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

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

Code:  apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base mate-core

 Code: apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base mate-desktop-environment

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.

Change Kali Linux Themes, Customization & Installation