# How to Manually Install Linux Headers on Kali
> Author: Junner
> Date: 17 Oct. 2025
It's often to find no proper linux headers for your linux kernel on **kali**. You tried this:
```bash
sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)
```
And this:
```bash
┌──(jaker㉿Jali)-[~]
└─$ sudo apt search linux-headers | grep 6.12.38 | grep amd
linux-libc-dev-amd64-cross/kali-rolling 6.12.38-1cross1 all
```
($\uparrow$ this is not headers. It's headers related package.)
Can't find headers to fit your version. That's fine:
You can download headers at [kali's download page](https://kali.download/kali/pool/main/l/linux/):

Or you can find them with this command
```bash
curl -s 'https://kali.download/kali/pool/main/l/linux/' \
| sed -n 's/.*href="\([^"]*\)".*/\1/p' \
| grep 'headers' | grep '6.12.38' | grep 'common'
```
> The output:
> ```!
> linux-headers-6.12.38%2Bkali-common-rt_6.12.38-1kali1_all.deb
> linux-headers-6.12.38%2Bkali-common_6.12.38-1kali1_all.deb
> ```
`wget` it to local:
```bash
wget https://kali.download/kali/pool/main/l/linux/linux-headers-6.12.38%2Bkali-amd64_6.12.38-1kali1_amd64.deb
```
Install it:
```bash
sudo apt install linux-headers-6.12.38+kali-common_6.12.38-1kali1_all.deb
```
---
And you can install architecture related headers:
```bash
curl -s 'https://kali.download/kali/pool/main/l/linux/' \
| sed -n 's/.*href="\([^"]*\)".*/\1/p' \
| grep 'headers' | grep '6.12.38' | grep 'amd'
```
> Output:
> ```!
> linux-headers-6.12.38%2Bkali-amd64_6.12.38-1kali1_amd64.deb
> linux-headers-6.12.38%2Bkali-cloud-amd64_6.12.38-1kali1_amd64.deb
> linux-headers-6.12.38%2Bkali-rt-amd64_6.12.38-1kali1_amd64.deb
> linux-headers-amd64_6.12.38-1kali1_amd64.deb
> linux-headers-cloud-amd64_6.12.38-1kali1_amd64.deb
> linux-headers-rt-amd64_6.12.38-1kali1_amd64.deb
> ```
Download it to local:
```bash
wget https://kali.download/kali/pool/main/l/linux/linux-headers-6.12.38%2Bkali-amd64_6.12.38-1kali1_amd64.deb
```
Install it:
```bash
sudo apt install linux-headers-6.12.38+kali-amd64_6.12.38-1kali1_amd64.deb
```
---
I also want to build kernel:
```bash
wget https://kali.download/kali/pool/main/l/linux/linux-kbuild-6.12.38%2Bkali_6.12.38-1kali1_amd64.deb
sudo apt install linux-kbuild-6.12.38+kali_6.12.38-1kali1_amd64.deb
```