AutoCAD • Troubleshooting

AutoCAD Mac Plot Styles Not Showing (CTB/STB Fix)

by Rachid Khouri
7 min read

If you’re using AutoCAD on macOS and find that your plot styles—whether CTB (Color-Dependent Plot Style Tables) or STB (Named Plot Style Tables)—aren’t appearing in the Plot dialog box, you’re not alone. This is a common issue that can halt your printing or publishing workflow. Fortunately, it’s usually caused by a misconfigured plot style folder path or missing plot style files. In this guide, we’ll walk you through a complete, step-by-step solution to get your CTB and STB files showing up correctly in AutoCAD for Mac.

Why Plot Styles Might Not Appear in AutoCAD for Mac

AutoCAD relies on specific folder locations to locate plot style files. On macOS, these paths can sometimes become unlinked—especially after software updates, user profile changes, or if you’ve moved or renamed folders. Additionally, if your drawing is set to use the wrong plot style mode (color-dependent vs. named), the expected plot styles won’t show up.

Common causes include:

  • Incorrect or missing Plot Style Table Search Path
  • Drawing configured for the wrong plot style mode (CTB vs. STB)
  • Plot style files not copied to the correct Mac folder
  • Corrupted AutoCAD preferences
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Step-by-Step Fix: Restore Missing Plot Styles in AutoCAD for Mac

Step 1: Verify Your Drawing’s Plot Style Mode

AutoCAD drawings are set to use either CTB (color-dependent) or STB (named) plot styles—but not both at the same time.

  1. Open your drawing in AutoCAD for Mac.
  2. Type PSTYLEMODE in the command line and press Enter.
    • If it returns 1, your drawing uses CTB files.
    • If it returns 0, your drawing uses STB files.
  3. To switch modes (if needed), use the CONVERTPSTYLES command:
    • Type CONVERTPSTYLES and press Enter.
    • Follow the prompts to convert your drawing to the desired mode.

Note: Converting between modes may affect how your lineweights and colors print. Always back up your file first.

Step 2: Locate the Correct Plot Style Folder on macOS

AutoCAD for Mac stores plot style files in a specific user folder. The default location is:

~/Library/Application Support/Autodesk/AutoCAD 20XX/Rx.x/enu/Plotters/Plot Styles/

Replace 20XX with your AutoCAD version (e.g., 2024) and Rx.x with the release number (e.g., R24.3).

To access this folder:

  1. Open Finder.
  2. From the menu bar, click Go > Go to Folder… (or press Shift + Command + G).
  3. Paste the path above (adjusting for your version) and click Go.

 Tip: If you’re unsure of your exact version path, open AutoCAD > Preferences > Files tab > expand Printer Support File Path > Plot Style Table Search Path. This will show the active folder.

Step 3: Ensure Plot Style Files Are in the Correct Folder

  1. Check if your .ctb or .stb files are present in the Plot Styles folder from Step 2.
  2. If they’re missing:
    • Copy your CTB/STB files from a backup, another Mac, or Windows machine (they’re cross-platform compatible).
    • Paste them directly into the Plot Styles folder.
  3. Restart AutoCAD to refresh the plot style list.

Common default files like monochrome.ctb or Grayscale.stb should be included with your AutoCAD installation. If they’re missing, you may need to reinstall or restore them from Autodesk’s support site.

Step 4: Verify the Plot Style Search Path in AutoCAD Preferences

Even if files are in the right folder, AutoCAD must be told where to look.

  1. In AutoCAD for Mac, go to AutoCAD > Preferences (or Application Menu > Preferences).
  2. Click the Files tab.
  3. Expand Printer Support File Path.
  4. Expand Plot Style Table Search Path.
  5. Confirm the path matches the folder from Step 2.
    • If it’s incorrect or blank, click the + button to add the correct path.
  6. Click OK and restart AutoCAD.
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Step 5: Test Plot Styles in the Plot Dialog

  1. Open a drawing.
  2. Go to File > Plot (or type PLOT).
  3. In the Plot Style Table (Pen Assignments) section, click the dropdown menu.
  4. Your CTB or STB files should now appear.

If they still don’t show:

  • Try creating a new blank drawing and check if plot styles appear there. If they do, the issue may be isolated to your original file.
  • Ensure you’re not in Paper Space with a viewport that overrides plot styles (check viewport properties).

