Network Manager is a Linux utility that manages your network settings on your system. It is called the heart of networking since it allows you to manage wired links, Wi-Fi connections, and virtual interfaces. It acts as a communication bridge between your system and the Internet. To keep your system connected with the Internet, you must ensure that Network Manager is running on your system. However, while working on the Kali Linux system, especially running the system on Android, the user may encounter NetworkManager is not running error. This error prevents users from performing Internet related tasks, such as updating repositories, installing packages and other such tasks.
Fear not, in this guide, you will learn:
- Why NetworkManager is not running Error Occurs in Kali Linux
- How to Fix NetworkManager is not running on Kali Linux
- Conclusion
Why NetworkManager is not running Error Occurs in Kali Linux
When you run the Kali Linux system, you may see the error NetworkManager is not running on your system:
The NetworkManager is not running error occurs on Kali Linux because of several reasons, such as:
- Missing or outdated Network Manager on Kali Linux
- Systemd Issues
- Incorrect Configuration Settings for Network Manager
- Hardware Issue
- Virtualization Tool Issue
How to Fix NetworkManager is not running on Kali Linux
To fix the NetworkManager is not running on Kali Linux, you can:
- Start Network Manager on Kali Linux
- Upgrade Network Manager on Kali Linux
- Modify resolv.conf File
- Reinstall Network Manager on Kali Linux
- Switch Network Adapter in the Virtualization Tool
How to Fix NetworkManager is not running on Kali Linux by Starting Network Manager
By default, the Network Manager service is enabled on your Kali Linux system that manages your network related tasks. However, if you encounter the NetworkManager is not running error, this could be because you may have accidentally disabled the Network Manager service on your system. You can run the following systemctl command to first check the Network Manager service on your system:
Then run the below-given command to start Network Manager service on Kali Linux:
Once, the service is started, run the status command again to ensure the Network Manager service is active (running) on your system:
You can also enable the Network Manager on your Kali Linux system from the following command to ensure that it will start automatically even if your system reboots.
How to Fix NetworkManager is not running on Kali Linux by Upgrading Network Manager
Sometimes, the problem NetworkManager is not running on Kali Linux may occur because of some recent changes to the system or the utility requires upgradation. Thus, it is better to update NetworkManager on Kali Linux by simply running the below–given command:
How to Fix NetworkManager is not running on Kali Linux by Modifying resolv.conf File
The resolv.conf file is a configuration file placed in your system folder that contains information about your DNS servers and the search domains used by your system. Since, the Network Manager also manages the DNS settings as it updates the file with the DNS settings from your active connection on Kali Linux. Thus, the problem can arise because of the issue in the configuration file. You can fix the problem NetworkManager is not running on Kali Linux by using the following steps:
Step 1: Login to Terminal as Root
First, access the terminal as a root by running the following command:
Step 2: Remove the resolv.conf File
Then remove the default resolv.conf file from Kali Linux through the below-given command:
Step 3: Modify the File
Now, create a new resolv.conf file and add the DNS related information, this can be done with the following single command:
Step 4: After you have added the information, you can save the configuration file by pressing the CTRL+X buttons, then adding Y and pressing the Enter button to exit.
Step 5: Reboot the System
For the changes to be made, ensure rebooting your Kali Linux system from the sudo reboot command.
Note: The above method will also help users in fixing the issue while running Kali Linux on Android, where you will not be able to run commands at the terminal.
How to Fix NetworkManager is not running on Kali Linux by Reinstalling Network Manager
If you are still encountering the NetworkManager is not running error on Kali Linux, you can try reinstalling the Network Manager on your system. It will help remove the previous Network Manager and install a fresh one, which might fix the issue.
How to Fix NetworkManager is not running on Kali Linux with Virtualization Tool
Sometimes the users running the Kali Linux on Virtualization tool like VirtualBox may encounter NetworkManager is not running error because of the conflicts with the host network settings. If that is the case, you can try using the following steps to fix the NetworkManager is not running on Kali Linux with VirtualBox:
Step 1: First, open VirtualBox, right-click on the Kali Linux Virtual Machine and navigate to Settings:
Step 2: Then move towards the Network option and choose Bridged Adapter if NAT is not working and vice versa. Sometimes, NAT networks may cause issues so switching to Bridged Adapter can fix the issue. The reason is when you change the mode to Bridged Adapter, it allows the host machine DHCP server to assign the IP address to the system that can run the Network Manager automatically.
Note: The above method may fix the issue if the problem doesn’t lie inside the Network Manager itself, like corrupted configuration files or settings.
If you are still encountering issues, try installing a fresh operating system from scratch.
Conclusion
The NetworkManager not running is an error that occurs on the Kali Linux system, which prevents you from performing internet related activities like updating or installing packages on the system. The ideal way to fix the issue is to check for Network Manager status and start it in case it is not working. Besides that, you can also upgrade Network Manager or modify resolv.conf file to fix the issue. If you are using Kali Linux on VirtualBox, then you can switch to Bridged Adapter in place of NAT to fix the issue. If the problem is still unsolved, then reinstalling the operating system from scratch is the only way left.
By day, I am an engineer and researcher, building bridges and figuring out how the universe works. But when the clock strikes five, I turn into a wordsmith!
I write about my adventures on my blog, sharing tips and tricks to help others join the tech fun. I have worked on Raspberry Pi, Ubuntu, Debian, and Laptops. Right now, I have accepted the challenge of working on the Kali Linux system, and with my vast expertise in Linux systems, I will help users overcome the challenges through my blogs.
