How to install kali linux — all the methods
Published in
3 min readJul 22, 2019
In this guide we will briefly list the steps (overview) required to install Kali Linux using various ways
- On VirtualBox
- Dual Boot with Windows
- On android
- On Raspberry Pi
- Single Boot on Mac Hardware
- Dual Boot on Mac Hardware
- On Encrypted Disk Install
- On Hard Disk Install
- On USB
- Kali Linux Mini ISO Install
- Kali Linux Network PXE Install
- Kali Linux on Vmware
- Kali Linux on VPS
On VirtualBox (VB)
- Create a new Virtual Machine (VM)
- Create a new Virtual disk: dynamic allocation, VDI
- Adjust VB settings: physical, video memory, select OS Type, CPU acceleration
- Load Kali ISO and boot Kali ISO
- Install VB guest additions packages
Dual Boot with Windows
- Download Kali Linux latest version ISO
- Create a bootable Kali linux USB drive with Rufus and mount Kali ISO into it
- Create a partition for Kali Linux installation
- Disable Secure Boot and Fast Boot option in BIOS
- Restart your PC select the option boot as USB
- Start the Kali Linux installation
- Root password setup
- Formatting Kali Linux partition
- GRUB installation and dual boot setup (choose “Yes” and “Continue” when asked)
- Now eject USB drive and restart your system
On android
- Root Your Android Phone
- Install By Accepting Licenses
- Set up Linux deploy for Kali and install
- VNC viewer app(optional)
- Start the chroot mode ( Linux deploy automatically mount and load your Kali Linux chroot image)
- Logging in to your chrooted Kali
On Raspberry Pi
- Download the Kali image for Raspberry Pi and extract on your machine
- Use a popular imager like (Win32Disk or Etcher) and write the Kali image on SD-card (min 8 GB, better 16–32GB )
- Boot the device and install Kali
Single Boot on Mac Hardware
- Download Kali linux.
- Burn the Kali Linux ISO image to a DVD or copy the image to USB drive.
- Start the device, hold Option key to go Boot menu, insert DVD/USB Kali installation
- Install Kali on Windows volume, (if not supported, install rEFind and try again )
- Convert the MBR to a hybrid, that will allow for Apple’s EFI to detect and boot to GRUB
Dual Boot on Mac Hardware
- Download Kali linux.
- Burn the Kali Linux ISO image to a DVD or copy the image to USB drive.
- Install rEFInd ( download rEFInd, extract, run the install )
- Boot the device, hold Option use Kali DVD/USB drive to go into Kali live session, resize partition for Kali installation
- Install Kali on Windows volume, (if not supported, install rEFind and try again )
On Encrypted Disk Install
- Download Kali Linux latest version ISO
- Create a bootable Kali linux USB drive with Rufus and mount Kali ISO into it
- Create a partition for Kali Linux installation
- Disable Secure Boot and Fast Boot option in BIOS
- Restart your PC select the option boot as USB
- Start the Kali Linux installation
- The installer will check your disks and offer you 4 choices. For an Encrypted LVM install, choose the “Guided — use entire disk and set up encrypted LVM” , remember your encryption password.
- Root password setup
- Formatting Kali Linux partition
- GRUB installation and dual boot setup (choose “Yes” and “Continue” when asked)
- Now eject USB drive and restart your system
On Hard Disk Install
- Download Kali Linux latest version ISO
- Create a bootable Kali linux USB drive with Rufus and mount Kali ISO into it
- Create a partition for Kali Linux installation
- Disable Secure Boot and Fast Boot option in BIOS
- Restart your PC select the option boot as USB
- Start the Kali Linux installation
- Root password setup
- Formatting Kali Linux partition
- GRUB installation and dual boot setup (choose “Yes” and “Continue” when asked)
- Now eject USB drive and restart your system
On USB
- Download the Kali image
- Use a popular imager like (Win32Disk or Etcher) and write the Kali image on USB drive
- USB device is ready to boot into Kali Linux
Kali Linux Mini ISO Install
- Download the Kali mini ISO : A) Text Installer or B) Graphical Installer
- Burn the Kali Linux ISO image to a DVD or copy the image to USB drive.
- Disable Secure Boot and Fast Boot option in BIOS
- Restart your PC select the option boot as USB
- Start the Kali Linux installation
Kali Linux Network PXE Install
- Setup a PXE Server: install dnsmasq, enable DHCP, TFTP and PXE booting, set the dhcp-range to match your environment.
- Download Kali PXE Netboot Images
- Configure Target to Boot From Network
Kali Linux on Vmware
- Create a new VMware Virtual Machine (VM)
- Create a new Virtual disk: dynamic allocation, VDI
- Adjust Vmware settings: physical, video memory, select OS Type, CPU acceleration
- Load Kali ISO and boot Kali ISO
- Install VMware Tools on Kali Linux VMware VM
- Configuring Screen Resolution