Export integrity · SHA-256
A checksum can reveal a changed file—not prove the whole story.
Available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
What a matching checksum means
SHA-256 transforms the bytes of a file into a fixed-length value. If a later copy produces the same value, that is strong evidence that the compared bytes are identical to the file used for the original checksum. Even a small byte change normally produces a different value.
The filename can change without altering file bytes, but editing, re-exporting, recompressing, or changing embedded metadata may create a new checksum. Compare the exact intended file, not a screenshot or a file opened and saved again.
What it does not mean
A checksum created after an incorrect or incomplete capture faithfully identifies that incorrect or incomplete file. Integrity after creation is not the same as truth about the source.
Keep a simple verification note
Record the export filename, creation date, checksum algorithm, full checksum value, storage location, and who performed the comparison. If a recipient has a formal evidence or chain-of-custody process, follow it. TextTrace’s sidecar is a practical integrity aid, not a certification or legal conclusion.
Questions, answered precisely
Frequently asked questions
Does a matching SHA-256 prove the messages are authentic?
No. It supports that the compared file bytes match. Authorship, source completeness, collection method, and authenticity require separate evidence and process.
Why did the checksum change after I opened the file?
Opening alone may not change it, but saving, editing, re-exporting, recompressing, or metadata changes can alter bytes. Compare an unchanged copy of the exact export.
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Continue with a practical guide
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Prepare messages for your attorney to review.
Start with the scope the reviewer needs. Keep the source, preserve surrounding context, check extracted wording, and hand over a readable file through an approved channel.
6 min · Updated 2026-09-05→TextTrace
Turn the conversation into something you can use.
Import it. Check it. Search it. Export the format your next step needs.