What is a .QTCH file?
The .QTCH file extension is used for a QuickTime Cache File. This type of file is created by QuickTime, which is a program used to play media like music and videos on Mac computers (and it used to work on Windows computers too). When you watch or listen to something on the internet using QuickTime, it saves a temporary copy of that audio or video file on your computer. This temporary copy is the .QTCH file. It's like saving a little piece of the internet on your computer so QuickTime can load it faster next time.
If you have a .QTCH file and you want to open it, you can do so using the QuickTime Player. However, there's a trick to it. You need to change the .QTCH file extension to the original file type it was before it became a cache file. For example, if the original file was a .MP3 music file or a .MOV video file, you change the .QTCH extension to .MP3 or .MOV. But, there's an important Note: this only works if the .QTCH file was made by an older version of QuickTime, specifically version 6.5 or earlier.
Starting with QuickTime version 7, things changed. The program began scrambling the beginning part of the .QTCH files. This scrambling means that you can't just change the file extension and expect it to work. The file won't play because the data that tells QuickTime how to read the file is all mixed up.
So, if you have a .QTCH file, your best bet to open it is with the QuickTime Player, but remember the limitations based on which version of QuickTime created the file. If it's a newer version (7 or later), you might not be able to open the file by simply changing its extension.
Verification
Our goal is to help people find the most up-to-date information about file extensions for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. We researched over 10,000 file extensions and their respective programs that open those files. If you want to suggest edits or updates about .QTCH file formats, example files, or programs that are compatible. Please contact us.