File Hash Generator (SHA-256, SHA-1)
Generate and check file hashes (MD5, SHA-256 and more) - free, no upload.
Your file is hashed inside this page using the browser's own crypto engine. It is never uploaded.
What this tool does
Choose a file to see its MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 hashes, then paste a published checksum to get an instant match or no-match result.
Computes MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 hashes of an entire file.
Uses the browser's native Web Crypto engine for the SHA family, the same cryptographic implementation used for HTTPS.
Checks a pasted hash against every computed value automatically and shows a clear match or no-match result, so you don't have to compare long strings by eye.
Lets you copy any single hash, or all of them at once, with one click.
Includes MD5 alongside the full SHA family, computed locally in pure JS since the browser only provides the SHA family natively.
How to use it
- Choose a file.
- Paste the hash published by the file's source into the compare field for an instant match check, or compare visually yourself.
- Copy any hash value with its Copy button, or copy all of them at once.
Why use this generator
A hash proves a download is intact and unaltered, and checking against a published value needs a tool. Computing several algorithms in your browser avoids command lines.
Why we built it
We built the file hash generator to include MD5 alongside the full SHA family, computed locally since the browser only offers SHA. Hash text with the hash generator and identify unknown files with the file type checker.
Handy alongside this: the File Size Converter (Bytes, KB, MB, GB) and the File Joiner.
Who this tool is for
- People verifying a download against a published checksum
- Developers and admins checking integrity
- Security learners
When to use it
- Verifying a download against a published checksum.
- Comparing two files.
- Checking integrity after transfer.
- Generating a fingerprint.
Why file hashes matter for downloads
A hash confirms a file wasn't corrupted or tampered with.
A cryptographic hash is a fixed-length fingerprint of a file's exact contents - changing even one byte produces a completely different hash. Software publishers often publish the expected hash alongside a download precisely so you can verify, after downloading, that you received exactly the file they intended and not a corrupted or substituted one. This tool computes that fingerprint for a file already on your device, so you can compare it directly - and does the comparison for you if you paste in the published value.
Why MD5 is included despite being broken
Being cryptographically broken and being useless for corruption-checking are two different things.
MD5 was broken as a security algorithm years ago - it's possible to deliberately construct two different files with the same MD5 hash, which makes it worthless for detecting intentional tampering by a capable attacker. But it's still the most commonly published checksum for plain download-integrity checks (accidental corruption, a failed transfer), where nobody is deliberately trying to fake a match, and many older or smaller software distributors still only publish an MD5 next to their download. This tool computes it for exactly that everyday case, never for anything security-sensitive - the SHA-256 or SHA-512 figures are the ones to trust when security actually matters.
What you give it, and what you get back
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Input | A file, and optionally an expected hash. |
| Output | MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512, with a match check. |
| Processing | In your browser. |
Issues you may run into
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Hash does not match | The file differs or the algorithm is not the same. | Compare with the same algorithm and re-download. |
| Big file is slow | It is read in full. | Wait or use a desktop tool. |
| MD5 is not secure | It is for integrity checks only. | Prefer SHA-256. |
Assumptions and limitations
- This tool doesn't fetch or know a file's "correct" published hash on its own - you still need to paste in or find the value the file's source published.
- MD5 is included only for everyday corruption-checking against legacy published checksums - it must never be relied on where a capable attacker might deliberately fake a match.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a file's SHA-256 hash for free?
Choose the file and its SHA-256 hash (along with MD5, SHA-1, SHA-384 and SHA-512) is shown instantly.
Why would I need a file's hash?
To verify a download matches the hash published by its source, confirming it wasn't corrupted or tampered with.
Does this support MD5?
Yes - MD5 is computed alongside the SHA family, though it should only be used for everyday corruption-checking, never anything security-sensitive, since it's cryptographically broken.
Can this tell me automatically if my file matches a published hash?
Yes - paste the published hash into the compare field and it's checked against every computed value automatically, with a clear match or no-match result.
Does file size affect how long this takes?
Very large files take longer, since the entire file is read into memory to compute the hash.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. Hashing happens entirely in your browser using its own built-in crypto engine and a local MD5 implementation.