Get-FileHash

Get-FileHash [-Algorithm {SHA1 | SHA256 | SHA384 | SHA512 | MACTripleDES | MD5 | RIPEMD160}] -InputStream* <Stream>[<CommonParameters>]

Get-FileHash [-Algorithm {SHA1 | SHA256 | SHA384 | SHA512 | MACTripleDES | MD5 | RIPEMD160}] -LiteralPath*<String[]> [<CommonParameters>]

Get-FileHash [-Path*] <String[]> [-Algorithm {SHA1 | SHA256 | SHA384 | SHA512 | MACTripleDES | MD5 | RIPEMD160}][<CommonParameters>]

The Get-FileHash cmdlet computes the hash value for a file by using a specified hash algorithm. A hash value is a unique value that corresponds to the content of the file. Rather than identifying the contents of a file by its file name, extension, or other designation, a hash assigns a unique value to the contents of a file. File names and extensions can be changed without altering the content of the file, and without changing the hash value. Similarly, the file's content can be changed without changing the name or extension. However, changing even a single character in the contents of a file changes the hash value of the file.

The purpose of hash values is to provide a cryptographically-secure way to verify that the contents of a file have not been changed. While some hash algorithms, including MD5 and SHA1, are no longer considered secure against attack, the goal of a secure hash algorithm is to render it impossible to change the contents of a file-either by accident, or by malicious or unauthorized attempt-and maintain the same hash value. You can also use hash values to determine if two different files have exactly the same content. If the hash values of two files are identical, the contents of the files are also identical.

By default, the Get-FileHash cmdlet uses the SHA256 algorithm, although any hash algorithm that is supported by the target operating system can be used.

Parameters

-Algorithm <String>

Default value is None
Accepts pipeline input False

Specifies the cryptographic hash function to use for computing the hash value of the contents of the specified file. A cryptographic hash function includes the property that it is not possible to find two distinct inputs that generate the same hash values. Hash functions are commonly used with digital signatures and for data integrity. The acceptable values for this parameter are:

- SHA1

- SHA256

- SHA384

- SHA512

- MACTripleDES

- MD5

- RIPEMD160

If no value is specified, or if the parameter is omitted, the default value is SHA256.For security reasons, MD5 and SHA1, which are no longer considered secure, should only be used for simple change validation, and should not be used to generate hash values for files that require protection from attack or tampering.

-InputStream <Stream>

This value is required
Default value is None
Accepts pipeline input False

Specifies the input stream.

-LiteralPath <String[]>

This value is required
Default value is None
Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies the path to a file. Unlike the Path parameter, the value of the LiteralPath parameter is used exactly as it is typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcard characters. If the path includes escape characters, enclose the path in single quotation marks. Single quotation marks instruct Windows PowerShell not to interpret characters as escape sequences.

-Path <String[]>

This value is required
Default value is None
Accepts pipeline input False

Specifies the path to one or more files as an array. Wildcard characters are permitted.

<CommonParameters>

This cmdlet supports the common parameters: Verbose, Debug,ErrorAction, ErrorVariable, WarningAction, WarningVariable,OutBuffer, PipelineVariable, and OutVariable.

Inputs

System.String

You can pipe a string to the Get-FileHash cmdlet that contains a path to one or more files.

Outputs

Microsoft.Powershell.Utility.FileHash

Get-FileHash returns an object that represents the path to the specified file, the value of the computed hash, and the algorithm used to compute the hash.

Examples

Compute the hash value for a PowerShell.exe file:
```
PS C:\> Get-FileHash $pshome\powershell.exe | Format-List
Algorithm : SHA256
Hash      : 6A785ADC0263238DAB3EB37F4C185C8FBA7FEB5D425D034CA9864F1BE1C1B473
Path      : C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
```
This command uses the Get-FileHash cmdlet to compute the hash value for the Powershell.exe file. The hash algorithm used is the default, SHA256. The output is piped to the Format-List cmdlet to format the output as a list.
Compute the has value for an ISO file:
```
PS C:\> Get-FileHash C:\Users\Andris\Downloads\Contoso8_1_ENT.iso -Algorithm SHA384 | Format-List

   Algorithm : SHA384
   Hash      : 20AB1C2EE19FC96A7C66E33917D191A24E3CE9DAC99DB7C786ACCE31E559144FEAFC695C58E508E2EBBC9D3C96F21FA3
   Path      : C:\Users\Andris\Downloads\Contoso8_1_ENT.iso
```
This command uses the Get-FileHash cmdlet and the SHA384 algorithm to compute the hash value for an ISO file that an administrator has downloaded from the Internet. The output is piped to the Format-List cmdlet to format the output as a list.

Compute the hash value of a stream and compare the procedure with getting the hash from the file:


   directly
    >$testfile = "C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe"
   ## open $testfile as a stream
   $testfilestream = [System.IO.File]::Open(
       $testfile,
       [System.IO.FileMode]::Open,
       [System.IO.FileAccess]::Read)
   $hashFromStream = Get-FileHash -InputStream $testfilestream -Algorithm MD5
   $testfilestream.Close()
   $hashFromFile = Get-FileHash -Path $testfile -Algorithm MD5
   ## check both hashes are the same
   if(($hashFromStream.Hash) -ne ($hashFromFile.Hash)) {
       Write-Error "Get-FileHash results are inconsistent!!"
   }
   else {
       Write-Output "Results from File:"
       Write-Output "=================="
       $hashFromFile | Format-List
       Write-Output " "
       Write-Output "Results from Stream:"
       Write-Output "===================="
       $hashFromStream | Format-List
   }
   Results from File:
   ==================
   Algorithm : MD5
   Hash      : 097CE5761C89434367598B34FE32893B
   Path      : C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
   Results from Stream:
   ====================
   Algorithm : MD5
   Hash      : 097CE5761C89434367598B34FE32893B
   Path      :
    >

Additional Notes

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. It is attributed to Microsoft Corporation and can be found here.

PowerShell Commands