How To Change The Desktop Of, Kali Linux

How To Change Desktop Of Kali
Hello Friends, I’m using Kali Linux from 3-4 Months I’m thinking to change the Appearance of my Desktop Because I’m bored using the same interface now it’s time to update to new Theme/Template, I have been changing Wallpapers only but I’m thinking to change it completely to have a new experience and interface.
Today I’m here to teach you about Changing your Kali Linux Desktop or Installing new GUI Environment .
First update your repositories Ensure you have the correct repositories.
The easiest way is to edit the /etc/apt/sources.list
[email protected]:~# vi /etc/apt/sources.list (or) [email protected]:~# leafpad /etc/apt/sources.list
Add official repo’s only:
Copy paste the following repositories (remove existing lines or you can comment them out – your take). Following repo list was taken from official Kali sources.list Repositories page:
The Kali Rolling Repository
Kali-Rolling is the current active repository since the release of Kali 2016.1 and 2016.2. Kali Rolling users are expected to have the following entries in their sources.list
:
deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main contrib non-free deb-src http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main contrib non-free
Save and close the file.
Retired Kali Sana (Kali 2.0) Repositories
For access to the retired Kali Sana or Kali 2.0 repositories, have the following entries in your sources.list
:
deb http://old.kali.org/kali sana main non-free contrib deb-src http://old.kali.org/kali sana main non-free contrib
Save and close the file.
Retired Kali moto (1.0) Repositories
For access to the retired moto repositories, have the following entries in your sources.list
:
deb http://old.kali.org/kali moto main non-free contrib deb-src http://old.kali.org/kali moto main non-free contrib
Save and close the file.
OLD Instructions (Kali 1.0 – does not work anymore)
I’ve kept these for historical purpose only, these repo’s worked on Kali 1.x (2013 – 2015). Do no follow these anymore.
# Regular repositories deb http://http.kali.org/kali sana main non-free contrib deb http://security.kali.org/kali-security sana/updates main contrib non-free # Source repositories deb-src http://http.kali.org/kali sana main non-free contrib deb-src http://security.kali.org/kali-security sana/updates main contrib non-free
Clean your apt-get
apt-get clean
Do an apt-get update
apt-get update
Do an upgrade
apt-get upgrade
Finally do a distribution upgrade
apt-get dist-upgrade
That’s it, you’re set.
XFCE Desktop
Install XFCE Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:
Code: apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base xfce4 xfce4-places-plugin xfce4-goodies
Remove XFCE in Kali Linux:
Code: apt-get remove xfce4 xfce4-places-plugin xfce4-goodies
KDE Desktop
Install KDE Plasma Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:
Code: apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base kde-plasma-desktop
Install Netbook KDE Plasma Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:
Code: apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base kde-plasma-netbook
Install Standard Debian selected packages and frameworks in Kali Linux:
Code: apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base kde-standard
Install KDE Full Install in Kali Linux:
Code: apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base kde-full
How to remove KDE on Kali Linux:
Code: apt-get remove kde-plasma-desktop kde-plasma-netbook kde-standard
LXDE Desktop
Install LXDE Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:
Code: apt-get install lxde-core lxde kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base
Remove LXDE on Kali Linux:
Code: apt-get remove lxde-core lxde
Cinnamon Desktop
Install Cinnamon Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:
Code: apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base cinnamon
Remove Cinnamon Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:
Code: apt-get remove cinnamon
MATE Desktop
How to install MATE Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:
Code: echo "deb http://repo.mate-desktop.org/debian wheezy main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list && apt-get update
Code: apt-get --yes --quiet --allow-unauthenticated install mate-archive-keyring
This installs the base package
Code: apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base mate-core
This to install mate-core and more extras:
Code: apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base mate-desktop-environment
This to install mate-core + mate-desktop-environment and even more extras.
Code: apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base mate-desktop-environment-extra
Code: apt-get remove mate-core
Now the only problem is MATE doesn’t show the nice Kali Linux Menu. Fix posted by Silver Moon
To fix this edit the following file.
Code: leafpad /etc/xdg/menus/mate-applications.menu
In the file go down to the section named Internet and add the following line
<!-- Kali Linux Menu --> <MergeFile type="path">applications-merged/kali-applications.menu</MergeFile>
It should look something like this
HTML Code:
..... <!-- Internet --> <Menu> <Name>Internet</Name> <Directory>mate-network.directory</Directory> <Include> <And> <Category>Network</Category> </And> </Include> </Menu> <!-- End Internet --> <!-- Kali Linux --> <MergeFile type="path">applications-merged/kali-applications.menu</MergeFile> .....
Now save the file, Logout and Login back. The “Kali Linux” menu should display fine in Mate desktop’s application menu.