What have you tried: Every possible image file to install.
What is the error: The Image is not able to mount. Downloaded from this URL: Get Kali | Kali Linux
What device is this on: Mac Air M1 Silicon 2019
Here are the steps you can try once to troubleshoot this issue:
- Verify the Correct Kali Linux Image
Go to the Kali Linux Downloads page and ensure you’re downloading the “Kali Linux ARM64” version. If you’ve accidentally downloaded the x86_64 (Intel) version, it will not work on your M1 Mac.
- Check Image Integrity
The downloaded image might be corrupted. Verify the integrity of the file by checking its SHA256 checksum:
Open Terminal and run
shasum -a 256 /path/to/kali-linux-installer.iso
Compare it with the checksum listed on the Kali website.
- Try Mounting with Disk Utility
If the image is failing to mount:
Open Disk Utility on your Mac.
Click File > Open Disk Image and select the Kali ISO file.
If it fails, the image might be incompatible or corrupted.
- Use Virtualization Software
Since macOS does not natively support booting Linux on M1/M2 chips, you’ll need virtualization software:
UTM (Recommended): Free and optimized for M1 Macs.
Parallels Desktop: Paid but offers better performance.
VMware Fusion: Has a tech preview for Apple Silicon.
Steps for UTM:
Install UTM from https://mac.getutm.app/.
Open UTM and create a new VM.
Select “Virtualize” → “Linux”.
Choose the Kali ARM64 ISO.
Follow the installation prompts.
- Alternative: Use Kali in a Container (For Lightweight Use)
If you don’t need a full GUI, you can use Kali in a container:
brew install colima
colima start
docker run -it kalilinux/kali-rolling /bin/bash
On my knowledge and with the best of my research I have come up with these above points. Let me know the result.
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You can pretty much forget about a bare metal installation on a mac arm silicone chip.
For virtualisation there are guides on kali.org.
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