Unleash Kali Linux on Windows 10: The Ultimate WSL & GUI Guide (2023)


Ever wished you could run the world's most popular penetration testing suite directly on your Windows 10 machine, without the hassle of virtual machines or dual-booting? That dream is now a reality.

For security professionals, ethical hackers, and curious tech enthusiasts, this is a game-changer. Thanks to the power of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), you can now install and run a full-featured Kali Linux environment seamlessly within Windows.

But we're not just stopping at the command line. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process:

  1. Enabling the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
  2. Installing Kali Linux from the Microsoft Store
  3. Configuring a full XFCE Graphical Desktop Environment

Get ready to combine the convenience of Windows with the raw power of Kali. Let's dive in.

Phase 1: Building the Foundation - Enabling WSL

Before we can install Kali, we need to enable the feature that makes it all possible: the Windows Subsystem for Linux. WSL is a compatibility layer that allows you to run Linux binary executables natively on Windows.

Note: If you already have WSL enabled on your system, you can skip straight to Phase 2.

  1. Open PowerShell with Administrative Privileges.
    • Right-click on your Start Menu button.
    • Select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
    • Click "Yes" on the User Account Control prompt.
  2. Run the Enablement Command.
    Copy and paste the following command into your PowerShell window and press Enter. This command enables the necessary Windows optional feature.

PowerShell

# This command enables the Windows Subsystem for Linux feature.

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux

  1. Reboot Your System.
    A system restart is required to complete the installation. Save any open work and restart your PC.

Phase 2: Installing the Beast - Getting Kali Linux

With WSL enabled, your Windows machine is ready to welcome Kali Linux. The easiest way to get it is directly from the Microsoft Store.

  1. Navigate to the Microsoft Store.
    You can either search for "Kali Linux" in the Microsoft Store app or use this direct link: Kali Linux on Microsoft Store.

[Image: Screenshot of the Microsoft Store page for Kali Linux with the "Get" button highlighted.]

  1. Install the App.
    Click the Get button (which may change to Install) to download and install the Kali Linux package.
  2. Launch Kali for the First Time.
    Once installed, click the Launch button from the store. You can also find Kali Linux in your Start Menu or simply open PowerShell/CMD and type kali then press Enter.

The first launch will trigger a one-time installation process that sets up the Kali file system. This can take several minutes, so be patient.

[Image: Screenshot of the console window showing "Installing, this may take a few minutes..."]

  1. Create Your UNIX User Account.
    After the installation finishes, you will be prompted to create a default UNIX user account.
    • Enter a username.
    • Enter and confirm a password.

Important: This user account is specific to your Kali environment. It does not need to match your Windows credentials. Remember this password—you will need it to use sudo for administrative commands.

Phase 3: The Full Experience - Setting Up the XFCE GUI

You now have a fully functional Kali Linux command-line environment! To get the complete desktop experience, we'll install the lightweight XFCE desktop environment and connect to it using Windows' built-in Remote Desktop client.

Step 1: Update and Prepare Your System

First, let's update Kali's package lists and upgrade all existing packages to their latest versions. This is a crucial first step for stability and security.


# Update the package list and upgrade all installed packages

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Next, we'll install wget, a utility for downloading files from the web, which we need to fetch our installation script.


# Install the wget utility

sudo apt-get install wget -y

Step 2: Download and Run the XFCE Install Script

The Kali team has provided a handy script to automate the installation of XFCE and other necessary components.

  1. Download the script using wget:


# Download the official XFCE setup script from Kali's repository

wget https://kali.sh/xfce4.sh

  1. Execute the script:
    This is the longest part of the process. The script will download and install hundreds of packages.

Heads Up! During the installation, a blue configuration screen will appear asking you to select your keyboard layout. Use the arrow keys and Enter to make your selections.


# Make the script executable and run it with sudo privileges

chmod +x xfce4.sh

sudo ./xfce4.sh

Step 3: Start the Remote Desktop Server

To connect to our new GUI, we need to start the xrdp server. This service listens for Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connections, the same protocol used by the Windows Remote Desktop app.


# Start the xrdp service

sudo /etc/init.d/xrdp start

After running the command, take note of the port number it is listening on. It is typically 3390.

[Image: Screenshot of the terminal output showing the xrdp server starting and the listening port number.]

Phase 4: Connecting to Your New Kali Desktop

The hard part is over! Now, let's connect to the GUI.

  1. Open the Remote Desktop Connection app on Windows (you can find it by searching for mstsc in the Start Menu).
  2. In the "Computer" field, enter localhost:3390 (or 127.0.0.1:3390) and click Connect.
  3. You will see the xrdp login screen.
    • Session: Leave as Xorg.
    • username: Enter the UNIX username you created in Phase 2.
    • password: Enter the password for that user.
    • Click OK.

[Image: Screenshot of the xrdp login screen, with fields for username and password.]

  1. That's it! You should now be looking at a full Kali Linux XFCE desktop, running seamlessly on your Windows 10 machine.

Conclusion & Best Practices

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Kali Linux with a full graphical user interface on Windows 10. You now have a powerful suite of security tools at your fingertips, perfectly integrated into your primary OS.

Pro-Tip: Clean Shutdown

When you are finished with your graphical session, it's good practice to stop the xrdp service to free up resources. Simply run this command in your Kali terminal:


# Stop the xrdp service

sudo /etc/init.d/xrdp stop

Enjoy exploring the incredible potential of having the best of both worlds