The following guide will provide the readers with information on how to update/upgrade the Kali Linux system.
In this tutorial you will learn:
- How to configure Kali Linux repositories
- How to update Kali Linux
- How to upgrade kept back packages
- How to uninstall no longer required packages
Software Requirements and Conventions Used
Category | Requirements, Conventions or Software Version Used |
---|---|
System | Kali Linux – rolling release |
Software | N/A |
Other | Privileged access to your Linux system as root or via the sudo command. |
Conventions |
# – requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command$ – requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user |
How to update Kali Linux step by step Instructions
- Configure Kali Linux Repositories
- Update Kali Linux
- Upgrade Kept Back Packages
- Uninstall No Longer Required Packages
The first step is to set correct Kali Linux repositories. Make sure that your /etc/apt/sources.list
file contains the following official Kali repositories:
deb https://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contrib deb-sources https://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contrib
/etc/apt/sources.list
file may break or compromise your Kali Linux system.To begin the update of your Kali Linux system first update the packages index list. Open up terminal and enter:
$ sudo apt update
Next, optionally, display all packages which are scheduled for update:
$ apt list --upgradable
At this stage we have an option to upgrade individual packages using apt install PACKAGE-NAME
or upgrade all packages at once:
$ sudo apt upgrade
All done. Your Kali Linux system is now fully upgraded.
Due to package dependency changes some of the Kali Linux packages might be kept back.
If this is this case you will be notified by the apt upgrade
Linux command at the end of the Kali Linux upgrade process. You may upgrade each kept back package individually using the apt install PACKAGE-NAME
command or update all kept back packages at once:
$ sudo apt dist-upgrade
During your initial system upgrade some of the packages may become obsolete, hence are no longer required. To remove all no longer required Kali Linux packages execute:
$ sudo apt autoremove