Xcode opens xib File as regular text file

Question

I have a Xcode project with .xib file. When I try to open them Xcode shows the plain text of these file, it does not show the Interface Builder Interface.

How can I make Xcode to show me what I want?

I have already cleaned the project and restarted my computer. Didn't help.

Please help me this.

Answer 1

Xcode 13, Xcode 14 (and maybe 11 and 12?)

The problem is that you are in ‘Code Review’ mode. Xcode has a button to toggle Code Review mode in the top right corner of the editor pane. It is an arrow pointing rightward above and arrow pointing leftward:

You can click the button to turn Code Review off:

You can also disable Code Review using the View > Hide Code Review menu item, which has the default shortcut ⌥⇧⌘⏎ (option shift command return).

Xcode 9 and Earlier

The problem is that you have the version editor selected.

Xcode 6: … Xcode 9:

The version editor can only display source code. It can't display a xib graphically. You need to switch to the standard editor. Here are three ways to switch to the standard editor:

• Press Command-Return.

• Go to the menu bar and choose View > Standard Editor > Show Standard Editor.

• Click the leftmost button in the “Editor” segmented control in the toolbar:

Xcode 6: … Xcode 9:

Answer 2

On the .xib file in the list of files, you can right-click and select Open As... and choose Source Code or Interface Builder.