Kali Linux 2026.4 Released with New Tools, ZSH Shell & Updates for NetHunter

Offensive Security released Kali Linux 2026.4 with ZSH shell as default, updated tools icons, new tools, and more. This new release has several notable updates, all of which are available for fast download or updating.

This distribution can be installed on multiple devices that include smartphones and Raspberry PI.

ZSH Shell By Default and Other Features

ZSH shell was first introduced in Kali Linux 2026.3, now with Kali Linux 2026.4, ZSH is the new default shell.

┌──(kali㉿kali)-[~]
└─$ echo Hello World. I'm $0
Hello World. I'm zsh
┌──(kali㉿kali)-[~]
└─$

It is the default shell on our desktop images, and cloud. For ARM, containers, NetHunter and WSL continue to be the default shell.

The offensive security team also updated the Bash prompt to make it feel similar to the ZSH prompt.

A fresh installation of Kali Linux 2026.4 or later has all the updates. If you are updating Kali, you will need to configure each user to use ZSH or bashrc.

With the new release number of new tools has been added;

• Apple bleee
• CertGraph
• dnscat2
• FinalRecon
• goDoH
• hostapd-mana
• Metasploit Framework v6
• Whatmask

With Kali NetHunter a new settings menu, allowing for easy backup and restore of configuration files added by @yesimxev. Also, you will be having an option to change the Kali NetHunter boot animation.

New “Enhanced Session Mode” brings Win-KeX to ARM devices. With this mode it allows users of “Windows on ARM” devices to use Win-KeX and it adds sharpness to Win-KeX on HiDPI devices.

With the previous version Vagrant image available only for VirtualBox, with the new release Vagrant image available for VMware also.

“We have been working away on our ARM images as usual, and this release is no exception. We have reduced the amount of pre-generated images (now 14) as there has not been the demand for these other devices.”

“In 2019.4, we moved https://docs.kali.org/ from a WordPress solution to https://www.kali.org/docs/ using Hugo.”

Fresh download can be done from here. If you are an existing user you can do a quick update, followed by setting the default shell to ZSH. 

kali@kali:~$ echo "deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contrib" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list
kali@kali:~$
kali@kali:~$ sudo apt update && sudo apt -y full-upgrade
kali@kali:~$
kali@kali:~$ cp -i /etc/skel/.bashrc ~/
kali@kali:~$
kali@kali:~$ cp -i /etc/skel/.zshrc ~/
kali@kali:~$
kali@kali:~$ chsh -s /bin/zsh
kali@kali:~$
kali@kali:~$ [ -f /var/run/reboot-required ] && sudo reboot -f
kali@kali:~$

You are also recommended reviewing our Kali Linux Tutorials page which covers dozens of Kali Linux Tools. Also, Learn The Complete Kali Tools in Kali Linux Operating System.

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