How to Install Kali Linux on VMware Workstation

Kali Linux is one of the most popular Linux distributions for ethical hacking, cybersecurity learning, penetration testing practice, and security research. If you want to learn cybersecurity safely without changing your main Windows system, installing Kali Linux inside VMware Workstation Pro is one of the best methods.

In this guide, I will show you how to install Kali Linux on VMware Workstation Pro step by step. We will download the official Kali Linux ISO file, install VMware Workstation Pro, create a new virtual machine, apply the best settings, and complete the full Kali Linux installation.

Why Install Kali Linux on VMware?

Installing Kali Linux inside VMware is safer and easier than installing it directly on your main computer. A virtual machine runs separately from your main Windows system, so you can practice Linux commands, test security tools, and learn ethical hacking without affecting your main operating system.

Another big advantage is snapshots. After installing Kali Linux, you can create a snapshot in VMware. If something breaks later, you can easily restore the virtual machine to a previous working state.

This method is perfect for beginners because you do not need to create a bootable USB drive, change disk partitions, or dual boot your computer.

Minimum System Requirements

Before starting the installation, make sure your computer meets the basic requirements. If your system is too weak, VMware and Kali Linux may run slowly.

• A Windows PC or laptop
• CPU with virtualization support
• Virtualization enabled in BIOS or UEFI
• At least 8GB RAM on your main computer
• At least 50GB free storage space
• VMware Workstation Pro installed
• Kali Linux ISO file
• Stable internet connection for downloading files

For better performance, your system should have 16GB RAM or more, especially if you want to run multiple virtual machines in the future.

Step 1: Enable Virtualization in BIOS or UEFI

Before creating the Kali Linux virtual machine, make sure virtualization is enabled on your PC. This feature is required to run 64-bit virtual machines properly.

On Intel processors, this option is usually called Intel Virtualization Technology, Intel VT-x, or simply Virtualization. On AMD processors, it is usually called AMD-V or SVM Mode.

To enable it, restart your computer and open the BIOS or UEFI settings. The key can be different depending on your motherboard or laptop brand. Common keys are F2, Delete, Esc, or F10.

Inside BIOS, look for virtualization settings under sections like Advanced, CPU Configuration, or Security. Enable virtualization, save the changes, and restart your computer.

Step 2: Disable Hyper-V Related Features If VMware Shows Errors

On some Windows systems, VMware may show errors if Hyper-V or related Windows virtualization features are enabled. If VMware is not starting the virtual machine properly, you can disable these features from Windows Features.

Open the Start menu and search for Turn Windows features on or off. Open it and uncheck these options if they are enabled:

• Hyper-V
• Virtual Machine Platform
• Windows Hypervisor Platform
• Windows Sandbox

After disabling them, click OK and restart your computer.

You should also open Windows Security, go to Device security, open Core isolation, and turn off Memory integrity if it causes VMware compatibility issues.

Step 3: Download Kali Linux ISO File

Now we need to download the official Kali Linux ISO file.

Open your browser and go to the official Kali Linux download page using the link below.

Kali Linux

On the Kali download page, choose Installer Images. Here, download the latest Kali Linux installer ISO for 64-bit systems.

The ISO file size is usually several gigabytes, so it may take some time depending on your internet speed. Wait until the download is fully completed before moving to the next step.

Step 4: Download VMware Workstation Pro

Now we need to download VMware Workstation Pro. VMware is now owned by Broadcom, so the download process may take you through the Broadcom website.

Open the official VMware Workstation Pro page using the link below.

VMware Workstation Pro

Click on Download now. You may be redirected to the Broadcom support website. To download VMware Workstation Pro, you may need to sign in with a Broadcom account.

If you already have a Broadcom account, sign in using your email and password. If you do not have an account, click on Register and create a new account.

After logging in, go to My Downloads. Then open the Free Software Downloads Here section. Search for VMware Workstation Pro and select the latest Windows version. In this guide, we are using VMware Workstation Pro 25H2 as an example.

Open the terms and conditions, go back, check the agreement box, and then click the download button. If Broadcom asks for verification details like name, country, and postal code, fill in the form and submit it. After that, click the download button again to start downloading VMware Workstation Pro.

