How to Install Kali Nethunter on Mediatek Android Devices

Kali Nethunter is a popular custom Android ROM, based on Kali Linux, that was originally developed for Nexus devices, but has been forked to many others. Kali Linux is a kind of “hacker’s paradise” distribution, as it comes with over 600 pre-installed apps related to digital forensics and penetrative testing.

While Kali Nethunter has a number of ports for the most popular Android devices, Kali Nethunter has a separate build for Mediatek-based Android devices.

In this guide, we are going to show you exactly how to install Kali Nethunter on your Mediatek device, as well as offer a handful of links to Kali Nethunter ROMs for specific Mediatek-based Android devices.

Requirements:

  • A rooted Mediatek device (search Appuals for Android root guides)
  • TWRP, FlashFire, or Philz CWM Touch Recovery. – CWM is not supported but must be installed.
  • Your device’s kernel version (Settings > About Device)

Note: You do not need to wipe your sytem data before proceeding. Kali Nethunter is an overlay ROM, which means it is meant to be flashed over an existing Android ROM.

At the end of this guide, you will find a large collection of Kali Nethunter downloads, according to specific devices and kernel versions.

For TWRP Users:

  1. Download the correct Kali Nethunter zip for your device and kernel version from our list of downloads below this guide.
  2. Save the .zip onto the SD card of your device.
  3. Boot into TWRP recovery, then tap Install, choose the zip file, and swipe to flash it.
  4. Reboot normally.

For Non-TWRP Users:

  1. Download the correct Kali Nethunter zip according to your device and kernel version.
  2. Download and install the FlashFire app from Google Play or alternative APK resource.
  3. Launch FlashFire, and grant it root permissions.
  4. Tap the plus sign and then choose “Flash ZIP or OTA”.
  5. Tap the drop-down arrow, and then choose “Filesystem Root”.
  6. Next tap “Mnt”, followed by “SDCard2 / SDCard”, and choose the .zip file.
  7. Now check both of the dialogue boxes and tap the checkmark.
  8. On the main menu of FlashFire, scroll down and tap the Flash button – do not mess with any other settings other than what has been instructed here.

Final Steps

  1. After Kali Nethunter has been successfully flashed onto your device, do not open any apps yet. Only open the Nethunter app at this stage, and grant it root permissions.
  2. Go to “Kali Chroot Manager” and also grant it root permissions, then tap “Install Kali Chroot”, followed by “Download Latest”, and choose Full or Minimal Chroot, according to your storage space.
  3. It will begin downloading the necessary files. When it is finished, you can tap “Install Kali Chroot”.
  4. After that is completed, reboot, and you now have Kali Nethunter installed on your Mediatek device!

Developers can find the Kali Nethunter Source Code here.

To completely uninstall Kali Nethunter from your device, flash this zip.

Troubleshooting

If the terminal app force closes, uninstall it and try an alternative, like this terminal app.

Atheros chip based adapters that are unable to get WLAN1 up or displayed in the terminal should proceed like this:

Launch the Nethunter Terminal app on choose “Kali”.

Enter the following commands:

apt-get update
apt-get install firmware-atheros

Next check “airmon-ng” after re-plugging your adapter.

Realtek chip based adapters unable to get WLAN1 up or displayed in terminal:

Launch the Nethunter Terminal app and choose “Kali”.

Enter the following commands:

apt-get update
apt-get install firmware-realtek

Then check “airmon-ng” after re-plugging your adapter.

Any other chips aside from Realtek or Atheros, try these instructions if WLAN1 similarly fails to appear:

Launch Nethunter Terminal app and choose “Kali”.

Enter the following commands:

apt-get update
apt-get install firmware-misc-nonfree

Check “airmon-ng” after re-plugging your adapter.

List of Kali Nethunter Zips by Device and Kernel

MT6572 Downloads

MT6797 Downloads

MT6735 Downloads

MT6577 Downloads

MT6580 Downloads

MT6582 Downloads

MT6589 Downloads

MT6592 Downloads

MT6752 Downloads

MT6753 Downloads

MT6755 Downloads

MT6795 Downloads

MT6782 Downloads

MT6737 Downloads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kamil Anwar


Kamil is a certified MCITP, CCNA (W), CCNA (S) and a former British Computer Society Member with over 9 years of experience Configuring, Deploying and Managing Switches, Firewalls and Domain Controllers also an old-school still active on FreeNode.

