How to Install Kali Linux in Windows Using WSL 2

Akash Tiwari October 27, 2022June 10, 2023 1 Comment ethical hacker, how to, kali linux installation

A popular open-source operating system for sophisticated penetration testing and security audits is called Kali Linux. Because of its extensive selection of pre-installed tools and applications, it is a well-liked option among security experts and aficionados. However, for individuals who are unfamiliar with Linux, installing and configuring Kali Linux on a different system might be a difficult undertaking.

Luckily, Kali Linux may now be operated on a Windows PC without a virtual machine or dual-boot setup thanks to the release of Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) 2. Developers and security lovers may have a flawless experience by running Linux distributions natively on Windows 10 thanks to the potent WSL 2 tool.

This blog post’s objective is to offer a thorough tutorial on utilizing WSL 2 to install Kali Linux on Windows. We will discuss the installation prerequisites, how to set up WSL 2 and Kali Linux, and advice for utilizing Kali Linux on WSL 2. At the end of this article, readers ought to be able to use Kali Linux for their security requirements with a clear grasp of how to install it on a Windows computer using WSL 2.

Table of Contents

Requirements

There are a few prerequisites that must be satisfied before we can move forward with the installation procedure to effectively install Kali Linux on Windows using WSL 2

A. Windows 10

The first need is that Windows 10 be set up on your computer. Before beginning the installation, check sure your copy of Windows 10 is current because WSL 2 is only compatible with versions 1903 and later.

B. Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) 2

The next step is to install WSL 2 on your Windows computer. With the help of WSL 2, you may run Linux distributions directly on Windows thanks to a feature of Windows 10. Kali Linux must operate on Windows and provides better performance and compatibility than the original WSL. To install WSL 2, do the following:

Open PowerShell as an administrator.

Run the following command: dism.exe /online /enable-feature /feature name:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

Run the following command: dism.exe /online /enable-feature /feature name: VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart

Restart your machine to apply the changes.

C. Picture of Kali Linux

The Kali Linux image must then be downloaded from the Microsoft Store. The Kali Linux image that is available on the Microsoft Store was created especially to operate with WSL 2 and has all the components required to run Kali Linux on Windows.

We are prepared to move on with the Kali Linux installation on Windows utilizing WSL 2 now that these conditions have been satisfied.

Installation of WSL 2

Now that the prerequisites have been satisfied, we can move on with installing WSL 2. The installation procedure will be covered in this part, along with the essential instructions and installation verification.

A. A Description of How Installation Works

Enabling the necessary Windows features and installing the WSL 2 Linux kernel are steps in the installation procedure for WSL 2. After completing these instructions, you may install and use any Linux distribution on your Windows computer.

B. Commands to Install WSL 2

Open PowerShell as an administrator.

Run the following command to enable the Virtual Machine Platform feature: dism.exe /online /enable-feature /feature name: VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart

Restart your computer to apply the changes.

After restarting, open PowerShell as an administrator again and run the following command to set WSL 2 as the default version: wsl –set-default-version 2

Download and install the Linux kernel update package from the following link: https://wslstorestorage.blob.core.windows.net/wslblob/wsl_update_x64.msi

You can follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

C. Verification of the Installation

When the installation is finished, launch PowerShell and enter the following command to make sure WSL 2 was installed properly: will — list — detailed. This program will show every Linux distribution that is currently installed, along with its version and current status. The version number for all installed distributions should read 2 if WSL 2 was installed properly.

Now that WSL 2 has been set up and confirmed, we can download and set up Kali Linux.

Downloading and Installing Kali Linux

We may now download and install Kali Linux after installing and verifying WSL 2. We will go through how to set up Kali Linux for usage, run Kali Linux on WSL 2, and get it from the Microsoft Store in this part.

A. Kali Linux download from the Microsoft Store

On your Windows computer, launch the Microsoft Store.
Find “Kali Linux” by typing it into the search box.
Click “Get” after choosing the Kali Linux program from the search results.
Hold off until the download and installation are finished.

B. Running Kali Linux on WSL 2

You may use Kali Linux on WSL 2 by doing the following steps after downloading and installing it:

On your Windows computer, launch Command Prompt or PowerShell.
Press Enter after entering will.
If Kali Linux is the only distribution installed, this will run because it has been specified as the default distribution.

C. Setting up Kali Linux

You must create a new user account and password before starting Kali Linux for the first time. To establish a new user account, just follow the on-screen instructions. Be sure to remember your password because it will be needed for subsequent logins.

Now that Kali Linux is operational, you may use it for your security requirements. A large selection of pre-installed tools and applications for network analysis, penetration testing, and other security-related activities are included with Kali Linux. By launching the Kali Linux terminal and entering the necessary commands, or by utilizing the graphical user interface if one has been installed, you may access these tools.