Step 5: Install VMware Workstation Pro

After the VMware installer is downloaded, double-click on the installer file to start the installation.

If you see a User Account Control prompt, click Yes. Now the VMware setup wizard will open.

Click Next and follow the on-screen instructions. Keep the default options unless you know exactly what you want to change. Finally, click Install.

Once the installation is finished, click Finish. Now open VMware Workstation Pro from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.

Step 6: Create a New Virtual Machine

After opening VMware Workstation Pro, click on Create a New Virtual Machine.

Choose Typical if VMware asks for the configuration type, then click Next.

Now select Installer disc image file ISO. Click Browse and select the Kali Linux ISO file that you downloaded earlier.

For the guest operating system, choose Linux. For the version, select the latest Debian version available in VMware. Kali Linux is based on Debian, so selecting Debian is the correct option. For example, you can choose Debian 13.x 64-bit if it is available.

Click Next to continue.

Step 7: Name the Kali Linux Virtual Machine

Now VMware will ask you to name your virtual machine. You can type Kali Linux or any name you prefer.

Below that, you will see the location where VMware will save the virtual machine files. If you want to store it on another drive, click Browse and select your preferred folder.

Make sure the selected drive has enough free storage space, because Kali Linux and its virtual disk files will be stored there.

Click Next.

Step 8: Set the Virtual Disk Size

VMware may show 20GB as the default disk size, but that is not enough for Kali Linux if you want to install tools and updates later.

Set the virtual disk size to at least 50GB. If you have enough storage, you can set it to 100GB for more comfortable use.

Below that, select Split virtual disk into multiple files. This option makes it easier to move or back up the virtual machine later.

Click Next.

Step 9: Customize Hardware Settings

Before finishing the virtual machine setup, click on Customize Hardware. This is where we adjust the RAM, CPU cores, and virtualization options for better performance.

Memory

Under Memory, set the RAM to at least 4GB. If your computer has 16GB RAM or more, you can assign more RAM to Kali Linux, such as 6GB or 8GB.

Do not assign too much RAM to the virtual machine, because your Windows host system also needs memory to run smoothly.

Processors

Go to Processors and set the number of cores to 4 or more, depending on your CPU. If your processor has limited cores, assign fewer cores so Windows can still run properly in the background.

Now check these options if they are available:

• Virtualize Intel VT-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI
• Virtualize IOMMU

These options allow VMware to use your CPU virtualization features properly.

After adjusting the hardware settings, click Close, then click Finish.

Step 10: Start Kali Linux Installation

Now you will see Kali Linux added in the left panel of VMware Workstation Pro.

Select the Kali Linux virtual machine and click on Power on this virtual machine. VMware will boot from the Kali Linux ISO file.

After a few seconds, you will see the Kali Linux boot menu. Select Graphical install and press Enter.

Step 11: Select Language, Location, and Keyboard

The Kali Linux installer will now start.

First, select your language. For most users, English is the best option. Click Continue.

Next, select your country or region. Then select your keyboard layout. If you are not sure, keep it as American English and click Continue.

The installer will now load some basic installation components.

Step 12: Set Hostname and Domain Name

After loading the installer components, Kali will ask for a hostname. You can keep the default hostname or type your own name, such as kali.

Click Continue.

For the domain name, you can leave it blank and click Continue again.

Step 13: Create a User Account

Now Kali will ask for the full name of the new user. Enter your name and click Continue.

Next, it will ask for a username for your account. You can keep the suggested username or change it if you want.

After that, set a password for your Kali Linux login. Make sure you remember this password because you will need it every time you log in to Kali Linux.

Enter the password, confirm it again, and click Continue.

Step 14: Select Time Zone

Now select your time zone. Choose the time zone that matches your country or region and click Continue.

This will help Kali Linux show the correct time inside the virtual machine.

Step 15: Configure Disk Partition

Now we need to configure the virtual disk partition for Kali Linux.

Since this is a virtual machine, this step will not erase your main Windows drive. It will only use the virtual disk file created inside VMware.

On the partitioning screen, select Guided – use entire disk and click Continue.

Next, select the disk that appears on the screen and click Continue.

Now Kali will ask how you want to separate your files. For beginners, select All files in one partition. This is the simplest and recommended option for a normal Kali Linux virtual machine.

