diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index c1ad8a551..cf7365228 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -18,10 +18,19 @@ else()
   include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/env_support/cmake/custom.cmake)
 endif()
 
+#[[
+    unfortunately CMAKE_WINDOWS_EXPORT_ALL_SYMBOLS does not work for global data. 
+    for global data we still need decl specs.
+    Check out the docs to learn more about the limitations of CMAKE_WINDOWS_EXPORT_ALL_SYMBOLS
+    https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/prop_tgt/WINDOWS_EXPORT_ALL_SYMBOLS.html#prop_tgt:WINDOWS_EXPORT_ALL_SYMBOLS
+
+    For all compiled sources within the library (i.e. basically all lvgl files) we need to use dllexport.
+    For all compiled sources from outside the library (i.e. files which include lvgl headers) we need to use dllimport.
+    We can do this by using CMakes INTERFACE and PRIVATE keyword.
+  ]]
 if (MSVC)
-  if (BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
-    target_compile_definitions(lvgl PUBLIC LV_ATTRIBUTE_EXTERN_DATA=__declspec\(dllimport\))
-  else()
-    target_compile_definitions(lvgl PUBLIC LV_ATTRIBUTE_EXTERN_DATA=__declspec\(dllexport\))
-  endif()
+  target_compile_definitions(lvgl
+    INTERFACE LV_ATTRIBUTE_EXTERN_DATA=__declspec\(dllimport\)
+    PRIVATE LV_ATTRIBUTE_EXTERN_DATA=__declspec\(dllexport\)
+  )
 endif()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/core/lv_global.h b/src/core/lv_global.h
index 93411c176..2b36a10e5 100644
--- a/src/core/lv_global.h
+++ b/src/core/lv_global.h
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ typedef struct _lv_global_t {
 #endif
 #define LV_GLOBAL_DEFAULT() LV_GLOBAL_CUSTOM()
 #else
-extern lv_global_t lv_global;
+LV_ATTRIBUTE_EXTERN_DATA extern lv_global_t lv_global;
 #define LV_GLOBAL_DEFAULT() (&lv_global)
 #endif
 
diff --git a/src/font/lv_font.h b/src/font/lv_font.h
index d5464dab9..610048d49 100644
--- a/src/font/lv_font.h
+++ b/src/font/lv_font.h
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ void lv_font_set_kerning(lv_font_t * font, lv_font_kerning_t kerning);
  *      MACROS
  **********************/
 
-#define LV_FONT_DECLARE(font_name) extern const lv_font_t font_name;
+#define LV_FONT_DECLARE(font_name) LV_ATTRIBUTE_EXTERN_DATA extern const lv_font_t font_name;
 
 #if LV_FONT_MONTSERRAT_8
 LV_FONT_DECLARE(lv_font_montserrat_8)
diff --git a/src/misc/lv_color.h b/src/misc/lv_color.h
index 0d24dc7ec..5170e4696 100644
--- a/src/misc/lv_color.h
+++ b/src/misc/lv_color.h
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ static inline void lv_color16_premultiply(lv_color16_t * c, lv_opa_t a)
 #include "lv_palette.h"
 #include "lv_color_op.h"
 
-extern const lv_color_filter_dsc_t lv_color_filter_shade;
+LV_ATTRIBUTE_EXTERN_DATA extern const lv_color_filter_dsc_t lv_color_filter_shade;
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 } /*extern "C"*/