File Hash Scanner
Calculate SHA-256, SHA-512, SHA-1, and MD5 checksums for any file. Verify downloads and detect tampering.
3,000+ files hashed
Drag & drop a file here, Ctrl+V to paste, oror
4 Algorithms
SHA-256, SHA-512, SHA-1, and MD5 calculated simultaneously.
Hash Verification
Paste an expected hash to instantly verify your file.
100% Private
Web Crypto API. Files never leave your device.
What hashes prove
A cryptographic hash is a unique digital fingerprint of a file. If even one byte changes — a single pixel edit, a metadata tweak, a re-save — the hash changes completely. Two files with the same SHA-256 hash are mathematically identical. This makes hashes essential for verifying file integrity, detecting tampering, and proving authenticity in legal, forensic, and compliance contexts. Hash values serve as immutable proof that a file hasn't been altered since the hash was recorded. Learn more in our file hash guide.
How to use it
Calculate the hash of an original file and record it — in a log, a database, or alongside the file. Later, hash the file again and compare the two values. If they match, the file hasn't been modified. All processing uses the browser's SubtleCrypto API — files never leave your device. The tool generates MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 hashes simultaneously so you can use whichever algorithm your workflow requires.
Professional use cases
Legal teams use file hashes to establish chain of custody for digital evidence — proving that a photo or document hasn't been altered since collection. Software developers verify downloaded packages against published checksums to detect corruption or tampering. Forensic investigators hash evidence files at the point of acquisition and again before analysis. Compliance teams verify that archived records remain unchanged over time.
Hash vs metadata check
Hashing verifies exact file identity — any change at all produces a different hash. Metadata analysis (via the Authenticity Checker or EXIF Checker) tells you what's inside the file: camera info, timestamps, software traces. Use hashing when you need binary proof that a file is unchanged. Use metadata analysis when you need to understand what happened to an image and whether it was edited.
File hashing is one of the most fundamental tools in digital forensics and data integrity verification. Unlike metadata checks that analyze content within a file, a hash treats the entire file as a single data stream and produces a fixed-length output that's practically impossible to reverse-engineer or forge. SHA-256 is the current standard for security-critical applications, while MD5 remains common for quick integrity checks despite known collision vulnerabilities. For photo-specific integrity workflows, start with a hash to confirm the file is unaltered, then use the Metadata Comparison tool to inspect field-level differences. Visit the photo forensics hub for a complete guide to digital evidence verification, or see the online hash calculator page for algorithm-specific details. For finding visually similar images that may differ at the binary level, use the Duplicate Scanner with perceptual hashing.