How to Create a Bootable Kali USB Drive on Linux

how to make a bootable usb on kali linux
To create a bootable USB on Kali Linux, you can use the built-in utility called "dd." This method will erase all data on the USB drive, so make sure to back up any important files before proceeding. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Insert your USB drive into a USB port on your Kali Linux machine.

Open the Terminal:
You can open the terminal in Kali Linux by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T or by searching for "Terminal" in the application menu.

Find the Device Name:
Use the following command to list all connected storage devices and find the name of your USB drive:

bash

lsblk

The USB drive will usually be listed as something like "/dev/sdX" (e.g., /dev/sdb, /dev/sdc, etc.). Be very cautious when identifying the USB drive, as selecting the wrong device can cause data loss.

Unmount the USB Drive:
Before creating the bootable USB, ensure the USB drive is not mounted. If it is mounted, unmount it using the following command (replace "/dev/sdX1" with the correct device name):

bash

sudo umount /dev/sdX1

Write the ISO File to the USB Drive:
Use the "dd" command to write the ISO file to the USB drive. Replace "/path/to/kali-linux.iso" with the path to the Kali Linux ISO file, and "/dev/sdX" with the correct device name:

bash

sudo dd if=/path/to/kali-linux.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress conv=fsync

Note: The "bs=4M" parameter sets the block size for faster copying, and "status=progress" shows the progress of the writing process. "conv=fsync" ensures that the data is synced before the command exits.

Wait for the Process to Complete:
The "dd" command may take some time to complete, depending on the size of the ISO file and the speed of your USB drive.

Sync and Eject the USB Drive:
After the "dd" command finishes, sync the data to the USB drive to ensure everything is written correctly:

bash

sudo sync

Once the sync is complete, safely eject the USB drive:

bash

sudo eject /dev/sdX

Your bootable USB drive with Kali Linux is now ready for use. You can use it to install Kali Linux on other computers or run it as a live system for security testing and penetration testing purposes.

Creating a Bootable Kali USB Drive on Linux (Etcher)

Download and run Etcher.
Choose the Kali Linux ISO file to be imaged with “select image” and verify that the USB drive to be overwritten is the correct one. Click the “Flash!” button once ready.