# 1.1 Win-KeX Installation

Quick side note: when you launch Win Kex it might happen that it goes full screen and you find yourself in a place when you can't access your host machine. Press F8.

• Win-KeX provides a Kali Desktop Experience for Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL 2) with the following features: Window mode: start a Kali Linux desktop in a dedicated window
• Seamless mode: share the Windows desktop between Windows and Kali apps and menus
• Sound support
• Unprivileged and Root session support
• Shared clipboard for cut and paste support between Kali Linux and Windows apps
• Multi-session support: root window & non-priv window & seamless sessions concurrently

This page details the steps to install Win-Kex in under 2 minutes.

All installation steps, up to the point where we install Win-Kex, are also explained in the 5 minute video guide by the amazing NetworkChuck:

New Kali Linux GUI on Windows 10 (WSL 2) // 2020.3 Release

• Running Windows 10 version 2004 or higher
• Using Windows Terminal

Open PowerShell as administrator and run:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux

• Restart
• Open PowerShell as administrator and run:

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart
dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

Restart

• Download and install the WSL2 Linux Kernel from here: https://aka.ms/wsl2kernel
• Open PowerShell as administrator and run: wsl --set-default-version 2
• Install Kali Linux from the Microsoft Store

Note: to upgrade an existing WSL1 kali-linux installation, type: wsl --set-version kali-linux 2

• Run Kali and finish the initial setup

Install win-kex via:

kali@kali:~$ sudo apt update
kali@kali:~$
kali@kali:~$ sudo apt install -y kali-win-kex

Window Mode:

To start Win-KeX in Window mode with sound support, run

kex --win -s

Refer to the Win-KeX Win usage documentation for further information.

To start Win-KeX in Enhanced Session Mode with sound support and arm workaround, run

kex --esm --ip -s

Refer to the Win-KeX ESM usage documentation for further information.

To start Win-KeX in Seamless mode with sound support, run

kex --sl -s

Refer to the Win-KeX SL usage documentation for further information.

If you have the space, why not install “Kali with the lot”?: sudo apt install -y kali-linux-large

Create a Windows Terminal Shortcut

Choose amongst these options:

Basic Win-KeX in window mode with sound:

{
      "guid": "{55ca431a-3a87-5fb3-83cd-11ececc031d2}",
      "hidden": false,
      "name": "Win-KeX",
      "commandline": "wsl -d kali-linux kex --wtstart -s",
},

Advanced Win-KeX in window mode with sound - Kali icon and start in kali home directory:

Copy the kali-menu.png icon across to your windows picture directory and add the icon and start directory to your WT config:

{
        "guid": "{55ca431a-3a87-5fb3-83cd-11ececc031d2}",
        "hidden": false,
        "icon": "file:///c:/users/<windows user>/pictures/icons/kali-menu.png",
        "name": "Win-KeX",
        "commandline": "wsl -d kali-linux kex --wtstart -s",
        "startingDirectory" : "//wsl$/kali-linux/home/<kali user>"
},

Basic Win-KeX in seamless mode with sound:

{
      "guid": "{55ca431a-3a87-5fb3-83cd-11ececc031d2}",
      "hidden": false,
      "name": "Win-KeX",
      "commandline": "wsl -d kali-linux kex --sl --wtstart -s",
},

Advanced Win-KeX in seamless mode with sound - Kali icon and start in kali home directory:

Copy the kali-menu.png icon across to your windows picture directory and add the icon and start directory to your WT config:

{
        "guid": "{55ca431a-3a87-5fb3-83cd-11ececc031d2}",
        "hidden": false,
        "icon": "file:///c:/users/<windows user>/pictures/icons/kali-menu.png",
        "name": "Win-KeX",
        "commandline": "wsl -d kali-linux kex --sl --wtstart -s",
        "startingDirectory" : "//wsl$/kali-linux/home/<kali user>"
},

Basic Win-KeX in ESM mode with sound:

{
      "guid": "{55ca431a-3a87-5fb3-83cd-11ecedc031d2}",
      "hidden": false,
      "name": "Win-KeX",
      "commandline": "wsl -d kali-linux kex --esm --wtstart -s",
},

Advanced Win-KeX in ESM mode with sound - Kali icon and start in kali home directory:

Copy the kali-menu.png icon across to your windows picture directory and add the icon and start directory to your WT config:

{
        "guid": "{55ca431a-3a87-5fb3-83cd-11ecedd031d2}",
        "hidden": false,
        "icon": "file:///c:/users/<windows user>/pictures/icons/kali-menu.png",
        "name": "Win-KeX",
        "commandline": "wsl -d kali-linux kex --esm --wtstart -s",
        "startingDirectory" : "//wsl$/kali-linux/home/<kali user>"
},

For more information, ask for help via:

kex --help

or consult the manpage via:

man kex