How to Install Kali Linux On Android

In this article, we will learn how to install Kali Linux on Android smartphones without rooting the device.

Kali Linux is one of the best-loved operating systems of hackers, security researchers, and pentesters.

It offers an advanced penetration testing tool and its ease of use means that it should be a part of every security professional’s toolbox.

Kali Linux on Android smartphones and tablets allows researchers and pentesters to perform ” security checks” on Networks like cracking Wi-Fi passwords, finding vulnerabilities/bugs, or cracking security on websites.

Here is how you can install Kali Linux on Android smartphones without rooting your phone.

Install Kali Linux on Android Phone

Before we begin with the process of how to install and run Kali Linux on an Android smartphone you will need to download the apps provided below:

Prerequisite:

Android Smartphone (No root required)
install Termux
install NetHunter-KeX client
install Hacker’s Keyboard

Installation:

After installing the above-mentioned apps. Open Termux, if it gets stuck on your phone then press enter.

Now we need to install some packages using Termux. To do so just copy, paste, and enter the commands provided below.

Update the system using the following command

$ pkg update && pkg upgrade -y

Set up system storage.

kali@kali:~$ termux-setup-storage

Download Kali Linux

kali@kali:~$ wget -O install-nethunter-termux https://offs.ec/2MceZWr

Adding execution privilege to the downloaded Kali Linux file

kali@kali:~$ chmod +x install-nethunter-termux

Installing Kali Linux on Android

kali@kali:~$ ./install-nethunter-termux

The above-mentioned commands will fetch, download and install Kali Linux on your phone. Since the file is around 1.5GB in size it can take some time to download.

Once downloaded you can run Kali NetHunter from the CLI

To start Kali NetHunter type in the following command

nethunter

Provided below are some of the helpful Kali Nethunter commands for your Android phone

`nethunter kex passwd`	configure the KeX password (only needed before 1st use)
`nethunter kex &`	start Kali NetHunter Desktop Experience user sessions
`nethunter kex stop`	stop Kali NetHunter Desktop Experience
`nethunter <command>`	run in NetHunter environment
`nethunter -r`	start Kali NetHunter cli as root
`nethunter -r kex passwd`	configure the KeX password for root
`nethunter -r kex &`	start Kali NetHunter Desktop Experience as root
`nethunter -r kex stop`	stop Kali NetHunter Desktop Experience root sessions
`nethunter -r kex kill`	Kill all KeX sessions
`nethunter -r <command>`	run `<command>` in NetHunter environment as root

Wrapping UP

So we have successfully installed Kali Linux on non-rooted Android Smartphones.

72 COMMENTS

Gopi February 5, 2016 At 11:09 am

Getting error while installing… E: The selected extractor can not be found: ar

- Indal February 13, 2016 At 11:51 pm
  
  Format your SD card to Ext 2,that will solve it,make sure your Android sees the Ext2 partition. I checked it with link2sd
  
- Indal February 13, 2016 At 11:55 pm
  
  Oops my bad,it wasnt the Ext2 partition.
  You need the busybox by meefik
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.meefik.busybox&hl=en
  
Indal February 13, 2016 At 11:10 pm

I managed to install and run the entire thing.
But when i enter through the VSH i have a black screen on the left and a white screen on the right where i can insert the commands.
I did apt-get update and got the entire package,i can insert commands,but i dont have a desktop,just a black screen and a white screen.

What do?

- Indal February 13, 2016 At 11:51 pm
  
  Nevermind i changed the desktop option on Linux deploy and that fixed it.I have Kali on Android at last!
  
syedwadud February 22, 2016 At 8:52 am

yar yeh toh nai horaha hai…..plz help installation nai ho rahiii hai

kadir March 12, 2016 At 7:48 pm

Please help getting installation failure

amit yadav March 13, 2016 At 2:22 am

i hv install it all are done bt i dnt knw how to use it , help me ?

Linux User April 5, 2016 At 3:39 pm

Hey what if I aleardy have .iso file. How to install then ?

Mahesh April 13, 2016 At 6:20 am

I installed kali linux in android.In vnc viewer shows blank grey screen with mouse pointer..please help me

Benny J. Román April 19, 2016 At 1:26 pm

Mi galaxy s5 ya tiene kali linux en linux deploy, pero tengo un gran problema al tratar de poner mi targeta de red en modo monitor, no aparece driver de chipset compatible para esta funcion q creo es la mas importante para hacer un escaneo de redes. Alguien tiene la soluciona esto, Ayuda por favor!!

Hassan Umar Dayi May 12, 2016 At 3:47 pm

thank you sir

HK June 14, 2016 At 5:30 am

It is work on my Samsung galaxy tab 3 neo ? Please tell me…

Sweetboy June 20, 2016 At 8:21 am

can it also work android lollipop 5.1

Yash August 6, 2016 At 6:59 am

VNC viewer can’t be connected to kali……. it shows ” The port on which computer is listening for the connection could not be contacted”… Plzz help me to solve that issue…. as soon as possible ?

Kevin August 16, 2016 At 3:18 pm

Hello.im appreciate your tutorial but in my country is little difficult to gain internet acces.i have kali linux 1.10a i386 iso and work fine on my pc.is there anyway i can skip the download step? Is yes how?Im using asus zenfone Z00ED rooted and more than 8gb free internal.reply pls

Edward Paul Borinaga August 25, 2016 At 4:12 pm

For those who have problems on SSH and VNC fail
Try this its work on me…

Download kalilinux full.img or kailinux basic.img extract it rename it into linux.img and the other linux.img.md5…. and save it to sdcard… add folder name kali and save the extract linux.img and linux.img.md5

Go to linux deploy edit your settings…
Note: to INSTALLITION PATH should be edit to /sdcard/kali/linux.img (depends on your storage name location)
And hit the RECONFIGURE BUTTON and wait ……….

It will patch and load linux.img
Then if you see <<<configuration
dont mind if your SSH and VNC skip just hit start….
After installation you will see SSH and VNC done…
And you may go now to your VNC ANDROID APPS…

Hope its your on you…

shijith August 30, 2016 At 4:11 pm

do the phone memory should be 5 G hiB
or the SD card??

Jeff September 29, 2016 At 12:24 am

It gets to the point where it says waking file system (ext4)…fail. I’m so new to this what does this mean and how can I get around it?!? Pls anyone…

Henry November 1, 2016 At 6:37 am

I am a begineer learning, so that please give me information how to install kali Linux on my oppo f1s phone,

mmd November 13, 2016 At 1:36 pm

vnc error:
The port on which the computer is listening for a connection could not be contacted

humen November 23, 2016 At 4:57 am

I m using zen admire fab q+ .I want to install Linux. but I don’t have computer and vnc is not connecting. help pls

AnonymouSTL aka j0nnyf1v3 December 5, 2016 At 5:29 pm

All of you lames that cannot even troubleshoot a fucking VNC connection shouldn’t even THINK about touching Kali… Jesus Christ this is sad… To think… The future of security could be in the hands of these nUbz

lulz