nvidia-cuda-runtime-cu12
CUDA Runtime native Libraries
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you are installing a GPU-accelerated package that declares this as a dependency. No, if you are considering direct installation—this is a native library distribution, not a user-facing tool. Verify your system architecture matches the available wheels (x86_64, aarch64, or Windows). Review NVIDIA's proprietary license terms before use in commercial or redistributed contexts. No known security vulnerabilities.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires a compatible NVIDIA GPU and CUDA-capable system.
- Installation is platform-specific (Linux x86_64, aarch64, or Windows); mismatched architecture will fail silently or cause runtime errors.
- Medium install friction due to platform-specific wheel distributions (x86_64, aarch64, Windows).
License · maintenance · safety
LicenseRef-NVIDIA-Proprietary (unclear) — Licensed under NVIDIA's proprietary license (LicenseRef-NVIDIA-Proprietary). License treatment is unclear; review NVIDIA's terms before deployment in commercial or redistributed contexts.
last release 2025-06-05 (435 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 25,629,615 downloads/mo, #901 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install nvidia-cuda-runtime-cu12
# Typically imported indirectly by CUDA-dependent packages
# Direct usage is rare; this is a native library dependency- Whether this package is intended for direct installation or only as a transitive dependency of higher-level CUDA frameworks.
- Current maintenance status and whether the 435-day gap since last release indicates active support or dormancy.
- Exact scope and enforceability of the NVIDIA proprietary license for commercial or redistributed use.
What it is and what it does
This package bundles NVIDIA's CUDA 12 runtime native libraries—the low-level binary components required for GPU-accelerated computation. It is not a framework or API; it is a distribution of compiled CUDA runtime binaries for multiple platforms (Linux x86_64, Linux aarch64, Windows x86_64). Most users encounter it as a transitive dependency of higher-level packages like PyTorch, TensorFlow, or CuPy that need CUDA runtime support at install time.
The package has no Python runtime dependencies and is primarily a vehicle for shipping platform-specific wheels. Installation friction is medium because the correct wheel must match your system architecture and OS; a mismatch will not prevent installation but will cause runtime failures when GPU code attempts to load the libraries. The package is classified as Beta and has aged 435 days since its last release, suggesting it may be maintained on a release-as-needed basis rather than continuously.
Use it for
- Ensure CUDA 12 runtime is available when installing PyTorch, TensorFlow, or other GPU frameworks that declare it as a dependency.
- Set up a GPU-accelerated compute environment on Linux or Windows without manually managing CUDA toolkit installation.
- Provide CUDA runtime support in containerized or isolated Python environments where system-level CUDA installation is not available.
- Support ARM64 GPU workloads on systems like NVIDIA Jetson by installing the aarch64 wheel variant.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you are installing a GPU-accelerated package that declares this as a dependency.
No, if you are considering direct installation—this is a native library distribution, not a user-facing tool. Verify your system architecture matches the available wheels (x86_64, aarch64, or Windows). Review NVIDIA's proprietary license terms before use in commercial or redistributed contexts. No known security vulnerabilities.
Install
nvidia-cuda-runtime-cu12 on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to platform-specific wheel distributions (x86_64, aarch64, Windows). Package status is aging—last release was 435 days ago, though it remains actively downloaded. No runtime dependencies to manage.
Requires a compatible NVIDIA GPU and CUDA-capable system. Installation is platform-specific (Linux x86_64, aarch64, or Windows); mismatched architecture will fail silently or cause runtime errors.
License in practice
Licensed under NVIDIA's proprietary license (LicenseRef-NVIDIA-Proprietary). License treatment is unclear; review NVIDIA's terms before deployment in commercial or redistributed contexts.
Quickstart
pip install nvidia-cuda-runtime-cu12
# Typically imported indirectly by CUDA-dependent packages
# Direct usage is rare; this is a native library dependencyVerify before relying
- Whether this package is intended for direct installation or only as a transitive dependency of higher-level CUDA frameworks.
- Current maintenance status and whether the 435-day gap since last release indicates active support or dormancy.
- Exact scope and enforceability of the NVIDIA proprietary license for commercial or redistributed use.
Package facts
| License | LicenseRef-NVIDIA-Proprietary unclear |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Aging 435 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 25,629,615 / month, #901 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: EducationIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchLicense :: Other/Proprietary LicenseNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Scientific/EngineeringTopic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Artificial IntelligenceTopic :: Scientific/Engineering :: MathematicsTopic :: Software DevelopmentTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries |
Evidence: nvidia_cuda_runtime_cu12-12.9.79-py3-none-manylinux2014_aarch64.manylinux_2_17_aarch64.whl; nvidia_cuda_runtime_cu12-12.9.79-py3-none-manylinux2014_x86_64.manylinux_2_17_x86_64.whl; nvidia_cuda_runtime_cu12-12.9.79-py3-none-win_amd64.whl
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See also nvidia-cuda-crt · nvidia-cuda-runtime-cu11 · nvidia-cuda-runtime · nvidia-cuda-cccl-cu12 · nvidia-curand-cu11 · nvidia-cufft-cu12 · nvidia-cuda-cccl · nvidia-cuda-nvrtc-cu12 · nvidia-cuda-cupti-cu12 · nvidia-cufile-cu12