What is Win-KeX and how is it different from regular XRDP?

Win-KeX (Windows + Kali Desktop EXperience) is Kali's integrated desktop solution that handles XRDP configuration, audio, clipboard sync, and drive sharing automatically. ESM mode uses Enhanced Session Mode for the best RDP experience.

What Win-KeX modes are available and which should I use?

ESM (Enhanced Session Mode) provides the best experience with full RDP features including audio and shared drives - use this for daily work. Window mode uses VNC for a floating window. Seamless mode integrates individual Kali apps into Windows.

How do you fix Win-KeX black screen issues?

The most common cause is the X11 socket symlink. Run: sudo rm /tmp/.X11-unix && sudo mkdir /tmp/.X11-unix && sudo chmod 1777 /tmp/.X11-unix. Then restart Win-KeX with "kex --esm --kill" followed by "kex --esm".

Kali Linux Desktop on WSL2: Win-KeX Setup Guide

Kali Linux offers the richest desktop experience of any distro on WSL2—and it's not even close. While other distros require manual XRDP configuration, Kali's Win-KeX (Windows + Kali Desktop EXperience) handles everything: desktop environment, remote display, clipboard sync, audio, and shared drives. If you want a polished Linux desktop on Windows, start here.

Why Kali Gave the Best Experience

After testing Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, openSUSE, and Alpine (while my GPU was off being RMA'd—charred 5090 power cable), Kali's Win-KeX surprised me with how complete it feels. ESM mode delivers:

Native clipboard integration—copy/paste just works
Audio passthrough—sound from Linux apps plays on Windows
Shared drives—access Windows files seamlessly
Better RDP performance than VNC alternatives
One-command setup—no manual XRDP configuration

For security professionals, pentesters, or anyone wanting a capable Linux workstation, Kali on WSL2 is compelling.

Prerequisites

Windows 10 (version 2004+) or Windows 11
WSL2 installed and working
Kali Linux from Microsoft Store or WSL UI

Installing Kali Linux

Install Kali through WSL UI for easy management, or via the Microsoft Store.

Or via command line:

powershell

wsl --install -d kali-linux

Understanding Win-KeX Modes

Win-KeX offers three ways to run Kali's desktop:

Mode	Command	Technology	Best For
Window	`kex --win -s`	VNC	Quick testing, basic usage
Seamless	`kex --sl -s`	VNC	Individual apps on Windows desktop
ESM	`kex --esm -s`	RDP	Full desktop (recommended)

Click to expand

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ESM (Enhanced Session Mode) is the best option. It uses RDP like Hyper-V enhanced sessions, providing clipboard, audio, shared drives, and significantly better performance than VNC.

Step 1: Install Win-KeX

bash

sudo apt update
sudo apt install kali-win-kex -y

This installs everything needed: XFCE desktop, XRDP, TigerVNC, and the kex management scripts.

Step 2: Fix X11 Socket (Critical)

WSLg creates a symlink at /tmp/.X11-unix that breaks Win-KeX ESM mode. Fix it before your first launch:

bash

sudo rm -f /tmp/.X11-unix
sudo mkdir -p /tmp/.X11-unix
sudo chmod 1777 /tmp/.X11-unix

Why this happens: WSL's init creates /tmp/.X11-unix → /mnt/wslg/.X11-unix for WSLg. When you run ESM (which uses XRDP), the symlink points nowhere useful, causing black screens. Win-KeX's stop script (kex --stop) also restores the symlink, so you may need to fix it again after stopping/starting.

Step 3: Launch ESM Mode

bash

kex --esm -s

The -s flag enables sound passthrough.

For NAT networking mode (if mirrored doesn't work):

bash

kex --esm --ip -s

Windows Remote Desktop will launch automatically and connect to your Kali desktop.

Other Win-KeX Modes

Window Mode (VNC)

Opens the full desktop in a VNC window:

bash

kex --win -s

Simpler but lacks ESM's clipboard and audio integration.

Seamless Mode (VNC)

Runs individual Kali apps directly on your Windows desktop:

bash

kex --sl -s

Useful for running specific tools without a full desktop.

Managing Win-KeX Sessions

bash

# Check status
kex --status

# Stop all sessions
kex --stop

# Kill stuck sessions
kex --kill

Troubleshooting

The X11 socket symlink is the most common cause. Fix it:

bash

sudo rm -f /tmp/.X11-unix
sudo mkdir -p /tmp/.X11-unix
sudo chmod 1777 /tmp/.X11-unix

Then restart: kex --kill && kex --esm -s

ESM Not Connecting

Try with explicit IP (for NAT networking):

bash

kex --esm --ip -s

Sound Not Working

Ensure you're using the -s flag:

bash

kex --esm -s

"Cannot Open Display" Errors

Your DISPLAY variable may point to WSLg instead of the XRDP session. Kill everything and restart:

bash

kex --kill
kex --esm -s

Manual XRDP Setup (Alternative)

If you prefer manual configuration over Win-KeX:

bash

sudo apt install kali-desktop-xfce xrdp -y
sudo sed -i 's/^port=3389/port=3390/' /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini
echo "startxfce4" > ~/.xsession
sudo systemctl enable xrdp --now

Connect with mstsc → localhost:3390

Quick Reference

bash

# Install Win-KeX
sudo apt update && sudo apt install kali-win-kex -y

# Fix X11 socket
sudo rm -f /tmp/.X11-unix && sudo mkdir -p /tmp/.X11-unix && sudo chmod 1777 /tmp/.X11-unix

# Launch ESM (recommended)
kex --esm -s

# With NAT networking
kex --esm --ip -s

# Stop session
kex --stop

Kali-Specific Tips

Task	Command
Update all tools	`sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade`
Install tool categories	`sudo apt install kali-tools-web`
List all metapackages	`apt-cache search kali-tools`
Switch to root	`sudo -i` (Kali allows this by default)

This Series

Part 1: Running Linux GUI Apps with WSLg
Part 2: Ubuntu Desktop with XRDP
Part 3: Fedora Desktop with XRDP
Part 4: Kali Linux Desktop with Win-KeX — You are here
Part 5: Arch Linux Desktop with XRDP
Part 6: openSUSE Desktop with XRDP
Part 7: Alpine Linux Desktop with XRDP
Part 8: WSL2 Desktop Troubleshooting Guide