How to check the checksum on Windows, Linux, and macOS

Verifying file integrity is a fundamental practice in computer security . Whether you're downloading software from the internet or transferring files between computers, ensuring they haven't been modified is crucial. This is achieved using hash algorithms , which generate a unique checksum for each file.

In this article, we are going to explain how to check the checksum on Windows, Linux, and macOS using built-in tools and external programs. You'll learn how to use commands like certutil in Windows and sha256sum on Linux and macOS, as well as advanced options to ensure the integrity of your files. If you're interested in knowing how to check the hotspot usage of Android, you can consult our related guide.

What is a checksum and why is it important?

Checksums, also known as hashes , are alphanumeric strings generated by algorithms such as MD5, SHA-1, or SHA-256 that allow you to verify the integrity of a file. If even a single bit in the file changes, the resulting checksum will be completely different.

This is useful in multiple scenarios:

• Check downloaded files: Ensures that the file has not been modified by an attacker.
• Security check: Ensures that software has not been altered with malicious code.
• Digital Forensics: Allows you to verify that a file has not changed since its creation.

How to Check the Checksum in Windows

Windows includes native tools for generating and verifying checksums. The main options are certutil y Get-FileHash in PowerShell. If you'd like to learn more about managing your hard drive size, we have resources that can help you.

Using CertUtil

The command certutil allows you to easily generate the checksum of a file:

certutil -hashfile C:\ruta\al\archivo.ext SHA256

This command will display the SHA-256 hash of the file. You can change the algorithm by replacing SHA256 by MD5 o SHA1.

Using PowerShell

If you prefer to use PowerShell, you can run the following command:

Get-FileHash C:\ruta\al\archivo.ext -Algorithm SHA256

This will generate the checksum using SHA-256. By the way, if you've been wondering how to activate Windows 10 using CMD , we also have an excellent guide on that.

How to Check the Checksum on Linux and macOS

In systems based on Unix Like Linux and macOS, checksum verification is done with the commands md5sum, sha1sum o sha256sum.

Verify the SHA-256 sum

To calculate the hash of a file, use the following command:

sha256sum /ruta/al/archivo

If the hash obtained matches the one published by the developer, it means the file is authentic. If you're experiencing issues with the operating system on Android, we recommend reviewing our methods for troubleshooting DNS-related errors.

Verify using OpenSSL

You can also use OpenSSL to calculate the checksum:

openssl sha256 /ruta/al/archivo

Third-party tools for hash verification

There are several tools with graphical interfaces to quickly calculate and compare checksums:

• QuickHash: Available for Windows, Linux and macOS, it allows you to calculate and compare file hashes.
• Hash My Files: Portable Windows tool that allows you to calculate different types of hashes.
• OpenHashTab: Integrates with Windows Explorer to quickly view and compare hashes.

Ensuring the authenticity of the files you download or transfer is easy if you use the right tools. Windows, Linux, and macOS all have built-in commands for calculating checksums without the need for additional software. For a more visual approach, you can also use third-party tools that simplify the process. If you're interested, you can also learn more about how to prevent FaceTime from lowering the volume on your iPhone.