diff --git a/.github/workflows/variants.yml b/.github/workflows/variants.yml
index 88106a8..62b7775 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/variants.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/variants.yml
@@ -30,14 +30,14 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         make VENV_ENABLED=true VENV_CREATE=true PRIMARY_PYTHON=python3 PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER=pip test
         make clean
-    - name: VENV to be created with uv to be installed
+    - name: VENV to be created with uv (local install, no global UV)
       run: |
-        make VENV_ENABLED=true VENV_CREATE=true PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER=uv PRIMARY_PYTHON=python3 MXENV_UV_GLOBAL=false test
+        make VENV_ENABLED=true VENV_CREATE=true PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER=uv PRIMARY_PYTHON=python3 test
         make clean
-    - name: VENV to be created with uv globally pre-installed
+    - name: VENV to be created with uv (global UV auto-detected)
       run: |
         pip install uv
-        make VENV_ENABLED=true VENV_CREATE=true PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER=uv PRIMARY_PYTHON=${{ matrix.python-version }} MXENV_UV_GLOBAL=true test
+        make VENV_ENABLED=true VENV_CREATE=true PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER=uv PRIMARY_PYTHON=${{ matrix.python-version }} test
         make clean
         pip uninstall -y uv
     - name: VENV pre-installed with pip
@@ -46,20 +46,26 @@ jobs:
         make VENV_ENABLED=true VENV_CREATE=false VENV_FOLDER=existingvenv PRIMARY_PYTHON=python3 PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER=pip test
         make clean
         rm -r existingvenv
-    - name: VENV pre-installed with uv to be installed
+    - name: VENV pre-installed with uv (local install, no global UV)
       run: |
         python -m venv existingvenv
-        make VENV_ENABLED=true VENV_CREATE=false VENV_FOLDER=existingvenv PRIMARY_PYTHON=python3 PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER=uv MXENV_UV_GLOBAL=false test
+        make VENV_ENABLED=true VENV_CREATE=false VENV_FOLDER=existingvenv PRIMARY_PYTHON=python3 PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER=uv test
         make clean
         rm -r existingvenv
-    - name: VENV pre-installed with uv globally pre-installed
+    - name: VENV pre-installed with uv (global UV auto-detected)
       run: |
         python -m venv existingvenv
         pip install uv
-        make VENV_ENABLED=true VENV_CREATE=false VENV_FOLDER=existingvenv PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER=uv PRIMARY_PYTHON=python3 MXENV_UV_GLOBAL=true test
+        make VENV_ENABLED=true VENV_CREATE=false VENV_FOLDER=existingvenv PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER=uv PRIMARY_PYTHON=python3 test
         make clean
         pip uninstall -y uv
         rm -r existingvenv
+    - name: VENV with global UV using different UV_PYTHON
+      run: |
+        pip install uv
+        make VENV_ENABLED=true VENV_CREATE=true PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER=uv PRIMARY_PYTHON=python3 UV_PYTHON=${{ matrix.python-version }} test
+        make clean
+        pip uninstall -y uv
     - name: Global Python with pip
       run: |
         make VENV_ENABLED=false VENV_CREATE=false PRIMARY_PYTHON=python3 PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER=pip test
diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index b83032d..4800c24 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -12,6 +12,25 @@
 - Fix: interactive uv venv, use --allow-existing instead.
 - Feature: Add support for Python 3.14.
 - Feature: Add `docs-linkcheck` to check for broken links in the sphinx documentation.
+- Breaking: Removed `MXENV_UV_GLOBAL` setting in favor of automatic UV detection.
+  When `PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER=uv`, mxmake now automatically detects and uses
+  a globally installed `uv` if available. To force local installation of uv,
+  simply don't install it globally or remove it from PATH.
+- Feature: Add `UV_PYTHON` setting to specify Python version for UV-managed virtual
+  environments. Defaults to `PRIMARY_PYTHON` for backward compatibility. This
+  provides semantic clarity: `PRIMARY_PYTHON` is the system interpreter path
+  (e.g., `python3.11`), while `UV_PYTHON` is the version spec for UV
+  (e.g., `3.14`, `cpython@3.14`).
+- Feature: Automatic detection of global UV installation using simple shell check.
+  No manual configuration required.
