Free Online File Hash Calculator

1. Pick the algorithm — SHA-256 is the typical choice; MD5 and SHA-1 are for legacy compatibility.
2. Drop a file onto the upload area or click to pick one.
3. Copy the digest, or paste the expected value into the compare field to verify a match.
4. Switch algorithms at any time — the same file is re-hashed automatically.

Hashing a file gives you a short fixed-length fingerprint that changes completely if any byte of the file is modified. This is how software publishers prove the binary you downloaded is the binary they built — they publish the SHA-256 (or sometimes SHA-512) on their site and signed release notes, you hash the local copy, and the strings either match exactly or they don't.

The single-algorithm framing is useful when you already know which digest you need to match. Many project READMEs list only SHA-256, AWS S3 ETags often use MD5 for non-multipart objects, and some legacy installers still publish SHA-1. Switching algorithms on the same file in this tool is one click rather than re-uploading.

The compare field highlights match versus mismatch so you don't have to eyeball 64 or 128 hex characters by hand. Hashing runs entirely in your browser via the Web Crypto API for SHA-1/256/512, plus an inline implementation for MD5 (which Web Crypto deliberately omits to discourage its use). The file is never uploaded.