How to Install Kali NetHunter on Android (No Root!)
How to Install Kali NetHunter on Android (No Root!)
Imagine having the power of a full penetration testing suite right in your pocket. For years, this meant rooting your Android device, a process that voids warranties and can be risky. But what if you could have the best of both worlds?
Welcome to our complete 2025 guide to installing Kali NetHunter on your Android phone—without root!
This method transforms your everyday smartphone into a powerful and portable security tool, perfect for ethical hackers, cybersecurity students, and tech enthusiasts. In this post, we'll provide a detailed, text-based walkthrough of the entire process. For a complete visual demonstration, be sure to watch our step-by-step video guide above!
Why Install a Rootless NetHunter?
Portability: Perform security assessments from anywhere, using just your phone.
No Root Required: Your phone's warranty and security remain intact.
Easy Installation: The process is straightforward and relies on the powerful Termux terminal emulator.
Full GUI Access: You get access to the complete Kali desktop environment through a VNC client, not just a command line.
Prerequisites: What You'll Need
Before we dive in, make sure you have the following:
A Physical Android Phone: This guide is optimized for Android 12 and newer, but will work on older versions as well.
Termux App: The Google Play Store version is outdated. Download the latest version from one of these official sources:
GitHub Releases (Recommended)
An Internet Connection: The installation will download a sizable image file.
Step-by-Step Installation Guide
First, we need to set up the Termux environment.
Install the Termux APK you downloaded.
Open Termux and run the package update command:
pkg update -y
Grant Termux storage access to read and write files on your phone:
termux-setup-storage
(A pop-up will appear; make sure to tap "Allow".)
Install wget, a tool for downloading files from the internet:
pkg install wget
Step 2: Download and Run the NetHunter Installer
Now we'll download and execute the official installation script.
Download the NetHunter installation script using wget:
wget -O install-nethunter-termux https://offs.ec/2MceZWr
Make the script executable:
chmod +x install-nethunter-termux
Run the script to begin the download process:
./install-nethunter-termux
The script will download the Kali NetHunter image. This is the largest part of the download and may take a while.
Once the download is complete, run the script again to begin the installation:
./install-nethunter-termux
When prompted, enter N to not delete the downloaded file and N to not delete the rootfs (root file system). The installation will now proceed.
Step 3: An Essential Fix for Android 12+ Users
Modern Android versions have a feature that can kill background processes, interfering with NetHunter. Here’s how to disable it.
Go to your phone’s Settings > About phone.
Tap on Build number seven times consecutively. You'll see a notification that "You are now a developer!"
Go back to the main Settings menu and find Developer options (it may be under "System").
Scroll down and enable the option named Disable child process restrictions.
Step 4: Launching Kali NetHunter (CLI and GUI)
Your installation is complete! Let's start it up.
To start the NetHunter Command-Line Interface (CLI): Open Termux and type nethunter or nh. The prompt will change, indicating you are inside the Kali environment.
To set up the GUI (KeX): You first need to set a password for the KeX (Kali Desktop Experience) server.
nethunter kex passwd
To start the KeX server:
nethunter kex
The server will start. Take note of the port number it displays (usually :1 which means port 5901).
Step 5: Accessing the Graphical Desktop
The final step is to connect to our running KeX server with a VNC client.
Visit the NetHunter App Store and download the store's APK.
Install the store and then use it to search for and install the NetHunter KeX client.
Open the KeX client and create a new connection.
Enter the connection details:
Address: 127.0.0.1
Port: 5901 (or whatever port was shown when you started KeX)
Password: The KeX password you created earlier.
Save and tap Connect.
You should now see the full Kali Linux desktop, ready to use on your Android phone!
Conclusion
And there you have it! A fully functional, rootless Kali NetHunter installation on your Android device. You now have a powerful suite of security tools available anytime, anywhere.
For a more detailed explanation of each step, be sure to watch our full video guide. If you ran into any issues or have questions, drop a comment below or on the YouTube video, and we'll do our best to help you out!
Happy hacking, and stay ethical.