Vulkan Run Time Libraries - What is this program in Windows 10?

From time to time you scroll through the list of programs, view installed applications, workflows in the task manager, and you probably came across a program or process that is unknown to you. One such program you will come across is Vulkan Run Time Libraries. Let's find out what it is, the purpose of the program and what you should do about it. Let me say in advance that this is not a virus or a program from the Vulcan casino.

Vulkan Run Time Libraries is the latest API (application programming interface) used for computer graphics. An API is simply a set of tools that programmers can use to create new applications and games.

What is Vulkan for?

Vulkan is similar to older graphics APIs such as Microsoft's Open Graphics Library (OpenGL) and DirectX. However, the developers of Vulkan built it to provide better performance and more balanced use of the processor (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) on your computer. It is built around modern, high-intensity tasks that modern processors can handle. When OpenGL and DirectX were new, computing hardware wasn't as powerful as it is today - they were built using single-core processors. Vulkan is more efficient on modern multi-core processors.

Vulkan is a cross-platform API, allowing it to run on Android and Linux. Unlike DirectX, which only works on Windows and Xbox. All this means is that Vulkan is something of a new standard for the latest 3D games. But that doesn't mean the old APIs are useless! Many games still use them and they still get updates.

Is Vulkan on my computer?

You can easily check if you have Vulkan Run Time Libraries installed on your computer or laptop.

On Windows 10, open " All parameters" > "Applications" > "Applications and Features". If you see the entry Vulkan Run Time Libraries 1.0.54.0 or another version, then it is already installed on your Windows 10 system.

On Windows 7, go to " Control Panel > Programs and Features or Uninstall Programs. Scroll down the page to find the entry.

You can also simply go to the local system drive where Windows itself is installed, using the following path C:\Program Files (x86)\VulkanRT. It can be in a folder or without (x86).

How did Vulkan get onto my computer?

If you don't remember installing Vulkan, don't worry. When you have updated or installed the latest video card drivers, Vulkan Run Time Libraries will be installed automatically. Both graphics cards NVIDIA And AMD now include Vulkan with driver updates. Since Vulkan was only released in early 2016, older graphics cards may not support it.

What games does Vulkan support?

Since Vulkan is a new API, you won't find hundreds of games that support it. However, this does not mean that games do not use it. You can see the full list of games at Wikipedia. (I couldn’t find the list in Russian).

The Talos Principle (2014): This excellent first-person puzzle game was the first to support Vulcan.
Dota 2 (2013): Valve's popular MOBA introduced Vulkan support shortly after the API was released.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (2017): This first-person shooter only features Vulkan support on PC rather than legacy APIs.

Besides these games, emulators support Vulkan, such as Dolphin (which emulates the Nintendo GameCube) and game engines, such as Source 2, Unity and CryEngine. So we can expect more games using Vulkan in the future.

Should I uninstall Vulcan?

If you have Vulkan installed on your computer, then you are most likely a gamer or someone who likes to play games. Because it only boots with the latest graphics card drivers. You will not get Vulkan when using a built-in graphics card with integrated graphics.

You should definitely leave and not remove Vulkan from your computer. Since this is the latest graphics API, without the help of it you will not be able to run newer games. Besides, It is not possible to install the Vulkan Run Time Libraries program separately. If you uninstall it and then decide to install it again, you will have to reinstall the graphics drivers for your video cards. Having this library on your computer will not cause any damage. It takes up little space, does not distract you with various notifications and is not a virus as many people think.

Vulkan is a graphics highlight

Now you know what Vulkan Run Time Libraries are, why they are on your computer, and what they do for you. Any PC gamer must have this set of libraries on their system to make the latest games run smoothly. You should receive updates for Vulkan when you update your graphics drivers, so there's nothing to worry about.

Official website: https://vulkan.lunarg.com/