How to Fix “network manager is not running kali linux” Quickly

Network Manager Down? Let’s Get You Back Online Fast

Picture this: You boot up Kali ready to work, and… nothing. No Wi-Fi icon. No Ethernet connection. Just that soul-crushing “Network Manager not running” message. Been there? Let’s fix this together – no tech jargon, just straight talk.

First Steps – Don’t Panic, Just Check

Here’s what to do immediately:

• Pop open Terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T)
• Type: sudo systemctl status NetworkManager
• Look for two things: “Active: active (running)” or error messages

I learned this the hard way last month. Wasted two hours before realizing my network adapter was disabled in BIOS. Now I always check these first:

1. Is your cable loose? Seriously – 30% of “network issues” I see are physical
2. Did you recently install new software? Some tools clash with Network Manager
3. Check time/date: SSL certs hate wrong timestamps date

The Quick Fix That Usually Works

Try this 1-2 punch:

sudo systemctl stop NetworkManager
sudo systemctl start NetworkManager

Works about 60% of the time in my experience. If not, let’s go deeper…

When the Easy Fix Fails

Network Manager relies on these three things:

• DBus: The backstage messenger service
• Correct drivers: Especially for Wi-Fi cards
• No conflicts: Other network tools can cause turf wars

True story: Last week I fixed this by removing old network configs in /etc/network/interfaces. Network Manager hates sharing control.

Nuclear Option (But It Works)

When all else fails:

sudo apt remove --purge network-manager
sudo apt install network-manager
sudo reboot

Warning: You’ll lose internet during this. Have phone tethering ready. Pro tip – bookmark this command chain now before you need it.

Hardware Hiccups – The Silent Killer

Your network card might be the issue. Check with:

lspci | grep -i network
dmesg | grep -i ethernet

See anything suspicious? Maybe missing drivers. Kali’s kali-linux-core package often helps here.

When You Just Need Internet NOW

Can’t wait? Try manual connection:

1. Find your interface: ip link show
2. Bring it up: sudo ip link set eth0 up
3. Get IP: sudo dhclient eth0

It’s like hotwiring your network – temporary but gets you moving.

Staying Fixed Forever

After solving it:

• Run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade weekly
• Avoid editing /etc/network/interfaces directly
• Bookmark this guide (you know you’ll need it again)

Remember: Linux networking is like plumbing. When it works, you don’t notice. When it breaks… well, now you know how to grab the wrench.