hashID / hash-identifier — Install, Use, Optimise (2026)

Identify what algorithm produced a given hash — saves you from running 5 wrong hashcat modes.

Installation

Pick the install method that matches your stack. The Docker option is the cleanest for one-off scans where you don’t want to pollute your workstation.

pipx

pipx install hashID

Linux (apt)

sudo apt install hashid

Core commands

The handful of invocations you’ll actually run on 90% of engagements:

Identify single hash

hashid "5f4dcc3b5aa765d61d8327deb882cf99"

From file

hashid hashes.txt

Show john modes

hashid -j hashes.txt

Show hashcat modes

hashid -m hashes.txt

Performance optimisation

What separates a junior who runs the default invocation from a practitioner who knows the knobs:

• Tiny tool, instant results.
• For multi-hash files, use -m output to feed directly into hashcat: hashid -m hashes.txt | grep -E "^Mode" | head -1.

Common pitfalls

Real failure modes that bite people on engagements. Most are recoverable; a few are reputation-damaging.

• Many hash formats are visually identical (MD5 vs LM, SHA-256 vs SHA3-256). Tool returns multiple candidates — manually pick.
• Modern modes (KeePass4, MetaMask) sometimes missing — check hashcat -h for the exhaustive list.

Modern alternatives in 2026

The ecosystem moves fast. These are tools you should at least be aware of:

• hash-identifier — older Python tool, fewer modes.
• Name-That-Hash — Rust, prettier output.

India context and engagement notes

A 30-second tool that saves hours. Always run hashID before hashcat — wrong mode = silently incorrect cracking.

⚖️ Legal: Use only on systems you own or have explicit written authorisation to test. In India, unauthorised access is punishable under Section 66 of the IT Act, 2000 (up to 3 years imprisonment + fine). Pair every engagement with a signed Statement of Work or Rules of Engagement before running anything from this page.