Select Windows > Swatches.
Last updated on
Feb 10, 2026
Learn how to replace, merge, or delete swatches in Adobe Illustrator to manage and streamline your color palette.
Replace a swatch
Hold Alt (Windows) or option (macOS) and drag the color or gradient from the Color panel or the Gradient panel to the Swatches panel, highlighting the swatch you want to replace.
Note
Replacing an existing color, gradient, or pattern in the Swatches panel globally changes objects in the file containing that swatch color with the new color, gradient, or pattern. The only exception is for a process color that doesn’t have the Global option selected in the Swatch Options dialog box.
Merge multiple swatches
Select Windows > Swatches.
Select two or more swatches and select Merge Swatches from the Swatches panel menu.
Delete swatches
Select Windows > Swatches.
Select one or more swatches and select Delete Swatch .
Select Yes in the Adobe Illustrator confirmation dialog box.
Note
When you delete a spot-color or global process-color swatch, a pattern, or gradient containing a spot or global process color, all objects painted with those colors are converted to the non-global process color equivalent.
