Wi-Fi in Kali Linux on a Virtual Machine: A Complete Setup Guide

Kali Linux — is a powerful security testing tool, but setting it up on a virtual machine is often challenging, especially when it comes to connecting to Wi-FiMany users encounter a situation where Ethernet works without problems, but the wireless network remains unavailable. This is due to the specifics of network adapter virtualization and the lack of drivers for virtual Wi-Fi devices.

In this article we will look at why Kali Linux doesn't see Wi-Fi on VirtualBox or VMwareHow to properly configure the network adapter in the virtual machine settings, and which commands can help diagnose the problem. You'll also learn whether you can connect to a wireless network directly from the guest OS or whether you'll need to bridge it through the host OS. These instructions are suitable for the latest versions. Kali Linux 2023-2026 and current builds of virtual machines.

Why doesn't Kali Linux see Wi-Fi in a virtual machine?

The main problem is that virtual machines by default do not have direct access to the physical Wi-Fi adapter host computer. Instead, they use virtual network interfaces, which are emulated in software. Here are the key reasons for the lack of Wi-Fi:

• 🔌 The virtual machine is connected via NAT or Host-Only - These modes do not provide access to wireless networks.
• 🚫 The mode is not enabled in the VM settings Bridged Adapter (bridge) that allows you to "forward" a physical adapter.
• 🔧 There are no drivers for the virtual Wi-Fi device in the guest OS (relevant for VMware Tools/VirtualBox Guest Additions).
• 📡 The host's physical Wi-Fi adapter does not support bridged mode or is blocked by an antivirus/firewall.

It is important to understand that even in the mode Bridged The virtual machine will not be able to connect to Wi-Fi directly if the host system is using USB Wi-Fi adapterIn this case, additional configuration of USB device forwarding to the VM will be required.

Checking network interfaces in Kali Linux

Before setting up the connection, make sure the system recognizes the network devices. Open a terminal in Kali Linux and run the command:

ip a

In the output, note the following interfaces:

• eth0 or ens33 — virtual Ethernet adapter (must always be present).
• wlan0 or wlp2s0 — Wi-Fi adapter (will appear only after the forwarding is configured correctly).

If there are no devices with the prefix in the list wl, this means the Wi-Fi adapter is not detected. To diagnose the drivers, use:

lspci -k | grep -A 3 -i network

This command will display all network devices and the drivers loaded for them. If the output does not contain lines with Network controller or Wireless, the problem lies in the settings of the virtual machine or host system.

Configuring a network adapter in VirtualBox

To connect Kali Linux to Wi-Fi via VirtualBox you need to configure the mode Bridged Adapter. Follow the instructions:

1. Shut down the virtual machine (state Powered Off).
2. Open Settings → Network.
3. In the field Connected to: select Network Bridge (Bridged Adapter).
4. In the drop-down list Name: Please specify your physical Wi-Fi adapter (e.g. Intel(R) Wi-Fi 6 AX200).
5. Enable the option Advanced → Enable Network Adapter.
6. Start the virtual machine.

After applying the settings, check the availability of the interface with the command iwconfigIf the adapter is visible but does not connect to the network, try restarting the networking service:

sudo systemctl restart networking

Setting up Wi-Fi in VMware Workstation

IN VMware The process of forwarding a Wi-Fi adapter is slightly different. The mode available here is Bridged, but USB adapters will require additional configuration:

1. Shut down the virtual machine.
2. Go to VM → Settings → Network Adapter.
3. Select mode Bridged: Connected directly to the physical network.
4. Click Configure Adapters... and check the box next to your Wi-Fi adapter.
5. If you use USB Wi-Fi adapter, connect it to the VM via VM → Removable Devices → [Your adapter] → Connect.

USB devices may require installation VMware Tools in the guest system:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install open-vm-tools

Make sure Wi-Fi is enabled on the host system|

Bridged mode selected for network adapter|

USB device forwarded to VM (if used)|

VMware Tools are installed in the guest OS.

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Installing Wi-Fi drivers in Kali Linux

If your network adapter is detected but not working, the problem may be missing drivers. Most modern Wi-Fi adapters in Kali Linux already have open-source drivers, but sometimes manual installation is required.

Check your current drivers with the command:

lshw -C network

If there is a line in the output configuration: driver=UNCLAIMED, then the driver is not loaded. Solutions:

• 🔄 Update your kernel and packages:

  sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y

• 📦 Install proprietary drivers (for example, for Broadcom):

  sudo apt install firmware-b43-installer

• 🔧 For adapters Realtek RTL88xx download drivers from GitHub and compile them manually.

Critical Information: If your adapter uses proprietary drivers (for example, some Broadcom models), they may not be included in the Kali Linux repositories. In this case, you will need to download the source code from the manufacturer's website and compile it yourself.

Connecting to Wi-Fi via the command line

Once the adapter is recognized and the drivers are installed, you can connect to the network. In Kali Linux, this is done using the utility iwconfig and network manager wpa_supplicant.

First, check available networks:

sudo iwlist wlan0 scan | grep ESSID

Then create a configuration file for wpa_supplicant:

sudo nano /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

Add the following lines to the file (replace your_ssid And your_password):

network={
ssid="your_ssid"
psk="your_password"
}

Connect to the network:

sudo wpa_supplicant -B -i wlan0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
sudo dhclient wlan0

Check the connection with the command ping 8.8.8.8If you can ping but can't access websites, check your DNS settings:

sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf

Add a line nameserver 8.8.8.8 and save the file.

Solving common problems

Even after proper configuration, errors may still occur. Let's look at typical scenarios and their solutions:

If none of the solutions helped, try an alternative connection method via USB modem or Ethernet adapterAlso, make sure that VPNs or proxies that may conflict with the VM's network settings are disabled on the host system.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about setting up Wi-Fi in Kali Linux on a VM

sudo apt install --reinstall firmware-*-nonfree

network={
ssid="hidden_network"
scan_ssid=1
psk="password"
}

If you encounter a unique issue not covered in this article, we recommend referring to the official documentation. Kali Linux or forums VirtualBox/VMwarePlease note that network adapter settings may vary depending on the hypervisor version and Wi-Fi device model.