How to use the File Hash Checker (SHA-256, MD5)
- 1. Choose a file or textPick the file you downloaded, or type text to hash.
- 2. Paste the expected hashOptional: copy the checksum from the official download page.
- 3. CompareSee all hashes and a clear match or no-match result.
Why checksums matter
A cryptographic hash turns any file into a short fingerprint. Change a single byte and the fingerprint changes completely. Software publishers list the SHA-256 of their downloads so you can confirm the file you got is exactly the one they released, not a corrupted or tampered copy.
Example: the text hello (five bytes, no new line) has the SHA-256 2cf24dba5fb0a30e26e83b2ac5b9e29e1b161e5c1fa7425e73043362938b9824 and the MD5 5d41402abc4b2a76b9719d911017c592. Typing "Hello" with a capital H gives completely different values.
How this checker works
- SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512 and SHA-1 come from your browser's built-in Web Crypto API.
- MD5 is computed by a small script on this page and was tested against Node.js's own MD5 on random data.
- Nothing is uploaded. The file is read into memory in this tab only, which is why the limit is 500 MB.
- Comparison ignores capital letters, spaces and colons, and tells you which algorithm matched.
MD5 and SHA-1 are broken for security: attackers can create two different files with the same hash. They still catch accidental corruption, but use SHA-256 or SHA-512 when you need to trust a file. A hash proves the file matches the published value; it does not prove the publisher is honest, so get the checksum from the official site over HTTPS. On your computer, sha256sum file (Linux), shasum -a 256 file (macOS) or certutil -hashfile file SHA256 (Windows) give the same result. Identify an unknown hash with the hash identifier.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my text hash differ from another site?
Hidden characters matter. A trailing new line or a different encoding changes the hash. This tool hashes exactly what you type as UTF-8.
Can I hash a folder?
No. Zip the folder first and hash the zip, or hash each file separately.
Is the File Hash Checker (SHA-256, MD5) free?
Yes, the File Hash Checker (SHA-256, MD5) is free. The first time you calculate your first hash, you are asked for your name and WhatsApp number once. After that, this and every other Uncodemy tool opens straight away without the form.