In the past, we’ve talked about several free tools designed for calculating hashes and generating checksum files. Most lack a plethora of features, and some have an ancient-looking user interface, which is problematic for some. With all of that in mind, we would like to discuss a new program known as PS Hash.
PS Hash calculates checksum & hashes of files
The idea behind it is to calculate hashes and checksums of files, and then compare the contents of those files by using a specialized algorithm. The tool will generate a checksum file, and from what we’ve gathered, it supports 30 of them. Some are .md5, .sha1, .sha256, and much more. Additionally, we like the fact that PS Hash is portable, therefore, no need to install a thing.
Let us look at this tool in more detail.
1] Select Files
The first thing you’ll want to do when using PS Hash is to select the required files and add them to the program. To get this done, click on Open, then search for the file(s) you want to add and select it. Alternatively, you could click on the button that says Select file(s).
Once the file has been added, you should now see a bunch of information below in the form of hashes. Beside each section is a copy button if you want to copy the hash to clipboard.
Read: What is the difference between Encryption and Hashing?
2] Calculate the selected file hash
Another way to add files and calculate the hash is to click on the button that says Processes. Right away a new window should appear with a list of apps and files on your Windows 10 computer. From the list, select the required file, then click on Calculate selected hash file.
That should do the trick, so go on ahead and copy the hash to the clipboard for future reference if that’s what you want.
3] Log
One cool aspect of PS Hash is the fact that it creates a log of all the files you’ve added. It means there is no need to add the same file a second time to gain access to the hash because its available in the log. Additionally, the ability is there to filter out certain files and only see the types you want.
For example, if you only want to see ZIP files, then in the filename box, type ZIP and only files with that container will show up.
4] Comparing files
The ability to compare two files is something PS Hash does very well. Simply add both files and allow the tool to compare the hashes. Folks can even compare using different algorithms in a bid to get the best results.
When the comparison is complete, the results should appear in the box below highlighted in green.
5] Shell integration
As we all know, Windows 10 has a context menu that supports the integration of third-party apps. PS Hash allows this, therefore, if the user feels the need to add a checksum to the context menu, then this can be done with ease.
Simply click on the gear icon, and from the new window, select the Shell Integration tab. From there, choose what is best to add to the context menu, hit Apply, then close the window and move on.
Download PS Hash from the official website.
Related Article: Best MD5 Hash Checker Tools for Windows 11/10.
