| Issue | Common Causes | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Horizontal Lines | Driver incompatibility, Screen Tearing | Update Kernel & Drivers |
| Screen Flickering | Incorrect Refresh Rate | Adjust Display Settings |
| Visual Artifacts | GPU Hardware issues / X11 Config | Enable “TearFree” in X11 |
What is Kali Linux horizontal lines on screen?
Kali Linux horizontal lines on screen is a visual glitch typically characterized by flickering, screen tearing, or persistent static lines across the display. This issue often occurs on systems using specialized penetration testing tools that require specific graphic rendering.
Most cases of horizontal lines in Kali Linux are not hardware failures. Instead, they are usually software-related issues stemming from outdated display drivers, incorrect X11 configuration files, or mismatched monitor refresh rates.
Step-by-Step Solutions
1. Update and Upgrade Kali Linux
The first step is ensuring your system has the latest patches. Kernel updates often include fixes for display controller bugs that cause horizontal lines.
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y
reboot2. Fix Screen Tearing (Intel Graphics)
If you are using an Intel GPU, horizontal lines are often caused by disabled “TearFree” rendering. You can fix this by creating a custom X11 configuration file.
sudo mkdir -p /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.confAdd the following lines to the file:
Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Graphics"
Driver "intel"
Option "TearFree" "true"
EndSection3. Adjust the Refresh Rate
Using a refresh rate that your monitor does not natively support can cause flickering horizontal lines. You can check and set your refresh rate via the terminal.
xrandrLook for your display name (e.g., eDP-1) and the supported rates. To set it to 60Hz, use:
xrandr --output eDP-1 --mode 1920x1080 --rate 60.004. Reinstall Nvidia Drivers (If Applicable)
If you are using an Nvidia GPU, the default “nouveau” drivers may cause visual artifacts. Installing the proprietary drivers usually resolves the horizontal line issue.
sudo apt install -y nvidia-driver nvidia-xconfig
sudo nvidia-xconfig
reboot5. Disable Hardware Acceleration in Browser
If the lines only appear while using Firefox or Chromium in Kali, hardware acceleration might be the culprit. Go to the browser settings, search for “Performance,” and uncheck “Use hardware acceleration when available.”