How to Dual Boot Kali Linux with Windows 10

In the previous post, we installed Kali Linux on VMware and VirtualBox and also we reset forgotten Kali Linux password. The installation is easy and quick on a virtual machine and in some cases, it’s also easy to install on PC. Now Kali Linux installed on virtual machine is fine but it won’t work as nice as actually installed on PC. Including that, there are a bunch of features which either don’t work or don’t work well as it should. With those things lacking, it’s probably not the perfect idea to use Kali Linux on VMware or VirtualBox. Here’s how to dual boot Kali Linux with Windows 10.

The next option which most thinks about is installing Kali Linux on PC. Suppose we install Kali Linux on PC but what happens when we are in need of Windows. The solid solution for this is probably dual boot which lets us work with Kali Linux and Windows that will let them perform perfectly at a time. In this post, I’ll show how to dual Boot Kali Linux with Windows 10.

Table of Contents

What is Kali Linux

Kali Linux is Debian-based Linux distribution at advanced Penetration Testing and Security Auditing. Kali Linux is one of the stablest platforms for testing and penetration testing. For those who see Kali Linux as illegal, I’d say that if you use it for the purpose of hacking, so it will be illegal. Otherwise, it is not made for illegal purposes instead it is used only for installing for teaching, learning and studying. Else, it is not created for hacking or penetrating into someone else Wi-fi, online accounts or other. For how to dual Boot Kali Linux with Windows 10., follow the steps below carefully.

Before going any step forward, backup your files and document beforehand. The risk of losing your files is pretty high so it’s better to take the backup of your files so if something bad happens also you don’t regret it. Don’t worry, it isn’t really risky or complicated as we’ll cover from A to Z with shots.

How to Dual Boot Kali Linux with Windows 10

While Windows 10 is probably pretty useful and is also Kali Linux. Whether you’re a developer, a student or any other computer guy who would like to test, penetrate and learn, you’d certainly need to access Kali Linux, but also Windows 10 since you’re a beginner or would like t access for some other reasons. In this case, dual boot is the best option. Let’s head to how to dual Boot Kali Linux with Windows 10.

Download Kali Linux ISO

The first thing you have to do is to Download Kali Linux ISO. Doesn’t matter whether you choose x32-bit or x64-bit.

In this page, you will see all the Kali Linux Versions so you can choose any of them. If you have an updated operating system so the old versions will not work in your PC. You can choose it according to your computer processor. If your computer is 64 bit so download 64 bit ISO of Kali Linux. If you have a Mac so I recommend you download the Kali Linux 64 bit Mate because it works quite easy with this. There is the Kali Linux Torrent and ISO so click on the ISO file then save it. So here’s how to dual Boot Kali Linux with Windows 10.

Create a Bootable USB

The next thing you’d need to do is to create a bootable USB. To create a Bootable USB installer for Kali Linux, install Rufus first. This is used to create a new bootable USB.

When the option comes to your screen ” Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?” Click Yes. Now choose your device, partition and other settings like the shot and click on Start. When it’s done, your bootable USB is done you have created that now you can close that.

Dual boot Kali Linux with Windows

Free up Space For Installing Kali Linux

Now open up Start Menu and type in there “diskmgmt.msc” then enter.

When the Disk Management opened, find an empty, unused or a drive which has some free space drive. Right-click on the drive and from the options, click “Shrink volume”. You’ll be promoted how much our new partition will have disk space. In the field enter the amount of space in MB to shrink.

Once you’ve shrinked, the specific amount will now be shrinked and will be available to create a new drive. Right-click on the drive and select Simple Volume. Proceed with the wizard and the drive will be live. The partition is now created for Kali Linux and it’s ready for installation.

Note: Make sure the Secure Boot and Fast Boot options are disabled.

Dual Boot Kali Linux with Windows PC

After it’s done, reboot your computer. When reboot, select the USB Drive for boot and it will show up the installation screen.

In the Boot Menu move down to “Graphical Install” and hit Enter. Now comes to how to dual Boot Kali Linux with Windows 10..

Install Kali Linux

Once the Graphical Install loaded, select your language then click Continue.

On the next window, choose your country then click Continue.

Now choose your keyboard layout then click Continue.

Configure The Keyboard

Now the load installer component from CD which will take some time to load. Configure the network option by entering a hostname for the system. Then click Continue.

Now enter a domain name for the network then Continue.

On the setup users and password, type in a password then re-enter your password for verifying then click Continue.

Create An Account

For the accurate time zone, select the appropriate one and click Continue.

Configure The Clock

For this part, they will ask for the partition method so choose Manual and click Continue.

Click on Free Space option then click Continue.

Select Free Partition

Create a new partition then click Continue.

Create a New Partition

Put a new partition size. If you have more space, increase the disk size to more than 21.5 but if you don’t, let it the same as 21.5 then click Continue.

Now choose Logical as it’s easy and simple than Continue this.

You will be asked about the created partition to whether space it at the beginning or at the end of the available space. I recommend you choose beginning then Continue.

Opt in “Use as Ext4 journaling file system ” then click Continue.

Select File System

Select the “Use as: swap area” then click Continue.

Click again the Free Space option then Continue.

Select The Created Partition

Select Automatically partition the free space then click Continue.

Next let the setting by default then click Continue.

