If you have a modern PC (Windows 10 or 11) with updated graphics drivers, uninstall version 1.0.39.1 . It is an obsolete artifact leftover from an old driver or game installation. Your current driver provides a far superior, more secure, and faster Vulkan runtime.
Your GPU does not support Vulkan, or the driver is corrupted.
NVIDIA has included VulkanRT with its graphics drivers since early 2016, when Vulkan 1.0 was first released. For NVIDIA users, the Vulkan runtime is installed by default whenever you update your GPU drivers through GeForce Experience, Windows Update, or direct driver downloads. The installation happens silently and automatically—you probably never saw a prompt asking for permission because it's considered an integral part of the modern graphics driver stack.
This article provides a definitive, in-depth guide to Vulkan Runtime Libraries, with a specific focus on version . By the end, you will understand its purpose, its origin, its impact on your system, and the safest way to manage it.
Rest assured, Vulkan Run Time Libraries (often shortened to VulkanRT) is not malware. It is a legitimate software component developed by LunarG, Inc. under the governance of the Khronos Group, designed to enable high-performance graphics and compute applications on your system. This article provides a comprehensive look at version 1.0.39.1 of the Vulkan Runtime Libraries—what it is, why it matters, and everything you need to know about managing it on your computer. Vulkan Runtime Libraries 1.0.39.1
Version 1.0.39.1 is a specific release of these runtime files. The numbers represent the exact version of the API toolkit that matches the driver capabilities at the time it was packaged. Even if you do not actively play video games, your graphics driver installs these libraries to ensure your hardware is fully ready for any software that requests Vulkan rendering. Why Is Vulkan on My Computer?
If you are experiencing specific or performance drops on your PC, I can help you troubleshoot. Please let me know: What graphics card (GPU) you are using? What specific error message or behavior are you seeing?
If you have an NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics card, updating your drivers via software like NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Radeon Software will automatically install the necessary Vulkan libraries. Version is a specific version of these libraries that was historically bundled with many driver updates during the adoption phase of Vulkan 1.2.2 . Do I Need to Keep Vulkan Runtime Libraries 1.0.39.1? Yes, you should keep them.
New drivers always include the latest stable Vulkan runtime supported by your GPU. If you have a modern PC (Windows 10
Are you troubleshooting a involving Vulkan?
Emulators (like RetroArch, RPCS3, or Yuzu) and video editing software that use Vulkan for hardware acceleration will drop in performance or experience stability issues.
Extremely rare. Usually a misbehaving game or a buggy validation layer enabled accidentally.
What is Vulkan Runtime Libraries 1.0.39.1? If you have noticed Vulkan Runtime Libraries 1.0.39.1 in your Windows Apps and Features list, you might wonder how it got there. This software is a legitimate graphics standard, not malware. Your GPU does not support Vulkan, or the driver is corrupted
: You will usually find it listed in your Windows "Apps & Features" or "Programs and Features" list. Vulkan Run Time Libraries 1.0.54.1 Why is version 1.0.39.1 on your PC? If you see this specific version, it likely means: Legacy Drivers
: Better distribution of tasks across multiple processor cores. ❌ Should I Uninstall It? No , it is generally recommended to leave it installed.
Vulkan is a modern graphics API (Application Programming Interface), similar to DirectX or OpenGL. It’s designed to give games and heavy 3D applications better performance by allowing them more direct access to your GPU. How did it get there?