Advanced Troubleshooting

Reset AutoCAD Preferences (Last Resort)

Corrupted preferences can cause persistent issues. To reset:

  1. Quit AutoCAD.
  2. In Finder, go to ~/Library/Application Support/Autodesk/.
  3. Rename the folder for your AutoCAD version (e.g., AutoCAD 2024) to something like AutoCAD 2024 BACKUP.
  4. Relaunch AutoCAD—it will create fresh preferences.
  5. Re-add your plot style files to the new Plot Styles folder.

Warning: This resets all custom settings, tool palettes, and profiles. Only do this if other fixes fail.

Reinstall Plot Style Files from Autodesk

If default plot styles (like monochrome.ctb) are missing:

  1. Download the official plot style files from Autodesk Knowledge Network.
  2. Or copy them from a working Windows installation (located in C:\Users\[User]\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20XX\Rxx\enu\Plotters\Plot Styles\).
  3. Place them in your Mac’s Plot Styles folder.

Final Tips

  • Always keep backups of your custom CTB/STB files.
  • Use Named Plot Styles (STB) for more control over individual object plotting—especially in collaborative environments.
  • Avoid storing plot styles in cloud-synced folders (like iCloud or Dropbox) that may interfere with file paths.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why don’t my custom CTB files appear even after copying them to the Plot Styles folder?

AutoCAD for Mac only recognizes plot style files that are placed in the active Plot Style Table Search Path—not just any folder named “Plot Styles.” Double-check the exact path in Preferences > Files > Printer Support File Path > Plot Style Table Search Path. Also, ensure the files have the correct .ctb or .stb extension and aren’t hidden or locked by macOS permissions.

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Can I use Windows CTB files on AutoCAD for Mac?

Yes! CTB and STB files are platform-independent. You can safely copy .ctb or .stb files from a Windows machine and use them on AutoCAD for Mac, as long as they’re placed in the correct Plot Styles folder on your Mac.

My plot style dropdown is grayed out in the Plot dialog—what’s wrong?

This usually means your drawing is set to use named plot styles (STB), but you’re trying to select a CTB file (or vice versa). Check the drawing’s mode with the PSTYLEMODE command:

  • If PSTYLEMODE = 1, only CTB files are allowed.
  • If PSTYLEMODE = 0, only STB files are allowed.
    You cannot switch plot style types from the Plot dialog—you must convert the drawing using CONVERTPSTYLES.

Do I need to restart AutoCAD every time I add a new CTB file?

Not always, but it’s recommended. AutoCAD for Mac doesn’t always refresh the plot style list dynamically. If your new CTB/STB file doesn’t appear immediately after copying, try:

  • Closing and reopening the Plot dialog.
  • Switching layouts or opening a new drawing.
  • If still missing, restart AutoCAD to force a full reload of plot style tables.

Where can I download standard CTB files like “monochrome.ctb” if they’re missing?

Autodesk includes standard plot styles with every installation, but if they’re missing:

  • Reinstall AutoCAD (repair install).
  • Download them from the Autodesk Plot Style Resource Page.
  • Or copy them from another machine running AutoCAD (Windows or Mac)—they’re fully compatible.

Can I store plot styles in multiple folders and have AutoCAD recognize them all?

Yes. In Preferences > Files > Plot Style Table Search Path, you can add multiple folders using the + button. AutoCAD will scan all listed directories and merge their contents into the plot style dropdown menu. This is useful for organizing custom vs. company-wide plot styles.

Conclusion

Missing plot styles in AutoCAD for Mac are almost always due to incorrect file paths or mismatched plot style modes. By verifying your drawing’s mode, ensuring plot style files are in the correct macOS folder, and confirming AutoCAD’s search path, you can quickly restore full plotting functionality.

If you’ve followed all steps and still face issues, consider reaching out to Autodesk Support or checking the AutoCAD for Mac forums for version-specific help.

About the author

Rachid Khouri

Rachid Khouri

I’m Rachid Khouri, a CAD engineer, developer, and Autodesk Authorized Author with more than 30 years of experience using and teaching AutoCAD.
I’ve worked as a draftsman, CAD manager, and trainer for design offices and companies in Canada, and since 1999, I’ve been sharing my knowledge through in-person and online training.

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