---
title: "How to Create Checksums on Your Computer"
description: "Our article covering how to create checksums for files on your server apply to everyone using Linux as their local operating system (OS) as well. But Windows and Apple OS users would have to use..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/security/create-checksum-locally/
date: 2019-06-27
modified: 2022-06-22
author: "InMotion Hosting Contributor"
categories: ["Security"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# How to Create Checksums on Your Computer

Our article covering how to create [checksums for files on your server](/support/security/verify-checksums-ssh/) apply to everyone using Linux as their local operating system (OS) as well. But Windows and Apple OS users would have to use different steps.

Furthermore, *md5* and *sha1* [checksums](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/security/best-practices-for-using-checksums/) are still popular because they’re fast. But they’re now very insecure due to the possibility of a hash collision. This means its possible for two or more completely different files to produce the same hash.

This is why we recommend more secure hashing algorithms such as *sha224, sha256, sha384, and sha512* (least to most secure). Remember that creating a checksum doesn’t modify the file as you **create a file hash from your computer**.

**Note:** This is also more secure than online tools such as [VirusTotal.com](https://virustotal.com) as you’re not uploading files externally.

If you would prefer to not use the command line or SSH to create checksums, you can use [the GtkHash program](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/security/checksums-gtkhash/), which offers a convenient graphical user interface.

## Get a Checksum

1. Open your terminal Windows MacOS **PowerShell:** Open the folder with the file you’ll hash, click **File** and **Open Windows PowerShell** **Method 1:** Click Spotlight in the upper-right ( or press ⌘ + space) and type `Terminal` **Command Prompt:** Open the Start Menu, type `cmd`, and press Enter ↵. **Method 2:** Click **Go** in the menu bar, click **Utilities**, then **Terminal** Type `cd \Users\*your-username\Documents*` to reach your file directory. Type `dir` for current directory listing Type `cd *path-to-file-folder*` to [navigate to the file](/support/server/ssh/navigate-command-line/#navigate) if needed Type `ls` for current directory listing
2. Create the checksum Windows MacOS `certutil -hashfile *path-to-file* sha512` `shasum -a 512 *path-to-file*` *Replace 512* with your preferred algorithm – 256, 224, 384, etc.
3. Use the `echo` command to easily compare the two hashes Windows MacOS **PowerShell:** `echo *hash* ; echo *second-hash*` [![](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/checksum-powershell-text-150x150.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/checksum-powershell-text.png) **Command Prompt:** `echo *hash* && echo *second-hash*` [![](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/checksum-cmd-150x150.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/checksum-cmd.png) `echo *hash* && echo *second-hash*` [![](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/checksum-mac-terminal-150x150.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/checksum-mac-terminal.png)

Get more security options such as [ClamAV scanner](/support/edu/cpanel/install-and-configure-clamav/) and [cpHulk](/support/edu/whm/enable-cphulk-brute-force-protection/) with our [VPS Hosting](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/vps-hosting).