+- Feature: All UV commands now run with `--quiet --no-progress` flags for better
+  CI/CD compatibility and cleaner log output.
+- Feature: When using global UV, mxmake checks if updates are available using
+  `uv self update --dry-run` and displays a helpful non-blocking warning if a
+  newer version is available.
+- Improvement: Simplified mxenv.mk logic from 3+ nesting levels to 1-2 levels
+  using computed intermediate variables (`USE_GLOBAL_UV`, `USE_LOCAL_UV`).
+  Code is now more maintainable and easier to extend.
 
 ## 1.3.0 (2025-09-03)
 
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 3c6c9f9..38cb2cc 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -57,18 +57,19 @@ PRIMARY_PYTHON?=3.14
 PYTHON_MIN_VERSION?=3.9
 
 # Install packages using the given package installer method.
-# Supported are `pip` and `uv`. If uv is used, its global availability is
-# checked. Otherwise, it is installed, either in the virtual environment or
-# using the `PRIMARY_PYTHON`, dependent on the `VENV_ENABLED` setting. If
-# `VENV_ENABLED` and uv is selected, uv is used to create the virtual
-# environment.
+# Supported are `pip` and `uv`. When `uv` is selected, a global installation
+# is auto-detected and used if available. Otherwise, uv is installed in the
+# virtual environment or using `PRIMARY_PYTHON`, depending on the
+# `VENV_ENABLED` setting.
 # Default: pip
 PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER?=uv
 
-# Flag whether to use a global installed 'uv' or install
-# it in the virtual environment.
-# Default: false
-MXENV_UV_GLOBAL?=true
+# Python version for UV to install/use when creating virtual
+# environments with global UV. Passed to `uv venv -p VALUE`. Supports version
+# specs like `3.11`, `3.14`, `cpython@3.14`. Defaults to PRIMARY_PYTHON value
+# for backward compatibility.
+# Default: $(PRIMARY_PYTHON)
+UV_PYTHON?=$(PRIMARY_PYTHON)
 
 # Flag whether to use virtual environment. If `false`, the
 # interpreter according to `PRIMARY_PYTHON` found in `PATH` is used.
@@ -233,30 +234,57 @@ else
 MXENV_PYTHON=$(PRIMARY_PYTHON)
 endif
 
-# Determine the package installer
+# Determine the package installer with non-interactive flags
 ifeq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)","uv")
-PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND=uv pip
+PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND=uv pip --quiet --no-progress
 else
 PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND=$(MXENV_PYTHON) -m pip
 endif
 
+# Auto-detect global uv availability (simple existence check)
+ifeq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)","uv")
+UV_AVAILABLE:=$(shell command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo "true" || echo "false")
+else
+UV_AVAILABLE:=false
+endif
+
+# Determine installation strategy
+USE_GLOBAL_UV:=$(shell [[ "$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)" == "uv" && "$(UV_AVAILABLE)" == "true" ]] && echo "true" || echo "false")
+USE_LOCAL_UV:=$(shell [[ "$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)" == "uv" && "$(UV_AVAILABLE)" == "false" ]] && echo "true" || echo "false")
+
+# Check if global UV is outdated (non-blocking warning)
+ifeq ("$(USE_GLOBAL_UV)","true")
+UV_OUTDATED:=$(shell uv self update --dry-run 2>&1 | grep -q "Would update" && echo "true" || echo "false")
+else
+UV_OUTDATED:=false
+endif
+
 MXENV_TARGET:=$(SENTINEL_FOLDER)/mxenv.sentinel
 $(MXENV_TARGET): $(SENTINEL)
-ifneq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)$(MXENV_UV_GLOBAL)","uvfalse")
+	# Validation: Check Python version if not using global uv
+ifneq ("$(USE_GLOBAL_UV)","true")
 	@$(PRIMARY_PYTHON) -c "import sys; vi = sys.version_info; sys.exit(1 if (int(vi[0]), int(vi[1])) >= tuple(map(int, '$(PYTHON_MIN_VERSION)'.split('.'))) else 0)" \
 		&& echo "Need Python >= $(PYTHON_MIN_VERSION)" && exit 1 || :
 else
-	@echo "Use Python $(PYTHON_MIN_VERSION) over uv"
+	@echo "Using global uv for Python $(UV_PYTHON)"
 endif
+	# Validation: Check VENV_FOLDER is set if venv enabled
 	@[[ "$(VENV_ENABLED)" == "true" && "$(VENV_FOLDER)" == "" ]] \
 		&& echo "VENV_FOLDER must be configured if VENV_ENABLED is true" && exit 1 || :
-	@[[ "$(VENV_ENABLED)$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)" == "falseuv" ]] \
+	# Validation: Check uv not used with system Python
+	@[[ "$(VENV_ENABLED)" == "false" && "$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)" == "uv" ]] \
 		&& echo "Package installer uv does not work with a global Python interpreter." && exit 1 || :
+	# Warning: Notify if global UV is outdated
+ifeq ("$(UV_OUTDATED)","true")
+	@echo "WARNING: A newer version of uv is available. Run 'uv self update' to upgrade."