Now select Finish Partitioning and write changes to disk then click Continue.

Accept the changes to the disk by selecting the disk then click Continue.

Write The Changes

The GRUP boot loader can be installed. I’ll choose Yes.

Now installing GRUB boot loader will be finished so it will take up some time.

Then choose the second one which is Hard Disk then click Continue.

Now the installation will be finished. The Kali Linux is now installed completely. When rebooting, remove the USB installer and restart the PC. After restarting, you’ll see the window where you can choose Windows 10 or Kali Linux. Choose the first option Kali Linux.

Select Kali Linux or Windows

What comes up next is the login screen, type root in the username and also password blank and Continue.

The Kali Linux should now have been successfully installed and eventually you should be in.

How to Dual Boot Kali Linux with Windows 10

The Kali Linux is a perfect penetrating and testing tool for a professional and a beginner. In terms of security, Kali Linux is the fantastic point to learn about which has the required useful tools integrated in it. What’s prohibited is, when you’ve enough knowledge and enough information and trick to penetrate or hack into, you shouldn’t. That’s where you’ll enter into the black area.

With this step, you’ve no more steps left. That was how to Dual Boot Kali Linux Windows 10. I have tried to provide every single steps and I hope it’s complete. If you’ve some questions, suggestions or ideas for improvement, we’re happy to hear.

Dual boot kali and windows

Installing Kali Linux alongside another Linux installation can be quite useful. However, you need to exercise caution during the setup process. First, make sure that you’ve backed up any important data on your Linux installation. Since you’ll be modifying your hard drive, you’ll want to store this backup on external media. Once you’ve completed the backup, we recommend you peruse our Kali Linux Hard Disk install guide, which explains the normal procedure for a basic Kali Linux install.

In our example, we will be installing Kali Linux alongside an installation of Ubuntu (Server 18.04), which is currently taking up 100% of the disk space in our computer. We will start by resizing our current Linux partition to occupy less space and then proceed to install Kali Linux in the newly-created empty partition.

Installation Prerequisites

This guide will make the following assumptions:

• You have read our single boot Kali Linux install guide, as this has the same Installation Prerequisites (System requirements & setup assumptions).
• When downloading Kali Linux, pick the live image, rather than the installer option.
• A single disk to install to (rather than a dedicated disk per operating system).

We need to use a different image from the single boot Kali Linux install guide, as we need the live image. This is because we need to edit the disk structure without mounting any partitions (otherwise they would be in-use). After we have finished altering the disk layout, we can still install Kali Linux using the live image, but there will be a few differences such as:

Both of these can be addressed post installation, as it saves swapping to the installer image (as you will need either multiple CD/DVD/USBs or to re-image half way though).

This installation has the potential to go wrong very easily as it involves editing existing partitions. Be aware of what partitions you are modifying and where you are installing Kali Linux to.
Having a backup of your Linux files available is a good idea in the event something goes wrong.

Resize Linux Procedure

Before we can install Kali Linux, there needs to be room on the hard disk. By booting into a live Kali Linux session with your chosen installation medium, we can resize the partition to our desired size, as the disk will not be in use because Kali Linux will all be in memory.

To start resizing, make sure you insert your Kali Linux installation medium and power on the device. If needed, press any keyboard shortcuts for a “boot order menu” (depends on each manufacture) or boot into BIOS/UEFI and change the boot order to point to the installation medium first.

When the boot menu/options appears, you should see at least one new option. Depending on the manufacture, hardware, how the system is configured and install medium, you may see more options (e.g. Can you boot into non-UEFI?).

You may need to try a few different options in order to find success.

1. You should be greeted with the Kali Linux boot screen. Select Live, and you should be booted into the Kali Linux default desktop.

1. Now launch GParted, which we’ll use to shrink the existing Linux partition to give us enough room to install Kali Linux in the free space.

1. Once GParted has opened, select your Linux partition ( /dev/sda1 ) & resize it leaving enough space (we recommend at least 20 GB) for the Kali Linux installation.

Depending on your setup, the disk structure may be different to include:

• A swap partition
• Separate partitions for certain directories (e.g. /home , /var and /tmp )

You often just want to select the largest partition (commonly the data/home directory)

If you are moving past into any non-white in the partition then you are editing a section that is in use.
Only remove from the area of the partition that is not in use.

If you wish to organize the partition to group all the Linux partitions together, placing the free space at the end, you may do so.

1. Once you have resized your Linux partition, ensure you “Apply All Operations” on the hard disk. Exit gparted and reboot.

Kali Linux Installation Procedure

1. The installation procedure from this point onwards is similar to a Kali Linux Hard Disk install, until the point of the partitioning. At this point, you need to select “Guided — use the largest continuous free space” (rather than “Guided — the entire disk”) which got created earlier with gparted.

1. You can carry on following the single boot Kali Linux install guide, expect you will not have the option to select desktop environment or metapackages as you are using the live image. Once the installation is done, reboot.

You should be greeted with a GRUB boot menu, which will allow you to boot either into Kali Linux or the other Linux operating system.

Post Installation

Now that you’ve completed installing Kali Linux, it’s time to customize your system.

The General Use section has more information and you can also find tips on how to get the most out of Kali Linux in our User Forums.

Updated on: 2021-Feb-05
Author: gamb1t