How to Identify a File's SHA-256 Hash for Security Applications

A secure hash algorithm (SHA)-256 hash may be required to exclude a file from an anti-virus or malware prevention application. This article discusses how to identify the SHA-256 hash for a file on Windows, macOS, or Linux.

Affected Operating Systems:

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux

Click Windows, macOS, or Linux for the process to identify the file's SHA-256 hash.

Windows

1. Right-click the Windows Start menu and then click Run.
   
2. In the Run UI, type cmd and then press OK.
   
3. In Command Prompt, browse to the location of the appropriate [FILENAME].
   Note: [FILENAME] = Name of file
4. Type CertUtil -hashfile [FILENAME] SHA256 and then press Enter.
   
   Note: The [FILENAME] that is used in the example may differ in your environment.
5. Record the file’s SHA-256 hash. In the example image, 5e71d4ffc3a0723b1bcca206fd14c0e217f6d9beb33a5b327ea251d3a54df5af is the file’s SHA-256.
   
   Note: The SHA-256 hash in the example image may differ in your environment.

macOS

1. Select Go, then Utilities, and then Terminal.
   
2. Double-click Terminal to launch the UI.
3. In Terminal, browse to the location of the appropriate [FILENAME].
   Note: [FILENAME] = Name of file
4. In Terminal, type sudo shasum -a 256 [FILENAME] and then press Enter.
5. Populate the Password for the account in use and then press Enter.
   
   Note: The [FILENAME] that is used in the example may differ in your environment.
6. Record the file’s SHA-256 hash. In the example image, 56429c53bff44bbf21527f0bf13a27bc20ceff42160d3170287af6d50da195623 is the file’s SHA-256.
   
   Note: The SHA-256 hash in the example image may differ in your environment.

Linux

1. Open Terminal.
   
2. In Terminal, browse to the appropriate [FILENAME].
   Note: [FILENAME] = Name of file
3. Type sudo sha256sum [FILENAME] and then press Enter.
4. Populate the password for the account in use and then press Enter.
   
5. Record the file’s SHA-256 hash. In the example image, 4167b599f36af0781b81563bd2179a6d35daa3145f0b6f99ac6d9ee1894b516a is the file’s SHA-256.
   
   Note: The [FILENAME] and SHA-256 hash in the example image may differ in your environment.