I create a project with ARC support using the Xcode project wizard. Compared with a program without ARC support, I did not notice any differences. Is there any hint that can tell me if my program supports ARC?

I am using XCode 4.2.1 Build 4D502
['https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/11380533', 'https://Stackoverflow.com', 'https://Stackoverflow.com/users/705414/']
You can use `__has_feature`, maybe logging whether the project has ARC in the console like this:

```
#if __has_feature(objc_arc)
    // ARC is On
    NSLog(@"ARC on");

#else
    // ARC is Off
    NSLog(@"ARC off");

#endif

```

Alternatively, instead of just logging whether ARC is on, try making the compiler raise an error if ARC is on (or off) like this:

```
#if  ! __has_feature(objc_arc)
    #error This file must be compiled with ARC. Use -fobjc-arc flag (or convert project to ARC).
#endif

```
If you just want to know one time if your project has ARC, I suggest using jpalten's answer. If you want your code to only build with ARC on, I suggest qegal's.

However, if you want to know where in Xcode the setting lives:

1. Select your project in the navigator. This will open the project editor.
2. In the project editor, select your target.
3. In the project editor, click Build Settings (if it isn't already selected).
4. In the project editor, click the search box and type `OBJC_ARC`.

This will leave a single line showing in Build Settings, either **Objective-C Automatic Reference Counting** or **CLANG\_ENABLE\_OBJC\_ARC** (depending on whether you're showing setting descriptions or names). If it's set to YES, you have ARC on.

This is your target's pick of whether ARC is used. Note that each **file** can be compiled with a different setting. This is **not** what you asked, but since we already have three answers I thought I'd head off a possible fourth. :)

To see which files override the ARC setting:

1. Select your project in the navigator. This will open the project editor.
2. In the project editor, select your target.
3. In the project editor, click **Build Phases** (not Build Settings).
4. Expand the **Compile Sources** build phase.

Here, you can see the compiler flags for each file. Files with that set whether or not to use ARC will include either **-fno-objc-arc** or **-fobjc-arc**, for specifying MRR or ARC respectively.