Comments

19
    HS
    Hari Stark Apr 22, 2020

    hello sir i want to install the Kali Nethunter in my LENOVO K5 PLUS (android 5.1.1 old one) i cant able to find it.. an u pls help to get the rom for this model ..pls sir.. i even tryed by installing magisk manager but it does not shows any kali nethunter icon in the launcher or in the app installed list(therefore only shows in magisk manager app) .. waiting for ur respose

      SW
      Shane Warren Author Apr 26, 2020

      If the ROM isn’t available on the internet, i can’t find it for you. Please check with the support forums on forums like XDA which will allow you to get the ROM and install it on your mobile.

    UB
    Une Bobier Apr 24, 2020

    What about for redmi note 8 pro?

      SW
      Shane Warren Author Apr 25, 2020

      That is a separate tutorial, use a dedicated guide for it from the internet.

    SF
    Skj Fkfkdk May 28, 2020

    My Lenovo K5 Note device has 3.18.22+ kernel version. But you said in article you need to install to 3.10.72 kernel version device. Can I use a 3.18.22+ device file like redmi note 4? What can I do?
    Thanks

      SW
      Shane Warren Author Jun 1, 2020

      The kernel versions are listed in front of the downloads, you can use those.

        SF
        Skj Fkfkdk Jun 1, 2020

        But the kernel is not same if i download that my device is going to bricked. My kernel 3.18.22+ but this file’s kernel 3.10.72. can i download redmi note 4 file instead of lenovo k5 note file?
        Thanks

          SW
          Shane Warren Author Jun 1, 2020

          No, you have to keep the model the same or your phone is going to get bricked. Match both the kernel and the model otherwise skip it for now or look for your kernel on any forum or android development site and check if there is any reliable one available out there.

          SF
          Skj Fkfkdk Jun 2, 2020

          Well, can i download in the official site arm64 file and flash my device? My device’s architecture is aarch64. Can ı flash it? If I can’t flash any file what can I do for Nethunter?

          SW
          Shane Warren Author Jun 3, 2020

          You can try to flash it with that.

          SF
          Skj Fkfkdk Jun 3, 2020

          Ok I will try it. If not work how can I downgrade my kernel version? And why arm64 file is on the official site and some people rebuild the nethunter for aarch64 devices? Ex: xxxx device 3.10.72 kernel but the xxxx device also arm64 why developers ports the nethunter ROM for xxxx device?

          SW
          Shane Warren Author Jun 5, 2020

          That is an entirely separate guide but you can check online and possibly bookmark a guide that teaches you the exact method of downgrading kernels according to your device. you can also inquire about this on XDA forums that primarily deal with Android issues.

          SF
          Skj Fkfkdk Jun 5, 2020

          I have downgraded my kernel to 3.10.72+ now my kernel is equal and i have rooted device. But when i am flashing with flash fire it errors. and reboot normally in android. Not nethunter. The error message “notfilefound” mnt/sdcard/filename EACCES:(permission denied)
          This is the error message What should I do?

          SW
          Shane Warren Author Jun 6, 2020

          A lot of things can lead up to this, it is best to post this on an android centered forum such as XDA forums but from the outside, it looks like a permission error but do consult experts on this from these forums and you should be able to fix it.

          SF
          Skj Fkfkdk Jun 6, 2020

          OK. I will open a thread in XDA. Thanks for everything.

          SF
          Skj Fkfkdk Jun 7, 2020

          One more question, my bootloader cant unlocking we need to unlock it for flashfire? If we need unlock, why the developer ported the nethunter for K5 NOTE. K5 note’s bootloader locked by manufacterer. This is so strange. I don’t understand it.

          SW
          Shane Warren Author Jun 7, 2020

          Im sure there is a way to unlock this bootloader.

          SF
          Skj Fkfkdk Jun 7, 2020

          U can look everywhere there is no proof there are clickbaits in every video. I cant understand. The developer of this files dont reply anyones questions. I stucked here. I tried all stock roms
          Same issue. Marshmallow says THE DEVICE NOT SUPPORTED. the lollipop says
          I DONT LET YOU PRESS THE VOLUME UP HAHA are you kidding me. I will sell my phone nearly. You can advise me any suggesitons. Even the device will break I dont care. Give me a suggestion I will try it and I will not buy any Lenovo devices again. Thanks

          SW
          Shane Warren Author Jun 9, 2020

          I’m afraid i’m all out of suggestions at this point. We have bootloader unlock guides but we don’t have one for your device I’m afraid. The closest we can come is this:
          https://appuals.com/how-to-…So, check if you can unlock your device bootloader in a similar way but i doubt it. I’m sorry that we couldn’t help you.