How to Install Kali Linux on Mac Using UTM: A Step-by-Step Guide

In this guide, I’ll show you how to install Kali Linux on an Apple Silicon M3 Mac using UTM—a free and user-friendly virtualization tool.

What You’ll Need:

• Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M2 and M3.)
• UTM Virtualization Software (available for free)
• Kali Linux ISO for ARM64 (optimized for Apple Silicon)

Step 1: Download UTM

First, you need to download UTM, the tool that will let you run Kali Linux on your Mac.

1. Visit the UTM website.
2. Download the app.
3. Once downloaded, drag UTM into your Applications folder to install it.

Step 2: Download Kali Linux for Apple Silicon

Next, you need the ARM64 version of the Kali Linux ISO.

1. Go to the Kali Linux Download Page.
2. Scroll down to find the Apple Silicon version.
3. Click the link to download the ISO file (it should be an .img.xz file).
4. After downloading, extract the .xz file to get the .img file, which you’ll use to set up your virtual machine.

Step 3: Set Up Kali Linux in UTM

Now that you have UTM and the Kali Linux ISO ready, it’s time to create a new virtual machine.

1. Launch UTM: Open the UTM app from your Applications folder.
2. Create a New Virtual Machine:
   • Click the “+” icon to create a new VM.
   • Choose the option to Virtualize (for better performance) and select Linux as the system type.
3. Choose the Kali Linux ISO:
   • Click Browse and navigate to where you saved the Kali Linux ISO.
   • Select the ISO and click Continue.
4. Configure VM Settings:
   • Memory: Set to 4096 MB (4 GB).
   • CPU: Set to 4 cores (for better performance).
   • Drive Size: Set the disk size to 30 GB (this is the minimum).
   • For the Shared Directory, select a folder on your Mac that you want to share with the VM (like your Desktop).
   • Name the VM as Kali Linux.

Step 4: Adjust VM Display Settings

To avoid display issues during installation:

1. Right-click the newly created Kali Linux VM and select Edit.
2. Go to the Display settings and change the Display Card to the one ending in ramfb.
3. Click Save to apply the changes.

Step 5: Start the Kali Linux Installation

Now, let’s start the installation process!

1. Hit Play to start the VM.
2. You should see the Kali Linux boot menu. Select Install to begin the installation.
3. If you encounter a blank screen, don’t worry! Here’s how to fix it:
   • Close the current window, go back into Settings, and click New.
   • In the Serial section, create a new terminal. This will open a terminal window at the bottom of the screen, allowing you to proceed with the installation in text mode.

Step 6: Install Kali Linux

Let’s go through the installation steps:

1. Language & Region: Select English (US) for language and region settings.
2. Hostname: You can leave this as Kali or change it if you like.
3. Partitioning: Choose the option for Guided – Use Entire Disk to simplify the process.
4. Confirm the changes when prompted and allow the installation to proceed.
5. Once the installation is complete, the system will prompt you to reboot. Click Continue to finish and reboot the VM.

Step 7: Finalizing Installation

After the reboot, you may need to do a few additional tasks:

1. Remove the ISO Image: Eject the ISO image from the VM to prevent the system from booting from it again.
2. Restart the VM: Click Start again to boot into the newly installed Kali Linux system.

Step 8: Log In to Kali Linux

When the system boots, you’ll be prompted to log in.

• Enter the default username and password (both are kali by default).

Once logged in, you’re ready to start using Kali Linux!

Step 9: Update Kali Linux

Now, let’s make sure everything is up to date:

1. Open a terminal in Kali Linux and run the following command to update the system:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

This process may take some time, but it ensures that your Kali Linux installation is up to date with the latest patches and tools.

Step 10: Wi-Fi Access

At this point, you might notice that your Kali Linux VM doesn’t have Wi-Fi access. This is because UTM treats your Wi-Fi as an Ethernet connection. To enable Wi-Fi in Kali Linux, Open UTM and access your Kali Linux VM settings. Go to the “Network” section and set the adapter to “Bridged(Advanced)” mode. Ensure the network interface is properly selected to match your host machine’s network. 

Conclusion

That’s it! You now have Kali Linux running on your Apple Silicon Mac using UTM. If this guide helped you, make sure to subscribe and leave a like! Feel free to share this post with anyone else who might find it useful.