How to Configure Kali Linux to Display on a Waveshare 4.3” Display (Pi Edge)

If you’re running Kali Linux on a Raspberry Pi with a Waveshare 4.3-inch DSI or SPI display, you might find the screen remains blank after boot. This happens because Kali doesn’t have good Pi support to automatically configure X11 for DSI or framebuffer-based displays.

This short guide shows how to manually configure Kali so it correctly outputs video to the 4.3" Waveshare screen.

Requirements

• Raspberry Pi (tested with Pi 4 and Pi 5)

• Waveshare 4.3” display (Model C) connected via DSI or SPI

• Kali Linux (any recent build)

• SSH or HDMI monitor access for setup

Step 1: Access Your Kali Terminal

If your screen doesn’t display yet, connect via SSH or attach an external HDMI monitor to get visual and reach the terminal.

Step 2: Create or Edit the X11 Configuration File

Open the display configuration file by using this command:

Paste the following configuration:

Add the following content:

Section "Device"

    Identifier  "DSI"

    Driver      "fbdev"

    Option      "fbdev" "/dev/fb0"

EndSection

Section "Screen"

    Identifier "Screen0"

    Device     "DSI"

    DefaultDepth 24

    SubSection "Display"

        Depth 24

        Modes "800x480"
    EndSubSection

EndSection

Save and close the file by pressing:

CTRL + S → ENTER & CTRL + X (to close)

Step 3: Reboot Your Device

Restart your system to apply the changes:

After rebooting, your Waveshare 4.3” screen should display the Kali desktop at 800×480 resolution.

Notes & Tips

• The driver "fbdev" instructs X11 to use the framebuffer device /dev/fb0, which is the primary output for the Waveshare 4.3" display.

• If you still get a black screen, ensure the overlay for the display is enabled in /boot/config.txt.

• Built handhelds with requests to configure Kali will ship pre-configured.

Written by:
The Carbon Computers / CyberArch Team
🔗 carboncomputers.us