nh

Search for a package in Nixpkgs, limiting results

$ nh search [[-l|--limit]] [number] [name]

$ nh clean all [[-a|--ask]]

$ nh os build-vm [path/to/flake] [[-H|--hostname]] [host]

$ nh os test [path/to/flake] [[-H|--hostname]] [nixos]

$ nh home switch [path/to/flake] [[-c|--configuration]] [home]

$ nh darwin switch [path/to/flake] [[-H|--hostname]] [host]

$ nh completions [shell]

nh [options] [command]
- nh : start NetHunter CLI
- nh -r : start NetHunter CLI with root‑like privileges
- nh kex : launch KeX desktop session
- nh kex passwd : set KeX password
- nh kex stop : stop KeX session
- nh kex kill : kill all KeX sessions
- nh command : run command inside NetHunter
- nh -r command : run command as root inside NetHunter

-r
    Run the subsequent command or session with root‑like privileges inside the NetHunter chroot.

kex
    Start the KeX graphical desktop environment.

kex passwd
    Set or change the password required for KeX sessions.

kex stop
    Terminate the current KeX desktop session.

kex kill
    Force‑kill all active KeX sessions.

command
    Any shell command to be executed inside the NetHunter environment.

nh is the short alias for the nethunter command provided by Kali NetHunter. It launches the NetHunter environment – a Debian‑based chroot that runs on Android devices (typically via Termux) without requiring root privileges. Using nh you can execute any Linux command inside this isolated Kali environment, start the graphical KeX desktop, or obtain a root‑like session with the -r flag. The tool is aimed at penetration‑testing professionals who need a portable, on‑the‑go Kali setup while preserving the device’s warranty and avoiding system‑level modifications. nh simply forwards the arguments to the underlying nethunter script, so all options documented for nethunter are valid for nh as well.

Some Kali tools rely on kernel features unavailable on Android and may not work (e.g., certain wireless attacks). The environment runs in user space via proot, so performance is lower than a native installation. Regularly back up the NetHunter rootfs, as updates can occasionally corrupt the chroot.

NetHunter is offered in several editions (Rootless, Rooted, and Full) each providing different levels of integration, toolsets, and hardware support.

After installation run sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y, set a KeX password before first use, and back up the chroot with tar -cJf kali.tar.xz /data/data/com.termux/files/home/kali-arm64.

Kali NetHunter was introduced in 2015 as the official penetration‑testing platform for Android. The nethunter script was later given the convenient alias nh to simplify command entry on mobile keyboards. Over successive releases the tool added root‑less operation, KeX graphical support, and extensive package integration, making nh a common entry point for security professionals on the go.

nethunter(1), termux(1), sudo(1)