Download Kali Linux for PC, Windows 11 and Windows 10 (Free)

The Kali download for Windows 11 and Windows 10 is free, and one command installs Kali Linux on your PC through the Windows Subsystem for Linux. You can also get it as an app from the Microsoft Store.

The current Windows package is Kali Linux 2026.2, built for both x64 and ARM64 processors. It runs next to Windows, so there is no dual boot and no separate virtual machine to manage.

This guide covers the right build for your machine, installing with WSL or the Store, running Kali on a Mac, requirements, updates, removal and fixes for install errors.

Which Kali Linux download do you need?

Match your machine and your goal to a row. Every Windows route below is free.

Press Windows + I, open System > About and read System type to see whether your PC is x64 or ARM64. WSL picks the matching image for you.

Download Kali Linux from the official links

These are the first-party places to get Kali for Windows. Skip any site that offers a Kali setup .exe.

1. Kali Linux on the Microsoft Store — product 9PKR34TNCV07, publisher Kali Linux, free
2. Install WSL on Microsoft Learn — the wsl –install command and its prerequisites
3. Windows Subsystem for Linux on the Microsoft Store — the WSL platform itself, updated through the Store
4. WSL distribution list on GitHub — Microsoft’s list of Kali image files and SHA-256 hashes
5. Get Kali on kali.org — installer, live and virtual machine images from the Kali project

How to install Kali Linux on Windows 11 and 10 with WSL

This is the fastest route. The same command works on x64 and ARM64 PCs.

1. Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin).
2. Select Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
3. Run wsl –list –online and confirm kali-linux appears in the list.
4. Run wsl –install -d kali-linux .
5. Restart the PC if the terminal asks you to, then open Kali Linux from the Start menu.
6. Wait while the files decompress on first launch.
7. Type a new UNIX username and press Enter.
8. Type a password twice. The characters stay hidden as you type.
9. Run sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y to bring the packages current.

The base image ships without extra tools or a graphical desktop, which keeps it small. Add the packages you need with apt afterwards.

If WSL is not installed yet, the command enables it first. On a PC that already has WSL, it adds Kali next to your other distributions.

Install Kali Linux from the Microsoft Store

The Store app installs the same distribution and adds a Kali Linux tile to Start. WSL must be turned on before the app will launch.

1. Open an administrator terminal and run wsl –install –no-distribution , then restart.
2. Open Microsoft Store and search for Kali Linux.
3. Check that the publisher line reads Kali Linux and the price shows Free.
4. Select Get and wait for the download to finish.
5. Select Open, or type kali in a terminal.
6. Create your UNIX username and password when prompted.

The 472.4 MB figure is the maximum for the Store bundle, which holds both the x64 and ARM64 packages.

How to verify you installed the genuine Kali Linux package

Microsoft publishes the package identity and image hashes, so you can check your copy in a minute.

1. Open Windows PowerShell.
2. Run wsl –list –verbose and confirm kali-linux shows VERSION 2.
3. For the Store app, run Get-AppxPackage KaliLinux and read PackageFamilyName.
4. Confirm it reads KaliLinux.54290C8133FEE_ey8k8hqnwqnmg .
5. For a manually saved .wsl image, run Get-FileHash .\kali-linux-2026.2-wsl-rootfs-amd64.wsl -Algorithm SHA256 .
6. Compare the result with 1b172389e9109e9bb0c3d1fa18eda078271484dbcef8dbee4aab8b1f369466c6 for amd64.
7. Use 0ebc7b7ed93b20ed787b27e217e408179f6b816be505e56dd0db65ce5e73f5f0 instead for the arm64 image.

A different family name or hash means the package did not come from the Store or Microsoft’s WSL list. Remove it and install again from the links above.

Can you install Kali Linux on a Mac?

Yes, inside a virtual machine. macOS has no WSL equivalent, so the Windows routes above do not apply.

Open the Apple menu and select About This Mac. A Chip line means Apple silicon, and a Processor line naming Intel means an Intel Mac.

An ARM64 image will not boot on an Intel Mac, and an amd64 image will not boot on Apple silicon.

Is Kali Linux free?

Yes. Kali Linux costs nothing on the Microsoft Store and through wsl –install. The Store lists it at $0.00 with no paid edition, and the distribution is open source. WSL and the Windows Subsystem for Linux app are free parts of Windows as well. A site charging for a Kali download, a licence key or a Windows setup file is not an official source.

Should Kali Linux run on WSL 1 or WSL 2?

New installs use WSL 2, which runs Kali inside a lightweight utility virtual machine.

Use WSL 2, which new installs get by default. WSL 2 needs Windows 11 or Windows 10 build 18362 or later, plus virtualization turned on in firmware. Stay on WSL 1 only when your CPU lacks SLAT support or virtualization is locked off. Switch an existing install with wsl –set-version kali-linux 2 , and back up large projects first.

How to check your Kali Linux version and update it

Kali is a rolling release, so updating packages keeps an older install current.

1. Open Kali Linux from the Start menu.
2. Run cat /etc/os-release and read the VERSION line.
3. Run sudo apt update to refresh the package lists.
4. Run sudo apt full-upgrade -y to install every available update.
5. Close Kali, then run wsl –update in PowerShell to update WSL itself.
6. Run wsl –shutdown to restart the WSL virtual machine, then open Kali again.

Packages inside Kali update only through apt , whichever route you used to install it.

Check the Kali Linux requirements before you download

WSL needs a recent Windows build and hardware virtualization. Everything else is modest.

