# How to Open an ASE Color Palette on Mac

Updated: November 12, 2026

Simple Color Palette: Price: Free. Platforms: macOS, iOS, visionOS. Get it from: [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6744484427). Requires macOS, iOS, or visionOS 26 or later. Free older versions for macOS 15: [download](https://sindresorhus.com/simple-color-palette#older-versions).

URL: https://sindresorhus.com/guides/open-ase-file-mac

Drop the `.ase` file on the Dock icon of the free [Simple Color Palette](https://sindresorhus.com/simple-color-palette) app, or choose “File › Import Palettes…” in it. The app shows the colors, and you can copy their values. macOS cannot open ASE files without an app.

An ASE file (Adobe Swatch Exchange) is a color palette, like one from Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or a palette website like [Coolors](https://coolors.co). macOS has no app that opens it.

## With Simple Color Palette

1. Open [Simple Color Palette](https://sindresorhus.com/simple-color-palette), and choose “File › Import Palettes…”.
1. Select one or more `.ase` files. You can also drop the files on the Dock icon of the app instead.
1. Save the palette. The app converts it to a `.color-palette` file, and opens it.
1. To copy the value of a color, right-click it, and choose a format below “Copy As…”, like RGB or Hex.

“File › Open” does not show `.ase` files, as it only opens `.color-palette` files. Use “Import Palettes…” instead.

- To add the colors of an `.ase` file to a palette that is open, drop the file on the window of the palette.
- The app also imports Color List (`.clr`) files, the palettes of the macOS color picker.
- Press Space on a `.color-palette` file in Finder to see its colors with Quick Look.

## Without an app

macOS cannot open ASE files. If you have an Adobe app, like Illustrator or Photoshop, you can load the file in its Swatches panel.