'iostream' file not found Xcode

Question

Whenever I try to use Xcode 11 to build C++ programs and type in the line:

#include <iostream>

An error saying "'iostream' file not found shows up. The library I am using is libc++ and not libstdc++.

Other people dont seem to encounter this problem so I do not know what is going on.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    cout << "Hey, this really works!" << endl;
}

Is this a C or C++ project? What's the filename? Did you try to compile it in terminal with g++ FILE.cpp? — Thomas Sablik
– Thomas Sablik, Commented Oct 3, 2019 at 22:05
@ThomasSablik It is a C++ project and the filename is "abc.cpp". Yes, I tried running it in the terminal and it gave me no error. I compiled and executed the code on Xcode itself and it runs just fine, but the error doesn't seem to budge. — TheDarkLord
– TheDarkLord, Commented Oct 4, 2019 at 16:39

Rara dida · Accepted Answer · 2020-01-02 12:15:11Z

5

We encountered the same problem while using a C++ class with Objective-C wrapper.

While checking the build command we found Xcode was passing objective-c as the language for clang. On changing the Wrapper file extension to '.mm', XCode started passing language as objective-c++ and the error was gone.

answered Jan 2, 2020 at 12:15

Rara dida

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Comments

Kevis · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-23 14:29:06Z

3

Try to add header file path:

Build Settings -> Search paths ->System Header Search Paths

add:

/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Toolchains/XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/include/c++/v1/

edited Apr 23, 2020 at 14:29

answered Oct 18, 2019 at 4:09

Kevis

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1 Comment

Mychsmit Over a year ago

Whomever you are good sir this is the absolute fix!!! thank you!!!!!!!!!

Nick Martin · Accepted Answer · 2019-10-20 15:48:23Z

2

I was finally able to avoid this error, here's what I did.

Open terminal and enter: xcode-select --install
Use:

#include "/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/include/c++/v1/iostream"

instead of:

#include <iostream>

edited Oct 20, 2019 at 15:48

Nick Martin

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answered Oct 20, 2019 at 11:36

Aaditya Singh

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Comments

sabi · Accepted Answer · 2019-10-17 07:19:15Z

1

I ran in the terminal the following command:

xcode-select --install

At the end of the installation process, I quit and reopened Xcode, and the issue was gone.

answered Oct 17, 2019 at 7:19

sabi

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1 Comment

Cerniuk Over a year ago

Tried it on a lark as Xcode "system header search paths" seems broken. No joy through any side effect of installing, "system header search paths" still broken.

Anna Yashina · Accepted Answer · 2019-10-14 19:19:37Z

0

I encountered exactly the same problem. A lot of people did actually. I've tried reinstalling Xcode, but the error persisted. The only thing that helped is to update everything with brew update.

answered Oct 14, 2019 at 19:19

Anna Yashina

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Comments

Nimesh Neema · Accepted Answer · 2024-12-05 09:44:44Z

0

If you are still stuck after trying all the suggestions mentioned above(as I was :D), try these two commands, it worked for me:

sudo rm -rf /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools

xcode-select --install

First command removes all the contents/packages for CommandLineTools in Xcode package.

Second command reinstalls it.

edited Dec 5, 2024 at 9:44

Nimesh Neema

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answered Dec 4, 2024 at 16:06

Dheeraj Jha

1

Comments

Todd Ditchendorf · Accepted Answer · 2025-03-23 04:17:33Z

0

If you are experiencing this issue ('iostream' file not found or 'string' file not found or 'map' file not found) while building a macOS "Framework" in Xcode which contains C++ source files, try the following:

Select the Target for your Framework. Click on the "Build Settings" tab and search for "Defines Module". Turn this option to NO. That should fix the issue.

answered Mar 23 at 4:17

Todd Ditchendorf

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