Installing Kali NetHunter on a OnePlus 7 Pro (From OxygenOS 11)
This took me a couple days to figure out so I’m writing it down in case it helps someone else.
My goal was to run Kali NetHunter on a OnePlus 7 Pro so I could use Kali tools and external hardware like USB WiFi adapters.
Originally my phone was running OxygenOS 11, but NetHunter works much more reliably on OxygenOS 10, so the first step was downgrading the phone.
Tools I installed on my Pop!_OS machine
Before doing anything with the phone I installed the Android tools.
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sudo apt update
sudo apt install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot
These tools allow your computer to communicate with the phone.
Step 1 Downgrade the phone with the MSM tool
This step requires a Windows machine.
Download the MSM downgrade tool:
Install the Qualcomm USB drivers:
Install the drivers first.
Open the MSM executable.
Put the phone into EDL mode, plug it into the computer, and press Start in the MSM tool.
Important note: you only have about 10–20 seconds before the phone automatically reboots, so have everything ready before plugging the phone in.
When the process finishes the phone will be restored to Android 9.
Step 2 Update the phone to OxygenOS 10
Once the phone boots again update it to OxygenOS 10.
NetHunter kernels for the OnePlus 7 series are built around the Android 10 / OxygenOS 10 kernel which is why this version is important.
Step 3 Unlock the bootloader
Enable Developer Options and turn on:
- OEM unlocking
- USB debugging
Reboot to the bootloader:
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adb reboot bootloader
Unlock the bootloader:
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fastboot oem unlock
This will wipe the phone.
Step 4 Download the stock boot image
Download the stock boot image here:
The file needed is:
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boot.img
Step 5 Root the phone with Magisk
Download Magisk:
Install Magisk on the phone.
Inside Magisk choose Patch Boot Image and select the boot.img.
Magisk will create:
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magisk_patched.img
Copy the patched image back to your computer.
Flash it with fastboot:
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fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img
Reboot the phone.
The phone should now be rooted.
Step 6 Install the NetHunter Store
Download the NetHunter Store:
From the store install:
- NetHunter App
- NetHunter Terminal
Step 7 Install the Kali chroot
Open the NetHunter App.
Inside the app install the Kali chroot environment.
After the install finishes open NetHunter Terminal and launch Kali.
Test that Kali works:
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apt update
If this runs successfully the Kali environment is working correctly.
Step 8 Download the NetHunter kernel
Download the kernel here:
The kernel used:
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kernel-nethunter-20230215_094959-oneplus7-oos-ten.zip
Step 9 Flash the NetHunter kernel with TWRP
Reboot the phone to the bootloader:
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adb reboot bootloader
Boot TWRP:
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fastboot boot twrp.img
Inside TWRP go to:
Advanced → ADB Sideload
Swipe to start sideload.
Then from your computer run:
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adb sideload kernel-nethunter-20230215_094959-oneplus7-oos-ten.zip
After the flash finishes reboot the phone.
Step 10 Verify the NetHunter kernel
Run:
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adb shell uname -r
Expected output:
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4.14.117-Draco-Re4son-1.1
This confirms the NetHunter kernel installed successfully.
Final Result
After completing everything I had:
- rooted OnePlus 7 Pro
- OxygenOS 10
- NetHunter kernel installed
- Kali NetHunter apps running
- Kali chroot environment working
- USB OTG working
At this point the phone was fully running Kali NetHunter.