In this tutorial, you will learn to dual boot Kali Linux and windows 10. Dual booting Windows 10 and Kali Linux is a simple process if you do things accordingly, this tutorial will cover every step needed to install Kali Linux on Windows 10 as a dual boot.

Why do you need to dual boot Windows 10 and Kali Linux?  As a beginner, you can use Kali Linux with a virtual machine or by making a live Pendrive without installing it on your physical computer, but if you want to get the full power of Kali Linux then install it on your System as a dual boot with your favorite operating system like Windows 10/8.1/7.  You can use this tutorial to dual boot Kali Linux with Windows 10/8.1/7.  You must do it carefully, otherwise, you will lose all your hard disk data.

Also Read: How to install Kali Linux on windows 10 by using Virtual box.

Follow these simple steps in order to dual boot Windows 10 and Kali Linux without any errors and not losing any of your data. This tutorial will work with every version including Kali Linux v2017.1.

Things needed to dual boot Windows 10 and Kali Linux.

  • A PC/Laptop must have at least Dual-Core processor with minimum 1GB of RAM
  • 8GB USB
  • Windows 10 or any other version of Windows i.e 10/8.1/7 installed.
  • Kali Linux
  • Rufus

Let’s begin to install Kali Linux on Windows 10 as a dual boot.


  • Step 1: Download Kali Linux

To dual boot Kali Linux the first thing you need is a Kali Linux ISO if you don’t have it yet follow these steps;

Download Kali Linux → from here.

Choose between 32 bit and  64 bit according to your System types. To find out your system type right click on This PC(My Computer in the older version of windows)  and choose Properties you will see your system type there eighter 64 bit or 32 bit.

how to install kali linux on virtualbox


  • Step 2: Create a Bootable USB

To use the Kali Linux ISO you need to create a bootable USB(Pendrive). I am using Rufus to create Bootable USB. → Get Rufus Now. Connect your USB and Run Rufus You will see this screen:

dual boot Windows 10 and Kali Linux

  1. First one is you USB.
  2. Select the Kali linux ISO by clicking the CD icon.
  3. Press the Start button new popup will open just click on OK. It will give you a warning message, saying that all data on the USB will be erased.

  • Step 3: Create a separate partition

So far you have downloaded Kali Linux iso and created a bootable USB by using the iso. Now you need to create a separate partition to install Kali Linux. Go to Disk management setting by right clicking on This Pc icon and choose Manage, or just type diskmgmt.msc on CMD and press Enter to open Disk management setting.

Choose a partition which has free space right-click on it and choose Shrink volume. Allocate minimum 15 GB(15000 MB) I recommend 30 GB(30000 MB) for the Kali Linux partition.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 4: Change BIOS settings and choose Graphical Install.

Go to your BIOS setting and disable  Secure Boot and Fast Boot options.

Restart your Pc and choose boot from USB. You will see Kali Linux installation options, Choose Graphical Install.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  •  Step 5: Choose the Language

Select the language to be used and press Continue.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 6: Select Country

Select your Country and press Continue

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 7: Choose Keyboard layout.

Choose American English as a keyboard layout. You can choose your own language but English is mostly is used.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 8: Set Your IP configurations

Next step set your IP configurations. Select your network card and press continue

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 9: Hostname

In next it will ask for a Hostname. Type any name you want

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 10:

In the domain name field, don’t type anything, leave empty and press enter.


  • Step 11:

Choose a password for the root user and press continue.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 12:

This is the most important part, most users make mistake in this step and wipe out their data.   Choose partitioning method as  Manual and click Continue.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 13:

Select the partition you created earlier using the disk management settings. Be careful don’t select any other partition.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 14:

Choose Delete the Partition and click Continue.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 15:

Now you will see Free space select it and press continue.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 16:

Choose the option Automatically partition the free space  and click Continue

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 17:

Next, choose the option that is recommended for new users Which is the first one and press Continue.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 18:

Select the option  Finish Partitioning and Write Changes to Disk and press Continue.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 19:

It will ask for permission to write changes on the disk. Choose Yes and press Continue.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 20:

During the installation, it will ask for network mirror. Choose  No and press continue.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 21:

After some time it will ask for installing GRUB boot loader, choose  Yes and press Continue.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 22:

Carefully Choose your hard disk which is the second option. Only choose your hard disk to install GRUB. Otherwise, you won’t be able to use both the operating systems.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Step 23 to dual boot Windows 10 and Kali Linux:

After successful installation, you will see this screen. Remove the USB, press Continue and restart your PC.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


  • Final Step to dual boot Windows 10 and Kali Linux:

This is the start up screen, you can choose between kali Linux and your Windows OS.

dual boot windows 10 and kali linux


Enjoy your experience with the Kali Linux

If you face any issue during the installation process, feel free to ask in the comment section.

Also Read: Kali Linux commands complete list

1 COMMENT

  1. Tried this but it has not installed Grub correctly. When I reboot after installation, I get my old Grub. I have tried Rescue Mode and that says ‘The installed system appears to use a separate /boot/efi partition’. I’m then given 5 options and I chose to ‘reinstall Grub’. Done complete reinstall but I seem to need some tweaking. Currently, Grub is on /sda1. Any ideas?

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