What is Vulkan Runtime Libraries and Can I Delete It?

Many users find Vulkan Runtime Libraries confusing as it is automatically installed onto their computer systems. Its installation is often mysterious, causing people to question its purpose and if deleting it from their device is an option.

Vulkan Runtime Libraries are a set of libraries used to render 3D graphics in your games and applications. In general, it is safe, and no need to remove it.

This guide will explain Vulkan Runtime Libraries, why it is on your computer, and how to remove it safely if you want.

What is Vulkan Runtime Libraries

Vulkan Runtime Libraries, often shortened to VulkanRT or Vulkan, is a 3D rendering software library similar to Microsoft DirectX and OpenGL.

Just like the latest DirectX version is DirectX12, Vulkan is the latest version of OpenGL. However, unlike those programs, Vulkan is not developed by a single company but is a library produced by the Khronos group.

This new graphic standard provides high-efficiency, cross-platform access to modern GPUs used in various devices, from PCs and consoles to mobile phones and embedded platforms.

Unlike its predecessor, Vulkan is not just a Graphics API but also includes Compute functionality. This allows developers to take full advantage of multi-core CPUs and GPUs while maintaining portability across devices.

As a result, Vulkan is becoming increasingly popular with game developers as it provides a level of performance and power efficiency that is impossible to achieve with OpenGL.

Why does my computer have Vulcan Libraries installed?

It is normal to find Vulkan Runtime Libraries installed on your computer, as it is a standard component of many video games and graphics applications.

For example, if you have Nvidia drivers or any games that use the Vulkan API, such as Doom VFR or Quake Champions, then you will likely have a set of Vulcan libraries installed on your system.

When you install these applications, your system automatically installs the Vulkan Runtime Libraries so that they can take advantage of the new graphics capabilities provided by Vulkan.

Is Vulcan malware?

Vulcan isn’t malware and is typically safe to keep installed on your computer. Sometimes your Windows Defender or antivirus program may flag Vulkan Runtime Libraries as a potential threat, but this is a false positive.

Should I remove Vulcan Libraries?

There is no need to remove Vulcan Runtime Libraries from your system, as they are perfectly safe and improve the overall performance of some software programs. However, if you still feel uncomfortable having Vulkan Libraries on your computer, you can uninstall it.

This will affect any games or applications that rely on Vulkan, and you may notice a decrease in performance or compatibility. On the other hand, the games and applications that do not use Vulkan will continue to work normally.

Note: If you delete Vulcan Libraries, there is no method to reinstall them, and the only way to restore them is to reinstall the software that uses Vulkan Libraries.

How to uninstall Vulcan Runtime Libraries?

1. Open Control Panel.

   

2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a Program.

   

3. Right-click Vulkan from the list and click Uninstall/Change.

   

4. A dialog box will appear asking if you want to remove Vulcan Runtime Libraries. Click Yes, then follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation process.