You did not download this program by itself. It came with your graphics driver update. Installed with GeForce drivers. AMD updates. Installed with Radeon drivers. Game installs. Steam or Epic Games may install it. Should You Delete It? No, you should not delete Vulkan Runtime Libraries.
While some overzealous antivirus programs used to flag it, it is a 100% safe system component. and other tech experts confirm it’s not malware. Don't uninstall it: If you remove it, games that rely on Vulkan (like No Man's Sky ) may crash or fail to launch entirely. You don't need to open it:
As games became more complex and utilized more CPU cores, both APIs showed their age. In response, the Khronos Group—the same consortium behind OpenGL—began developing a successor. That successor was , announced at GDC 2015 and officially released in February 2016.
: It typically self-installs during a driver update to ensure your system is ready for the latest games.
| Action | Recommendation | |--------|----------------| | Keep it? | Yes. It does no harm. | | Update it? | Yes, by updating your GPU drivers. | | Uninstall it? | Only if you never use any Vulkan app and want a clean list. | | Worry about it? | No. It is a normal, safe system component. | Vulkan Runtime Libraries 1.0.39.1
It runs on Windows, Linux, and Android, making it easier for developers to port games across different devices. Understanding Version 1.0.39.1
In most cases, it is harmless to leave it. Newer Vulkan applications will use the loader in System32 , not the one listed under “Programs and Features.”
Let’s break down exactly what version 1.0.39.1 is, why it’s on your PC, and whether you should leave it alone.
was simply a specific "loader" that helped your computer understand these complex instructions. The Hitchhiker You did not download this program by itself
Article last updated: 2026
: Nvidia, AMD, or Intel drivers install Vulkan automatically.
: While version 1.0.39.1 is a legacy runtime, you can download the latest SDK from , which is backwards compatible with earlier drivers. Hardware Validation
Vulkan is a low-level, cross-platform graphics API developed by the Khronos Group, an open consortium of companies including AMD, ARM, IBM, Intel, NVIDIA, and others. It was designed to provide a more efficient and flexible alternative to traditional graphics APIs like OpenGL and DirectX. Vulkan allows developers to create high-performance, visually stunning graphics applications for a wide range of platforms, including Windows, Linux, and Android. AMD updates
Vulkan Runtime Libraries is a 3D graphics API (Application Programming Interface). An API is a set of tools that helps software programs talk to each other.
Here's a guide covering the Vulkan Runtime Libraries 1.0.39.1:
Vulkan serves as a modern replacement for older graphics tools like OpenGL. It provides unique benefits for PC performance:
is a specific build of these libraries that ensures your hardware can actually run games that use the Vulkan engine. Key things to know: It is NOT a virus:
Vulkan is a modern cross-platform Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Application Programming Interface (API). It was developed by the Khronos Group, a consortium of major tech companies including AMD, NVIDIA, Intel, and Apple.