Press Windows + R, type winver and select OK to read your build number. Open Task Manager > Performance > CPU and check that Virtualization reads Enabled.

Fix Kali Linux not installing on Windows 11 or 10

Error 0x80370102: the virtual machine could not be started

The Virtual Machine Platform feature is off, or virtualization is disabled in firmware.

1. Restart into your UEFI or BIOS settings and turn on CPU virtualization.
2. Press Windows + R, type optionalfeatures and select OK.
3. Tick Virtual Machine Platform and Windows Subsystem for Linux, then restart.
4. Run wsl –install -d kali-linux again.

WslRegisterDistribution failed with error 0x8007019e

The Windows Subsystem for Linux optional component is not enabled.

1. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.
2. Select Turn Windows features on or off.
3. Tick Windows Subsystem for Linux, select OK and restart.
4. Launch Kali Linux again.

Installation failed with error 0x80070003

WSL distributions run only from the system drive, usually C:.

1. Press Windows + I and open System > Storage.
2. Select Advanced storage settings > Where new content is saved.
3. Set New apps will save to to your C: drive.
4. Reinstall Kali from the Store or with wsl –install -d kali-linux .

The install hangs at 0.0%

The Store download is stuck.

1. Press Ctrl + C to stop the command.
2. Run wsl –install –web-download -d kali-linux to fetch the image from an online source instead.

wsl –install prints the help text instead of installing

WSL is already installed, so the bare command has nothing to add.

1. Run wsl –list –online to see the available names.
2. Run wsl –install -d kali-linux .

Antivirus flags files after you add packages

The Store listing warns that some Kali packages trigger antivirus warnings when installed.

1. Install only the packages you need rather than large bundles.
2. Read each alert in Windows Security > Protection history before you allow anything.

How to uninstall Kali Linux from WSL

Unregistering deletes the distribution and every file inside it. Copy anything you want to keep first.

1. Run wsl –export kali-linux kali-backup.tar in PowerShell if you want a backup.
2. Run wsl –list –verbose to confirm the exact distribution name.
3. Run wsl –terminate kali-linux to stop it.
4. Run wsl –unregister kali-linux to delete the distribution.
5. If you used the Store app, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
6. Find Kali Linux, select the three dots and choose Uninstall.

Removing Kali leaves WSL in place for other distributions. Run wsl –list to confirm Kali no longer appears.

Which WSL distribution should you install instead of Kali Linux?

Every distribution below installs with the same wsl –install -d command and costs nothing.

Pick Ubuntu if you only need a Linux shell for coding. Pick Kali when a course or exam lab asks for it.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kali Linux free to download?

Yes. Kali Linux is free and open source. The Microsoft Store lists it at $0.00 with no paid edition, and installing it with wsl –install costs nothing either. Any site selling a Kali licence or setup file is not official.

What is the official Kali Linux download page?

For Windows, the official sources are the Kali Linux listing on the Microsoft Store, product 9PKR34TNCV07, and the wsl –install command documented on Microsoft Learn. Full installer and virtual machine images are on the Get Kali page at kali.org.

Does Kali Linux work on Windows 11?

Yes. Kali runs on Windows 11 through the Windows Subsystem for Linux, on both x64 and Arm PCs. Run wsl –install -d kali-linux in an administrator terminal, restart if prompted, then create your username.

What is the Kali Linux download size on Windows?

The Microsoft Store bundle downloads up to 472.4 MB, and that figure covers both the x64 and ARM64 packages. The base image has no desktop or extra tools, so disk use grows as you add packages with apt.

Is there a Kali Linux offline installer for Windows?

No. Both the Microsoft Store app and wsl –install download the image when you install. The –web-download option changes where the file comes from, but it still needs an internet connection during setup.

Can I install Kali Linux on a Mac?

Yes, in a virtual machine. macOS has no WSL, so run a hypervisor such as VMware Fusion Pro and pick an ARM64 image for Apple silicon or an amd64 image for an Intel Mac from the Get Kali page.

Does Kali Linux support ARM64 on Windows?

Yes. Microsoft’s WSL list carries a separate arm64 Kali image, and the Store bundle includes an ARM64 package. On a Windows on Arm PC, wsl –install -d kali-linux picks the right one automatically. There is no 32-bit Windows package.

Which Kali Linux version is the latest on Windows?

Kali Linux 2026.2 is the current Microsoft Store package and the image Microsoft’s WSL list installs. Kali is a rolling release, so running sudo apt full-upgrade keeps an older install current without reinstalling.

Is Kali Linux safe to install on Windows?

Yes, from the Microsoft Store or wsl –install. Confirm the Store package family name reads KaliLinux.54290C8133FEE_ey8k8hqnwqnmg. Some Kali packages trigger antivirus alerts once installed, so add only the packages you need.

Why won’t Kali Linux install on my PC?

The usual causes are virtualization turned off in firmware, the WSL or Virtual Machine Platform feature disabled, or apps set to save to a drive other than C:. Error codes 0x80370102, 0x8007019e and 0x80070003 point to these three.

Does Kali Linux on WSL include a desktop?

No. The Windows base image ships without a graphical interface or extra tools to keep the download small. You add a desktop environment and any other packages yourself with apt after the first launch.

How do I uninstall Kali Linux from WSL?

Run wsl –unregister kali-linux in PowerShell. That permanently deletes the distribution and its files, so export a backup first with wsl –export. If you used the Store app, also uninstall Kali Linux from Installed apps.