+endif
+
+	# Create virtual environment
 ifeq ("$(VENV_ENABLED)", "true")
 ifeq ("$(VENV_CREATE)", "true")
-ifeq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)$(MXENV_UV_GLOBAL)","uvtrue")
-	@echo "Setup Python Virtual Environment using package 'uv' at '$(VENV_FOLDER)'"
-	@uv venv -p $(PRIMARY_PYTHON) --seed $(VENV_FOLDER)
+ifeq ("$(USE_GLOBAL_UV)","true")
+	@echo "Setup Python Virtual Environment using global uv at '$(VENV_FOLDER)'"
+	@uv venv --quiet --no-progress -p $(UV_PYTHON) --seed $(VENV_FOLDER)
 else
 	@echo "Setup Python Virtual Environment using module 'venv' at '$(VENV_FOLDER)'"
 	@$(PRIMARY_PYTHON) -m venv $(VENV_FOLDER)
@@ -266,10 +294,14 @@ endif
 else
 	@echo "Using system Python interpreter"
 endif
-ifeq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)$(MXENV_UV_GLOBAL)","uvfalse")
-	@echo "Install uv"
+
+	# Install uv locally if needed
+ifeq ("$(USE_LOCAL_UV)","true")
+	@echo "Install uv in virtual environment"
 	@$(MXENV_PYTHON) -m pip install uv
 endif
+
+	# Install/upgrade core packages
 	@$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND) install -U pip setuptools wheel
 	@echo "Install/Update MXStack Python packages"
 	@$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND) install -U $(MXDEV) $(MXMAKE)
diff --git a/docs/source/getting-started.md b/docs/source/getting-started.md
index 41b8ecd..ac65fcf 100644
--- a/docs/source/getting-started.md
+++ b/docs/source/getting-started.md
@@ -63,6 +63,23 @@ For details read the chapter [on topics and it's domains](topics-and-domains).
 Do not add custom settings to settings section.
 They will be lost on next `mxmake init` respective `mxmake update` run.
 
+### Python Package Installer
+
+By default, mxmake uses `pip` as the package installer. You can switch to [UV](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/) by setting `PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER=uv` in the settings section.
+
+When using UV, mxmake automatically detects if UV is installed globally or installs it locally in the virtual environment.
+
+```{note}
+When using UV, you should explicitly set `UV_PYTHON` to specify which Python version UV should use. While `UV_PYTHON` currently defaults to `PRIMARY_PYTHON` for backward compatibility, this default may change in future versions. Set `UV_PYTHON` explicitly to avoid surprises.
+```
+
+Example:
+```makefile
+PRIMARY_PYTHON?=python3
+PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER?=uv
+UV_PYTHON?=3.14
+```
+
 ## How to use on the Windows operating system
 
 mxmake works excellent on Windows!
diff --git a/docs/source/preseeds.md b/docs/source/preseeds.md
index 4236335..87c84d1 100644
--- a/docs/source/preseeds.md
+++ b/docs/source/preseeds.md
@@ -15,9 +15,10 @@ topics:
   core:
     # include domain mxenv
     mxenv:
-      # set PYTHON_MIN_VERSION and PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER
-      PYTHON_MIN_VERSION: 3.10
+      # set PYTHON_MIN_VERSION, PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER and UV_PYTHON
+      PYTHON_MIN_VERSION: 3.14
       PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER: uv
+      UV_PYTHON: "3.14"
   qa:
     # include domains from qa topic but do not override default settings
     ruff:
@@ -36,6 +37,26 @@ Now initialize the project with the preseeds:
 $ mxmake init -p preseeds.yaml
 ```
 
+## UV Package Installer
+
+When `PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER` is set to `uv`, mxmake automatically detects whether UV is installed globally on your system.
