Make sure a download is complete and genuine: calculate its SHA-256, SHA-1 or MD5 fingerprint and compare it with the one the publisher lists. Paste theirs and you get a clear match or no match.
File hash checker at a glance
| Price | Free, no sign-up, no watermark, no daily limit |
|---|---|
| Accepts | Any file |
| Largest file | 2 GB per file, several files at once |
| Where it runs | In your browser: files are never uploaded |
| Works on | Any modern browser on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and Linux |
| Send the result | Download it, or send it free with a link or by email (up to 20 GB) |
How to use the file hash checker
- Choose or drop the file or files to check.
- Keep SHA-256 ticked (add SHA-1 or MD5 if the site lists those).
- Paste the published hash to compare, if you have one.
- Press Calculate hashes; copy the values or save the checksum list.
What a hash tells you
A hash is a fingerprint calculated from every byte of a file. Change a single bit and the hash changes completely. When a software site, a colleague or a backup lists the SHA-256 of a file and yours matches, you have exactly the same file: not truncated by a broken download, not altered on the way.
SHA-256, SHA-1 or MD5?
| Type | Length | Use |
|---|---|---|
| SHA-256 | 64 characters | The standard today for downloads and integrity checks. |
| SHA-1 | 40 characters | Older software lists and Git; fine for spotting damage, not for security. |
| MD5 | 32 characters | Legacy checksums; detects accidental damage but can be forged. |
Paste any of them in the compare box: the type is recognised by its length, and spaces, colons and upper case are ignored.
Large files, calculated locally
Files are read in 4 MB slices in a background thread, so a 2 GB disk image is hashed without filling your memory, on a phone or a computer, at roughly 100 MB per second on a modern laptop. The files never leave your device. The checksum list uses the same “hash, two spaces, file name” format as sha256sum, so it can be checked later with sha256sum -c. Sending files you want the other side to check? Split file adds SHA-256 checksums automatically.
How this compares
| This tool | Online converters (e.g. ezyZip or CloudConvert) | Desktop apps (e.g. 7-Zip or WinRAR) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your file is uploaded | No | Yes, to their servers | No |
| Install or account | None | Account for some features | Install needed |
| Watermark or daily limits | None | Common on free plans | Depends on the app |
Plans of other services change; check their sites. More file tools.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check the SHA-256 of a file?
Add the file, keep SHA-256 ticked and press Calculate hashes. Paste the published value first to get a match or no-match answer.
The hash does not match. What now?
Download the file again, ideally from the official site. A mismatch means the file differs from the published one: incomplete, damaged or replaced.
Is there a size limit?
Files up to 2 GB each. They are read in pieces, so memory is not a problem.
Is the result the same as sha256sum or certutil?
Yes. It is the standard SHA-256, SHA-1 and MD5, identical to sha256sum, md5sum, certutil and Get-FileHash.
Are my files uploaded?
No. The hashes are calculated on your device.
Need to send a big file?
Send files up to 20 GB with a download link or by email. Free, no account needed, original quality.
Send large files free