 100644
--- a/src/platform/backends/shared/qemu_img_utils/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/platform/backends/shared/qemu_img_utils/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,5 +16,5 @@ add_library(qemu_img_utils STATIC EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL
   qemu_img_utils.cpp)
 
 target_link_libraries(qemu_img_utils
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   Qt6::Core)
diff --git a/src/platform/update/CMakeLists.txt b/src/platform/update/CMakeLists.txt
index aa371fb774..6c5800fb3b 100644
--- a/src/platform/update/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/platform/update/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ add_library(update STATIC
 
 target_link_libraries(update
   network
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   rpc
   semver
   Qt6::Core)
diff --git a/src/settings/CMakeLists.txt b/src/settings/CMakeLists.txt
index fa38980474..394f4e871b 100644
--- a/src/settings/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/settings/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -21,6 +21,6 @@ add_library(settings STATIC
         settings.cpp)
 
 target_link_libraries(settings
-        fmt
+        fmt::fmt-header-only
         utils
         Qt6::Core)
diff --git a/src/ssh/CMakeLists.txt b/src/ssh/CMakeLists.txt
index 385942ad9d..c7728370c8 100644
--- a/src/ssh/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/ssh/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ function(add_ssh_target TARGET_NAME)
     ssh_session.cpp)
 
   target_link_libraries(${TARGET_NAME}
-    fmt
+    fmt::fmt-header-only
     libssh
     utils
     Qt6::Core)
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ function(add_sftp_client_target TARGET_NAME)
     ssh_session.cpp)
 
   target_link_libraries(${TARGET_NAME}
-    fmt
+    fmt::fmt-header-only
     libssh
     utils
     Qt6::Core)
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ function(add_ssh_client_target TARGET_NAME)
 
   target_link_libraries(${TARGET_NAME}
     console
-    fmt
+    fmt::fmt-header-only
     libssh
     utils
     Qt6::Core)
diff --git a/src/sshfs_mount/CMakeLists.txt b/src/sshfs_mount/CMakeLists.txt
index 80476d000f..75b4949d17 100644
--- a/src/sshfs_mount/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/sshfs_mount/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ function(add_sshfs_mount_target TARGET_NAME)
     ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/multipass/sshfs_mount/sshfs_mount_handler.h)
 
   target_link_libraries(${TARGET_NAME}
-    fmt
+    fmt::fmt-header-only
     logger
     platform
     ssh
diff --git a/src/utils/CMakeLists.txt b/src/utils/CMakeLists.txt
index 006c198678..1d4cd6171e 100644
--- a/src/utils/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/utils/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ function(add_target TARGET_NAME)
 
   target_link_libraries(${TARGET_NAME}
     cert
-    fmt
+    fmt::fmt-header-only
     logger
     ssh_common
     ssh
diff --git a/src/xz_decoder/CMakeLists.txt b/src/xz_decoder/CMakeLists.txt
index fb0f93ee56..d686262f63 100644
--- a/src/xz_decoder/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/xz_decoder/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,6 +19,6 @@ add_library(xz_image_decoder STATIC
 
 target_link_libraries(xz_image_decoder
   xz-embedded
-  fmt
+  fmt::fmt-header-only
   rpc
   Qt6::Core)
diff --git a/vcpkg.json b/vcpkg.json
index 558d9f3e77..b1a6b72d8b 100644
--- a/vcpkg.json
+++ b/vcpkg.json
@@ -2,6 +2,13 @@
   "builtin-baseline": "6f29f12e82a8293156836ad81cc9bf5af41fe836",
   "dependencies": [
     "poco",
-    "grpc"
+    "grpc",
+    "fmt"
+  ],
+  "overrides": [
+    {
+      "name": "fmt",
+      "version": "11.0.2"
+    }
   ]
 }