+
+```{important}
+When using UV, you should explicitly set `UV_PYTHON` to specify which Python version UV should use. While `UV_PYTHON` currently defaults to `PRIMARY_PYTHON` for backward compatibility, relying on this default is not recommended and may change in future versions.
+```
+
+The `UV_PYTHON` setting accepts version specs like `3.13`, `3.14`, or `cpython@3.14`:
+
+```yaml
+topics:
+  core:
+    mxenv:
+      PYTHON_MIN_VERSION: "3.14"
+      PRIMARY_PYTHON: python3
+      PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER: uv
+      UV_PYTHON: "3.14"  # Explicitly specify Python version for UV
+```
+
 ## Examples
 
 ### Create a simple Python project
@@ -56,9 +77,9 @@ Enter the `hello-world-` directory and create a file `preseed.yaml`:
 topics:
   core:
     mxenv:
-      PYTHON_MIN_VERSION: "3.10"
+      PYTHON_MIN_VERSION: "3.14"
       PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER: uv
-      MXENV_UV_GLOBAL: true
+      UV_PYTHON: "3.14"
     sources:
   qa:
     ruff
@@ -103,9 +124,9 @@ topics:
     base:
       RUN_TARGET: zope-start
     mxenv:
-      PYTHON_MIN_VERSION: "3.10"
+      PYTHON_MIN_VERSION: "3.13"
       PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER: uv
-      MXENV_UV_GLOBAL: true
+      UV_PYTHON: "3.13"
   applications:
     zope:
     plone:
diff --git a/src/mxmake/tests/expected/Makefile b/src/mxmake/tests/expected/Makefile
index cddc773..795c63b 100644
--- a/src/mxmake/tests/expected/Makefile
+++ b/src/mxmake/tests/expected/Makefile
@@ -48,18 +48,19 @@ PRIMARY_PYTHON?=python3
 PYTHON_MIN_VERSION?=3.9
 
 # Install packages using the given package installer method.
-# Supported are `pip` and `uv`. If uv is used, its global availability is
-# checked. Otherwise, it is installed, either in the virtual environment or
-# using the `PRIMARY_PYTHON`, dependent on the `VENV_ENABLED` setting. If
-# `VENV_ENABLED` and uv is selected, uv is used to create the virtual
-# environment.
+# Supported are `pip` and `uv`. When `uv` is selected, a global installation
+# is auto-detected and used if available. Otherwise, uv is installed in the
+# virtual environment or using `PRIMARY_PYTHON`, depending on the
+# `VENV_ENABLED` setting.
 # Default: pip
 PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER?=pip
 
-# Flag whether to use a global installed 'uv' or install
-# it in the virtual environment.
-# Default: false
-MXENV_UV_GLOBAL?=false
+# Python version for UV to install/use when creating virtual
+# environments with global UV. Passed to `uv venv -p VALUE`. Supports version
+# specs like `3.11`, `3.14`, `cpython@3.14`. Defaults to PRIMARY_PYTHON value
+# for backward compatibility.
+# Default: $(PRIMARY_PYTHON)
+UV_PYTHON?=$(PRIMARY_PYTHON)
 
 # Flag whether to use virtual environment. If `false`, the
 # interpreter according to `PRIMARY_PYTHON` found in `PATH` is used.
@@ -139,30 +140,61 @@ else
 MXENV_PYTHON=$(PRIMARY_PYTHON)
 endif
 
-# Determine the package installer
+# Determine the package installer with non-interactive flags
 ifeq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)","uv")
-PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND=uv pip
+PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND=uv pip --no-progress
 else
 PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND=$(MXENV_PYTHON) -m pip
 endif
 
+# Auto-detect global uv availability (simple existence check)
+ifeq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)","uv")
+UV_AVAILABLE:=$(shell command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo "true" || echo "false")
+else
+UV_AVAILABLE:=false
+endif
+
+# Determine installation strategy
+# depending on the PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER and UV_AVAILABLE
+# - both vars can be false or
+# - one of them can be true,
+# - but never boths.
