Kali Linux kali-linux-default metapackage rollback fails after dist-upgrade

The goal is to return the kali-linux-default metapackage to an earlier version after a dist-upgrade in Kali Linux’s rolling release, while preserving overall system stability and tool set compatibility.

Kali Linux does not create an automatic snapshot or provide a built‑in command to downgrade the metapackage, so users must manually install an older version from the archive snapshot. This manual approach can encounter dependency mismatches, and any kernel or bootloader changes introduced by the upgrade are not reverted, which may leave the system in an inconsistent state. It is unclear whether installing an older metapackage version will satisfy all dependencies without removing or breaking existing packages.

• Does installing an older kali-linux-default version automatically resolve dependencies to match that version?
• What measures are needed to ensure kernel and bootloader remain compatible after a metapackage downgrade?
• Is there a risk of removing packages that are no longer present in the older snapshot?