How to Install Kali Linux on Hyper-V in Windows 11

Hyper-V is a Windows native virtual machine that comes pre-installed in Windows 11 and can be used to install various operating systems. In this post, we'll learn how you can do that Install Kali Linux on Hyper-V in Windows 11.

Install Kali Linux on Hyper-V in Windows 11

To install Kali Linux on Hyper-V on your Windows 11/10 computer, you can follow the steps below.

1. Enable Hyper-V Manager
2. Download the Kali Linux installation ISO file
3. Create a new virtual machine
4. Install and configure Kali Linux

Let's talk about it in detail.

1]Enable Hyper-V Manager

Even if Hyper-V Manager is installed on your computer by default, you need to activate it from the Control Panel. To do the same, you need to follow the steps listed below.

1. Open Control panel.
2. Then go to it Programs > Programs and Features.
3. Now click on Turn Windows features on or off.
4. Search Hyper-V, Check the box, expand it and enable it Hyper-V management tools And Hyper-V platform.
5. Finally, click OK.

You won't be able to see Hyper-V in Windows 11 Home Edition. In this case, we recommend you to use the batch script to enable Hyper-V in Windows 11 Home.

2]Download the Kali Linux Installer ISO file

Now that we have activated the Hyper-V Manager on our computer, we need to download the ISO file of the Kali Linux file. To do this, go to kali.org and click installer image, and then download the installation file. Make sure you don't download from Virtual machine section because these ISO files are for VirtualBox and VMWare Workstation.

You will need a good network connection to download the file as it is worth 3.8GB. After downloading, proceed to the next step.

3]Create a new virtual machine

After installing the Kali Linux image and activating the Hyper-V Manager, we create a virtual machine where we install our operating system. To do this, you can follow the steps listed below.

1. Open Hyper-V Manager by finding it in the Start menu.
2. Then click on the name of your PC and select Quick Build > Change Installation Source.
3. Navigate to the location where the Kali Linux ISO image is saved and select it.
4. make sure that This virtual machine is running Windows Option is disabled.
5. Then click More options and give your virtual machine a name.
6. You can then select a switch in the domain Possibility.

This will successfully create a virtual machine and prompt you to click Connect. However, we recommend that you click Edit Settings and check the RAM and processor you allocated. When it comes to RAM, you should specify at least 4 GB and choose the number of cores according to your needs.

4]Install and configure Kali Linux

As soon as you click on Connect, A VM window will open asking you to begin configuring Kali Linux. Click Start to start the process.

You may receive an error message stating that there is not enough memory in the system to start the virtual machine. In this case, check if another VM is running on the client device and shut it down. If this is unsuccessful, end all running processes on your computer and try again.

When you're done, click the Start button again. If a prompt appears, click Keep going. This will start the installation process. Follow the steps given below.

1. We will install the operating system through the GUI, select to do this Graphic installation.
2. When prompted, you will need to select a language and location.
3. Click Next and let the installation media install the required packages and drivers.
4. Enter the hostname of your choice in the appropriate field and click Next.
5. When prompted to enter the domain, click “Next” without entering anything if you don't have a specific domain name to enter.
6. Next, we need to create a user account for all non-administrative tasks since the root user is vulnerable and not everyone should have access to it. Enter the username and password of your choice.
7. Then follow the on-screen instructions, select clock, partition, etc. and install the basic system.
8. You will usually be asked to select desktop environments and tools. GNOMES And KDE Plasma are not selected, select them if necessary or deselect tools you do not need. Click on Keep going.

It will take some time to complete the installation. Once completed, Kali Linux will start.

First select Kali GNU/Linux. Then enter the username and password to get started.

This is how you can install Kali Linux in Hyper-V.

Read: How to install Ubuntu in VirtualBox on Windows 11

Can you install Kali Linux on Hyper-V?

Yes, you can install Kali Linux on Hyper-V using the installer ISO. Even though the Kali Linux virtual machine file is only available for VirtualBox and VMWare Workstation, we can create the virtual machine using the steps mentioned before.

Read: How to uninstall Linux in Windows Dual Boot Setup

How to install a Kali Linux virtual machine on Windows 11?

To install Kali Linux on VMWare Workstation and VirtualBox, you can read our guide to do the same. However, if you want to install it in Hyper-V, you can follow the steps mentioned earlier. Whichever hypervisor tool you choose, Kali Linux will work smoothly.

Also read: Install and run Ubuntu on Windows using the Wubi Ubuntu Installer.