+USE_GLOBAL_UV:=$(shell [[ "$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)" == "uv" && "$(UV_AVAILABLE)" == "true" ]] && echo "true" || echo "false")
+USE_LOCAL_UV:=$(shell [[ "$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)" == "uv" && "$(UV_AVAILABLE)" == "false" ]] && echo "true" || echo "false")
+
+# Check if global UV is outdated (non-blocking warning)
+ifeq ("$(USE_GLOBAL_UV)","true")
+UV_OUTDATED:=$(shell uv self update --dry-run 2>&1 | grep -q "Would update" && echo "true" || echo "false")
+else
+UV_OUTDATED:=false
+endif
+
 MXENV_TARGET:=$(SENTINEL_FOLDER)/mxenv.sentinel
 $(MXENV_TARGET): $(SENTINEL)
-ifneq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)$(MXENV_UV_GLOBAL)","uvfalse")
+	# Validation: Check Python version if not using global uv
+ifneq ("$(USE_GLOBAL_UV)","true")
 	@$(PRIMARY_PYTHON) -c "import sys; vi = sys.version_info; sys.exit(1 if (int(vi[0]), int(vi[1])) >= tuple(map(int, '$(PYTHON_MIN_VERSION)'.split('.'))) else 0)" \
 		&& echo "Need Python >= $(PYTHON_MIN_VERSION)" && exit 1 || :
 else
-	@echo "Use Python $(PYTHON_MIN_VERSION) over uv"
+	@echo "Using global uv for Python $(UV_PYTHON)"
 endif
+	# Validation: Check VENV_FOLDER is set if venv enabled
 	@[[ "$(VENV_ENABLED)" == "true" && "$(VENV_FOLDER)" == "" ]] \
 		&& echo "VENV_FOLDER must be configured if VENV_ENABLED is true" && exit 1 || :
-	@[[ "$(VENV_ENABLED)$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)" == "falseuv" ]] \
+	# Validation: Check uv not used with system Python
+	@[[ "$(VENV_ENABLED)" == "false" && "$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)" == "uv" ]] \
 		&& echo "Package installer uv does not work with a global Python interpreter." && exit 1 || :
+	# Warning: Notify if global UV is outdated
+ifeq ("$(UV_OUTDATED)","true")
+	@echo "WARNING: A newer version of uv is available. Run 'uv self update' to upgrade."
+endif
+
+	# Create virtual environment
 ifeq ("$(VENV_ENABLED)", "true")
 ifeq ("$(VENV_CREATE)", "true")
-ifeq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)$(MXENV_UV_GLOBAL)","uvtrue")
-	@echo "Setup Python Virtual Environment using package 'uv' at '$(VENV_FOLDER)'"
-	@uv venv -p $(PRIMARY_PYTHON) --seed --allow-existing $(VENV_FOLDER)
+ifeq ("$(USE_GLOBAL_UV)","true")
+	@echo "Setup Python Virtual Environment using global uv at '$(VENV_FOLDER)'"
+	@uv venv --allow-existing --no-progress -p $(UV_PYTHON) --seed $(VENV_FOLDER)
 else
 	@echo "Setup Python Virtual Environment using module 'venv' at '$(VENV_FOLDER)'"
 	@$(PRIMARY_PYTHON) -m venv $(VENV_FOLDER)
@@ -172,10 +204,14 @@ endif
 else
 	@echo "Using system Python interpreter"
 endif
-ifeq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)$(MXENV_UV_GLOBAL)","uvfalse")
-	@echo "Install uv"
+
+	# Install uv locally if needed
+ifeq ("$(USE_LOCAL_UV)","true")
+	@echo "Install uv in virtual environment"
 	@$(MXENV_PYTHON) -m pip install uv
 endif
+
+	# Install/upgrade core packages
 	@$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND) install -U pip setuptools wheel
 	@echo "Install/Update MXStack Python packages"
 	@$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND) install -U $(MXDEV) $(MXMAKE)
diff --git a/src/mxmake/tests/test_parser.py b/src/mxmake/tests/test_parser.py
index 50b7d6d..98aa721 100644
--- a/src/mxmake/tests/test_parser.py
+++ b/src/mxmake/tests/test_parser.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ def test_MakefileParser(self, tempdir):
             "core.mxenv.PRIMARY_PYTHON": "python3",
             "core.mxenv.PYTHON_MIN_VERSION": "3.7",
             "core.mxenv.PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER": "pip",
-            "core.mxenv.MXENV_UV_GLOBAL": "false",
+            "core.mxenv.UV_PYTHON": "$(PRIMARY_PYTHON)",
             "core.mxenv.VENV_ENABLED": "true",
             "core.mxenv.VENV_CREATE": "true",