Using Kali Linux on WSL 2

We can begin investigating Kali Linux’s interface and functionality now that it is operational on WSL 2. An introduction to the Kali Linux user interface, a list of the operating system’s fundamental commands, and instructions for installing and utilizing Kali Linux tools are provided in this part.

A. Explanation of the Kali Linux Interface

A Linux distribution called Kali Linux is made for security-related work and penetration testing. It comes with a command-line interface by default, but you may install a GUI if you’d rather. You will spend the majority of your time in the Kali Linux terminal, which gives you access to all of the operating system’s renowned tools and utilities.

B. Basic Commands for Using Kali Linux

Here are some basic commands that you can use to navigate and interact with Kali Linux:

ls: List of files and directories in the current directory.

cd: Change the current directory.

mkdir: Create a new directory.

rm: Remove a file or directory.

nano: Open the Nano text editor.

apt: Package manager used to install, update and remove software packages.

C. Installing and Using Kali Linux Tools

A large selection of pre-installed tools and applications for network analysis, penetration testing, and other security-related activities are included with Kali Linux. But, you may need to install extra tools based on your individual needs. This is how to set up and utilize Kali Linux tools:

Open the Kali Linux terminal.
Use the apt command to install the desired tool. For example, to install the Metasploit Framework, you can run the following command: sudo apt install metasploit-framework.
Once the tool is installed, you can run it by typing its name in the terminal and pressing Enter. For example, to run the Metasploit Framework, you can type msfconsole.

Using Kali Linux on WSL 2 is a strong approach to accessing a variety of security-related tools and utilities on a Windows computer, to sum up. Kali Linux on WSL 2 offers a versatile and practical solution to carry out security testing and analysis with the flexibility to install and utilize more tools as required.

Based on Debian, Kali Linux is an open-source Linux distribution made specifically for complex security auditing and penetration testing. For various information security tasks like penetration testing, security analysis, computer forensics, and reverse engineering, Kali Linux comes with hundreds of tools. Information security professionals and amateurs can use it because it is a multi-platform solution that is available and cost-free.

Although Kali Linux can be installed simply by replacing your current operating system, running it on a virtual machine is preferable and safer. On your Windows/Linux computer, you can execute it like any other program by utilizing Virtual Box.

But here I’ll tell you a very easy and efficient way to install Kali Linux on a windows pc using WSL 2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) practically.

Watch this video to learn step by step process to install Kali Linux on Windows 10 PC.

Note: This video is in the Hindi Language.

Also Read: How to Setup Penetration Testing Lab on Windows PC 2023

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is Kali Linux?

A: Kali Linux is a Linux distribution made for security-related work and penetration testing.

Q: What is WSL 2?

A: Windows 10’s WSL 2 feature makes it possible to run Linux on Windows without the use of a virtual machine.

Q: Why would I want to install Kali Linux on Windows using WSL 2?

A: Using Kali Linux on Windows with WSL 2 is a practical and adaptable approach to carry out security testing and analysis since it gives you access to a variety of security-related tools and applications on a Windows PC.

Q: What are the requirements for installing Kali Linux on Windows using WSL 2?

A Kali Linux image, Windows 10, and the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) 2 are required.

Q: How do I install WSL 2?

A: You can install WSL 2 by following these steps:

Open PowerShell or Command Prompt as an administrator.

Type dism.exe /online /enable-feature /feature name: Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart and press Enter.

Type dism.exe /online /enable-feature /feature name: VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart and press Enter.

Restart your computer.

Download and install the WSL 2 Linux kernel update package for your version of Windows from the Microsoft website.

Conclusion

The procedures to install Kali Linux on Windows using WSL 2 are described in this blog article. The steps for installing Kali Linux on Windows using WSL 2 were then described after an introduction to Kali Linux and WSL 2.

Then, we went through the process of installing WSL 2 and downloading, installing, and configuring Kali Linux from the Microsoft Store. We also gave an overview of Kali Linux’s user interface and its fundamental commands.

Lastly, we spoke about Kali Linux’s possible applications on WSL 2 and stressed how crucial it is to utilize the operating system morally and within the bounds of the law

In summary, the installation procedure entails:

WSL 2 installation on Windows 10
installing Kali Linux after downloading it from the Microsoft Store
installing Kali Linux

For jobs involving security and penetration testing, Kali Linux is a crucial tool. It may be installed on Windows via WSL 2, which offers a practical and adaptable method of accessing its potent tools and utilities.

The following are some possible usage scenarios for Kali Linux on WSL 2:

Security analysis and penetration testing
Evaluation of vulnerabilities and ethical hacking
Monitoring and analysis of networks

Overall, Kali Linux on WSL 2 is a strong tool that can be utilized for a range of security-related activities. You may install and use Kali Linux on your Windows computer without difficulty by following the instructions provided in this blog article.