How to update Kali Linux: Upgrading packages to the latest version

Updating Kali Linux is important for maintaining a secure and efficient system. As a rolling release operating system, Kali Linux provides frequent updates to address vulnerabilities, improve compatibility with modern environments, and include the latest features.

By staying current, you ensure access to the most recent versions of tools and benefit from critical security patches. Conversely, neglecting updates can expose your Kali Linux system to risks and cause compatibility issues with the latest software.

In this article, you’ll learn how to update and upgrade Kali Linux safely. We’ll demonstrate the steps in a virtual private server (VPS) setup, but they are equally applicable to other environments, such as local desktop installations or virtual machines using VirtualBox.

Prerequisites

Before updating Kali Linux, make sure you have a stable internet connection. The process involves downloading packages from official repositories. Next, verify that you have administrative rights as the root user or with sudo privileges.

Also, prepare a terminal application to run the update commands. If you previously installed Kali Linux on Hostinger’s VPS, you can use our Browser terminal to execute commands directly without additional software.

To access this feature, log in to hPanel with your Hostinger account and go to VPS → Manage. On your VPS dashboard, hit the Browser terminal button. This will open a new browser tab where you can conveniently run all required commands.

How to update and upgrade Kali Linux

Here’s how to safely update your Kali Linux system to the newest version, from checking the source list file to rebooting the OS if necessary.

1. Check the source list file

The source list file, located at /etc/apt/sources.list, defines where the package manager fetches updates. Verifying that Kali Linux uses the correct repositories is essential, as incorrect or outdated entries can lead to errors during the update process.

To check the source list file, run the following command:

cat /etc/apt/sources.list

Make sure this line appears – it means your system uses the Kali Linux rolling release repository:

deb http://kali.download/kali kali-rolling main contrib non-free non-free-firmware

If the file is empty or contains incorrect entries, edit it using a text editor like nano:

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

Paste the following content into the file:

# See https://www.kali.org/docs/general-use/kali-linux-sources-list-repositories/

deb http://kali.download/kali kali-rolling main contrib non-free non-free-firmware

# Additional line for source packages

#deb-src http://kali.download/kali kali-rolling main contrib non-free non-free-firmware

Once done, save the file and exit nano by pressing Ctrl + X → Y → Enter.

2. Update package lists

The next step is to fetch the latest package information from the repositories. This ensures your Kali Linux system knows all the latest updates and available software versions.

To update the package lists, execute:

sudo apt update

This command connects to the repositories defined in your source list file and downloads the updated package information. You’ll see a list of packages being checked, along with their current status, such as how many are available for upgrade:

3. Upgrade the system

Now, it’s time to install the latest tools, dependencies, and operating system versions. Kali Linux provides three main commands for upgrading, each serving a different purpose:

• Regular upgrade (apt upgrade). This command installs newer versions of packages already on your system without removing or replacing any existing packages:

sudo apt upgrade -y

• Full upgrade (apt full-upgrade). Recommended for Kali Linux, this one upgrades all packages while intelligently handling changes in dependencies. It may add or remove packages to keep your system fully functional:

sudo apt full-upgrade -y

• Distribution upgrade (apt dist-upgrade). Although similar to apt full-upgrade, it focuses more on upgrading to a newer distribution release. This command is typically used during major OS version updates:

sudo apt dist-upgrade

For this tutorial, we’ll use the apt full-upgrade command. When executed, you should see an output listing the packages being installed, updated, or removed during the process:

4. Remove unnecessary packages

After upgrading Kali Linux, it’s a good idea to clean up unnecessary or obsolete packages because they can accumulate over time and consume valuable disk space.

To remove these packages, run the command below:

sudo apt autoremove -y

It scans for, and deletes packages no longer required by your system, such as dependencies left behind after upgrading installed packages.

Additionally, clean up cached files from the APT package manager by executing:

sudo apt autoclean

5. Verify the update

Once the upgrade is complete, check whether your system is running the latest version of Kali Linux. To verify, type:

cat /etc/os-release

This command displays information about your operating system, including the version and release details. Check that the version matches the latest Kali Linux release.

6. Reboot the system

This step is optional, but we suggest rebooting Kali Linux after significant updates using apt full-upgrade or apt dist-upgrade. This ensures all changes are applied, and your system runs the latest configurations.

Here’s the command to restart your system:

sudo reboot

Alternatively, for Hostinger VPS customers, you can reboot Kali Linux directly via hPanel. From your VPS dashboard, click Reboot VPS and wait for it to complete within two minutes.

Conclusion

Regularly updating Kali Linux is essential for maintaining a secure, stable, and efficient system. By keeping your system up to date, you ensure access to the latest tools, features, and critical security patches.

Following this guide, you’ve learned how to check repositories, update package lists, upgrade the system, and clean up unnecessary files. To maintain your system efficiently, monitor for new releases regularly and reboot after major upgrades when necessary.

This practice keeps your Kali Linux environment optimized and reliable for long-term use.

How to update Kali Linux FAQ