             "core.mxenv.VENV_FOLDER": "venv",
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def test_MakefileParser(self, tempdir):
                 "core.mxenv.PRIMARY_PYTHON": "python3",
                 "core.mxenv.PYTHON_MIN_VERSION": "3.7",
                 "core.mxenv.PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER": "pip",
-                "core.mxenv.MXENV_UV_GLOBAL": "false",
+                "core.mxenv.UV_PYTHON": "$(PRIMARY_PYTHON)",
                 "core.mxenv.VENV_ENABLED": "true",
                 "core.mxenv.VENV_CREATE": "true",
                 "core.mxenv.VENV_FOLDER": "venv",
diff --git a/src/mxmake/tests/test_templates.py b/src/mxmake/tests/test_templates.py
index e26f734..1c7c6e7 100644
--- a/src/mxmake/tests/test_templates.py
+++ b/src/mxmake/tests/test_templates.py
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ def test_Makefile(self, tempdir):
             "core.mxenv.PRIMARY_PYTHON": "python3",
             "core.mxenv.PYTHON_MIN_VERSION": "3.9",
             "core.mxenv.PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER": "pip",
-            "core.mxenv.MXENV_UV_GLOBAL": "false",
+            "core.mxenv.UV_PYTHON": "$(PRIMARY_PYTHON)",
             "core.mxenv.VENV_ENABLED": "true",
             "core.mxenv.VENV_CREATE": "true",
             "core.mxenv.VENV_FOLDER": ".venv",
diff --git a/src/mxmake/topics/core/mxenv.mk b/src/mxmake/topics/core/mxenv.mk
index d83c8c4..d479ce4 100644
--- a/src/mxmake/topics/core/mxenv.mk
+++ b/src/mxmake/topics/core/mxenv.mk
@@ -35,17 +35,18 @@
 #:
 #:[setting.PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER]
 #:description = Install packages using the given package installer method.
-#:  Supported are `pip` and `uv`. If uv is used, its global availability is
-#:  checked. Otherwise, it is installed, either in the virtual environment or
-#:  using the `PRIMARY_PYTHON`, dependent on the `VENV_ENABLED` setting. If
-#:  `VENV_ENABLED` and uv is selected, uv is used to create the virtual
-#:  environment.
+#:  Supported are `pip` and `uv`. When `uv` is selected, a global installation
+#:  is auto-detected and used if available. Otherwise, uv is installed in the
+#:  virtual environment or using `PRIMARY_PYTHON`, depending on the
+#:  `VENV_ENABLED` setting.
 #:default = pip
 #:
-#:[setting.MXENV_UV_GLOBAL]
-#:description = Flag whether to use a global installed 'uv' or install
-#:  it in the virtual environment.
-#:default = false
+#:[setting.UV_PYTHON]
+#:description = Python version for UV to install/use when creating virtual
+#:  environments with global UV. Passed to `uv venv -p VALUE`. Supports version
+#:  specs like `3.11`, `3.14`, `cpython@3.14`. Defaults to PRIMARY_PYTHON value
+#:  for backward compatibility.
+#:default = $(PRIMARY_PYTHON)
 #:
 #:[setting.VENV_ENABLED]
 #:description = Flag whether to use virtual environment. If `false`, the
@@ -94,30 +95,61 @@ else
 MXENV_PYTHON=$(PRIMARY_PYTHON)
 endif
 
-# Determine the package installer
+# Determine the package installer with non-interactive flags
 ifeq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)","uv")
-PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND=uv pip
+PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND=uv pip --no-progress
 else
 PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND=$(MXENV_PYTHON) -m pip
 endif
 
+# Auto-detect global uv availability (simple existence check)
+ifeq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)","uv")
+UV_AVAILABLE:=$(shell command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo "true" || echo "false")
+else
+UV_AVAILABLE:=false
+endif
+
+# Determine installation strategy
+# depending on the PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER and UV_AVAILABLE
+# - both vars can be false or
+# - one of them can be true,
+# - but never boths.
