Verify a PDF's SHA-256 Yourself: Windows, Mac and Linux
You do not need our tool to check a hash. These built-in commands compute SHA-256 on your own computer. Our hash checker does the same in your browser without uploading the file.
Not legal advice. This page is general information. Whether a court admits or relies on a chat is for the court; convokeep does not promise admission or any outcome. Ask a qualified lawyer about your case.
How do I do it on Windows?
In Command Prompt:
`` certutil -hashfile yourfile.pdf SHA256 ``
Microsoft Learn documents the syntax as hashfile InFile [HashAlgorithm] (opened 2026-10-29). In PowerShell you can use Get-FileHash yourfile.pdf -Algorithm SHA256 (Microsoft Learn's Get-FileHash page, opened 2026-10-29, lists the -Algorithm parameter).
How do I do it on Mac or Linux?
`` shasum -a 256 yourfile.pdf ``
On Linux, sha256sum yourfile.pdf also works. The Linux man page for sha256sum (man7.org) and a copy of the shasum man page (ss64.com, a third-party mirror) were opened 2026-10-29.
How do I compare?
Compare the 64 hexadecimal characters with the value you were given. Ignore upper or lower case and spaces. One different character means a different file.
Where is the PDF's hash?
A PDF cannot contain its own hash, so convokeep gives the PDF's hash in a separate .sha256.txt file. The integrity page inside the PDF carries the hash of the original export and the chat data.
What does a match mean?
The file is unchanged since the value was recorded. It does not show that nothing was deleted before the export or that the chat is genuine. See what a hash proves.
Why might a match fail?
Opening and re-saving the PDF, or a different download, can change the bytes. Compare against the original file.
Privacy
Reading the file, building the PDF and calculating hashes all happen in your browser. No chat or attachment is uploaded and there is no account. See the privacy policy and the disclaimer.
Related guides
- What a SHA-256 hash proves about a chat
- Chat PDF integrity hash
- Preparing chat evidence for your lawyer
- Export a WhatsApp chat for submission
Sources (checked 2026-10-29)
- Microsoft Learn, certutil: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/certutil (opened).
- Microsoft Learn, Get-FileHash: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.utility/get-filehash (opened).
- sha256sum(1): https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/sha256sum.1.html (opened). shasum: ss64 mirror of the man page, https://ss64.com/mac/shasum.html (opened; not Apple's own page).
Ready to try it?
Drop your exported chat file on the convokeep app for a free preview. The first 3 pages are free (watermarked, no integrity page); saving the full PDF is a one-time paid feature. No chat or attachment is uploaded: the file is read in your browser. To check later that a file is unchanged, use the hash checker.
This document was generated locally in the user's browser; no content was uploaded.