Hashing runs as you type using your browser's native WebCrypto engine, so your text and files stay on your device and are never uploaded. Read the result as lower-case hex, upper-case hex or Base64, and paste a known checksum into the Verify box to confirm a download or a stored hash matches, without leaking anything to a server.
Free SHA-256 Hash Generator
Runs entirely in your browser - no upload, no sign-up.
Input
SHA-256 hash
Enter text or choose a file to hash
What is a SHA-256 hash generator?
A SHA-256 hash generator turns any text or file into a fixed 256-bit fingerprint, shown as 64 hexadecimal characters. The same input always produces the same digest, but the process is one-way, so you cannot recover the original from the hash. This tool computes it locally in your browser.
How to use
- 1Choose text or file. Switch to Text to hash a string, or File to hash a local file - both are processed in your browser.
- 2Enter your input. Type or paste the text, or pick a file. The SHA-256 hash updates the moment there is something to hash.
- 3Pick an encoding. Read the digest as lower-case hex, upper-case hex or Base64, then copy it with one click.
- 4Verify (optional). Paste an expected SHA-256 checksum into the Verify box to see an instant Match or No match verdict.
Who it's for
- Developers generating a SHA-256 digest to store as a checksum, cache key or content fingerprint.
- Anyone verifying a download by comparing the published SHA-256 checksum against the file they received.
- Security and DevOps work - confirming a config, artifact or release hasn't changed byte for byte.
- Learning and debugging - seeing exactly what SHA-256 produces for a given string or file.
FAQ
Is this SHA-256 tool free?
Yes - it's completely free with no sign-up and no limits. Every hash is computed in your browser, so you can generate as many as you like.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. Your text and any file you choose are hashed locally in your browser with the native WebCrypto API and never sent to a server, so even sensitive input stays private.
Can a SHA-256 hash be decrypted or reversed?
No. SHA-256 is a one-way hash, not encryption, so there is no key that turns the digest back into the original. Tools that claim to "decrypt" it are really just looking the value up in a table of precomputed hashes.
How long is a SHA-256 hash?
A SHA-256 digest is always 256 bits, which is 32 bytes. Written as hexadecimal that is 64 characters, and as Base64 it is 44 characters. The length never changes, no matter how large the input is.
Why does the same text sometimes give a different hash elsewhere?
Almost always because of encoding or hidden characters. A trailing newline, a space, or a different text encoding changes the input bytes and therefore the hash. This tool hashes your input as UTF-8, exactly as it appears in the box.
Is SHA-256 still secure?
Yes. SHA-256, part of the SHA-2 family, has no known practical collision or preimage attack and is widely used in TLS, Bitcoin and software signing. For password storage, use a slow algorithm like bcrypt or Argon2 instead - a raw SHA-256 is too fast.
Can I hash a file with this tool?
Yes. Switch to File mode and choose a file; it is read and hashed in your browser, so nothing is uploaded. The result matches the SHA-256 you would get from sha256sum or certutil on the same file.