+USE_GLOBAL_UV:=$(shell [[ "$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)" == "uv" && "$(UV_AVAILABLE)" == "true" ]] && echo "true" || echo "false")
+USE_LOCAL_UV:=$(shell [[ "$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)" == "uv" && "$(UV_AVAILABLE)" == "false" ]] && echo "true" || echo "false")
+
+# Check if global UV is outdated (non-blocking warning)
+ifeq ("$(USE_GLOBAL_UV)","true")
+UV_OUTDATED:=$(shell uv self update --dry-run 2>&1 | grep -q "Would update" && echo "true" || echo "false")
+else
+UV_OUTDATED:=false
+endif
+
 MXENV_TARGET:=$(SENTINEL_FOLDER)/mxenv.sentinel
 $(MXENV_TARGET): $(SENTINEL)
-ifneq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)$(MXENV_UV_GLOBAL)","uvfalse")
+	# Validation: Check Python version if not using global uv
+ifneq ("$(USE_GLOBAL_UV)","true")
 	@$(PRIMARY_PYTHON) -c "import sys; vi = sys.version_info; sys.exit(1 if (int(vi[0]), int(vi[1])) >= tuple(map(int, '$(PYTHON_MIN_VERSION)'.split('.'))) else 0)" \
 		&& echo "Need Python >= $(PYTHON_MIN_VERSION)" && exit 1 || :
 else
-	@echo "Use Python $(PYTHON_MIN_VERSION) over uv"
+	@echo "Using global uv for Python $(UV_PYTHON)"
 endif
+	# Validation: Check VENV_FOLDER is set if venv enabled
 	@[[ "$(VENV_ENABLED)" == "true" && "$(VENV_FOLDER)" == "" ]] \
 		&& echo "VENV_FOLDER must be configured if VENV_ENABLED is true" && exit 1 || :
-	@[[ "$(VENV_ENABLED)$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)" == "falseuv" ]] \
+	# Validation: Check uv not used with system Python
+	@[[ "$(VENV_ENABLED)" == "false" && "$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)" == "uv" ]] \
 		&& echo "Package installer uv does not work with a global Python interpreter." && exit 1 || :
+	# Warning: Notify if global UV is outdated
+ifeq ("$(UV_OUTDATED)","true")
+	@echo "WARNING: A newer version of uv is available. Run 'uv self update' to upgrade."
+endif
+
+	# Create virtual environment
 ifeq ("$(VENV_ENABLED)", "true")
 ifeq ("$(VENV_CREATE)", "true")
-ifeq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)$(MXENV_UV_GLOBAL)","uvtrue")
-	@echo "Setup Python Virtual Environment using package 'uv' at '$(VENV_FOLDER)'"
-	@uv venv -p $(PRIMARY_PYTHON) --seed --allow-existing $(VENV_FOLDER)
+ifeq ("$(USE_GLOBAL_UV)","true")
+	@echo "Setup Python Virtual Environment using global uv at '$(VENV_FOLDER)'"
+	@uv venv --allow-existing --no-progress -p $(UV_PYTHON) --seed $(VENV_FOLDER)
 else
 	@echo "Setup Python Virtual Environment using module 'venv' at '$(VENV_FOLDER)'"
 	@$(PRIMARY_PYTHON) -m venv $(VENV_FOLDER)
@@ -127,10 +159,14 @@ endif
 else
 	@echo "Using system Python interpreter"
 endif
-ifeq ("$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_INSTALLER)$(MXENV_UV_GLOBAL)","uvfalse")
-	@echo "Install uv"
+
+	# Install uv locally if needed
+ifeq ("$(USE_LOCAL_UV)","true")
+	@echo "Install uv in virtual environment"
 	@$(MXENV_PYTHON) -m pip install uv
 endif
+
+	# Install/upgrade core packages
 	@$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND) install -U pip setuptools wheel
 	@echo "Install/Update MXStack Python packages"
 	@$(PYTHON_PACKAGE_COMMAND) install -U $(MXDEV) $(MXMAKE)