If you have access to an older version of Adobe Creative Suite (CS6 or earlier) or backup files from a previous Illustrator installation, you can manually import the legacy swatch libraries. Adobe Illustrator uses .ASE (Adobe Swatch Exchange) and .ACB (Adobe Color Book) file formats. Step 1: Locate Your Legacy Files
The officially supported way to download Pantone colors into Adobe Illustrator is through the Pantone Connect extension. How to Install Pantone Connect Open the application.
: Go to the Adobe Exchange and click Free Install to add the Pantone Connect plugin.
Pantone Connect is the official web-based platform and Adobe extension that allows you to access, download, and install the full Pantone color library directly into Illustrator. download pantone colors for illustrator
If you have access to an older version of Illustrator (v27.0 or earlier), you can manually move the color book files to the new version.
: Sign in to your account. While the free version allows basic color picking, a paid subscription (roughly $15/month) is required to unlock full libraries and the "Add to Swatches" feature. 2. Manual Restoration: Importing .ACB Files
Go to and select the PANTONE library you imported (e.g., PANTONE+ Solid Coated). Best Practices for Pantone Colors in Illustrator If you have access to an older version
Sign Up for Pantone Connect
Navigate to the top menu and select .
How to Download and Use Pantone Colors in Adobe Illustrator (2026 Guide) How to Install Pantone Connect Open the application
This change doesn't mean you can't use Pantone colors—it just means you need to choose a new method to do so.
Browse or search for specific color codes (e.g., PANTONE 18-1659 TPG).
Click to add the extension to your Creative Cloud account. Step 2: Access the Swatches