Tips to open PCH file

Can't open the PCH file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open PCH files as well as a list of programs that support PCH files.

PCH file extension

File Name Precompiled Header Format
File Category Developer Files

The PCH file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the PCH files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the PCH file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 1
  • 4
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is PCH file?

The file with the extension PCH is the Developer Files file type. Additionally, the Developer Files category contains 1205 of other files. Precompiled Header Format is supported by 2 operating systems. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Mac OS, Windows. It is recommended to use Apple Xcode to handle this file. This is a program created by Apple, Inc.. Alternatively, you can use 4 other programs. You can use Text editor, TextMate, Microsoft Visual Studio in case Apple Xcode cannot be used.

How to open PCH file?

The main problem with Precompiled Header Format is that the PCH file is incorrectly associated with programs. Thus, when you open PCH , the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the PCH file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Apple Xcode

An often overlooked issue is to make sure that Apple Xcode is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name Apple Xcode into the system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file PCH with Apple Xcode. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open PCH files.

Programs to open PCH file

Remember to download programs supporting PCH files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.

Step 2. Create association of Apple Xcode with PCH files

If, despite the installed application, the PCH file does not start in the Apple Xcode application, you must create a file association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Apple Xcode application as the default for handling the PCH file.

Step 3. Update Apple Xcode to the latest version

If, however, after binding Apple Xcode with Precompiled Header Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the Apple, Inc. website and install the latest version.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the PCH file

If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:

The PCH file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the PCH file. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our PCH file. Sometimes virus-infected PCH files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
Older version of PCH file may not always be supported by the latest software version. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
There can be many reasons for this. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular PCH file corruption. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting N/A, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted PCH files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. If possible, you can try to move the PCH file to another location.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. In this case, the PCH file is blocked by the first application to open it. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file PCH to close. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the PCH file for a certain period of time. If the problem persists, restart the machine.