Click Continue.

On the summary screen, select Finish partitioning and write changes to disk, then click Continue.

Now select Yes to confirm that you want to write the changes to the virtual disk. Click Continue one more time.

Step 16: Install the Base System

Now Kali Linux installation will begin. The installer will copy the base system files to the virtual disk.

This process can take some time depending on your system performance. Do not close VMware or shut down your computer during the installation.

Step 17: Software Selection

After the base system installation is complete, you will see the Software selection screen.

Make sure the desktop environment and default tools are selected. These options are needed for the Kali Linux graphical desktop and basic toolset.

Click Continue to install the selected software.

This step may take several minutes, so wait until the installation finishes.

Step 18: Install the GRUB Boot Loader

After software installation, Kali will ask whether you want to install the GRUB boot loader.

Select Yes and click Continue.

Next, it will ask where to install the GRUB boot loader. Select the main virtual disk, usually shown as /dev/sda, and click Continue.

The installer will now install the boot loader and complete the setup.

Step 19: Reboot Kali Linux

Once the installation is complete, Kali will ask you to reboot.

Select Continue. The virtual machine will restart.

After rebooting, you will see the Kali GNU/Linux boot menu. Simply press Enter to start Kali Linux.

Step 20: Log In to Kali Linux

Kali Linux will now load. After a few moments, you will see the login screen.

Enter the username you created during installation. Then enter your password and press Enter.

After login, the Kali Linux desktop will appear. Congratulations, Kali Linux is now successfully installed on VMware Workstation Pro.

Step 21: Enable Full-Screen Mode

After installation, you may want to use Kali Linux in full-screen mode.

To switch to full-screen mode in VMware, press Ctrl + Alt + Enter on your keyboard. To return to windowed mode, press the same shortcut again.

If full-screen resizing does not work properly, make sure VMware Tools or open-vm-tools are installed and working inside Kali Linux.

Step 22: Explore Kali Linux Tools

Now you can start exploring Kali Linux. Open the Applications menu and you will see different categories like:

• Information Gathering
• Vulnerability Analysis
• Web Application Testing
• Password Attacks
• Wireless Attacks
• Forensics
• Reporting Tools

You can also open the Terminal and start learning Linux commands. If you are a beginner, start with basic Linux navigation commands before using advanced cybersecurity tools.

Recommended VMware Settings for Kali Linux

Things to Do After Installing Kali Linux

After installing Kali Linux on VMware, you can do a few important things to make your setup more useful.

• Create a VMware snapshot so you can restore the system later if something breaks.
• Update Kali Linux before using it for serious practice.
• Learn basic Linux commands before using advanced tools.
• Use Kali only in a legal and ethical testing environment.
• Keep your virtual machine files backed up if you use it regularly.

Common Problems and Fixes

VMware Says Virtualization Is Disabled

If VMware says virtualization is disabled, restart your computer and enable Intel VT-x, AMD-V, or SVM Mode from BIOS or UEFI settings.

Kali Linux Is Running Slowly

If Kali Linux is slow, increase RAM and CPU cores if your main computer has enough resources. Also make sure virtualization is enabled and Hyper-V related features are not causing conflicts.

VMware Cannot Start the Virtual Machine

If VMware cannot start the virtual machine, disable Hyper-V, Virtual Machine Platform, Windows Hypervisor Platform, Windows Sandbox, and Memory Integrity. Then restart Windows and try again.

Full-Screen Mode Is Not Working

If full-screen mode is not working, check whether VMware Tools or open-vm-tools are installed properly. You can also try restarting the virtual machine after installation.

Kali Linux Asks for Login

Use the username and password you created during the installation. If you forget the password, you may need to reset it or reinstall the virtual machine.

Final Words

This is how you can install Kali Linux on VMware Workstation Pro on a Windows PC. This method is safe, beginner-friendly, and perfect for creating your own ethical hacking or cybersecurity learning lab.

By using VMware, you can run Kali Linux without affecting your main Windows system. You can also take snapshots, create backups, and experiment freely inside the virtual machine.

Once Kali Linux is installed, you can start learning Linux commands, exploring cybersecurity tools, and practicing ethical hacking in a safe and controlled environment.