diff --git a/common/settings/color_settings.cpp b/common/settings/color_settings.cpp
index b3e89c8272..50a975a111 100644
--- a/common/settings/color_settings.cpp
+++ b/common/settings/color_settings.cpp
@@ -33,11 +33,13 @@
 const int colorsSchemaVersion = 3;
 
 
-COLOR_SETTINGS::COLOR_SETTINGS( const wxString& aFilename ) :
+COLOR_SETTINGS::COLOR_SETTINGS( const wxString& aFilename, bool aAbsolutePath ) :
         JSON_SETTINGS( std::move( aFilename ), SETTINGS_LOC::COLORS, colorsSchemaVersion ),
         m_overrideSchItemColors( false ),
         m_useBoardStackupColors( true )
 {
+    if( aAbsolutePath )
+        SetLocation( SETTINGS_LOC::NONE );
 
     m_params.emplace_back( new PARAM<wxString>( "meta.name", &m_displayName, "KiCad Default" ) );
 
diff --git a/common/settings/settings_manager.cpp b/common/settings/settings_manager.cpp
index 684c19208a..6978b7a70f 100644
--- a/common/settings/settings_manager.cpp
+++ b/common/settings/settings_manager.cpp
@@ -249,11 +249,12 @@ public:
 };
 
 
-COLOR_SETTINGS* SETTINGS_MANAGER::registerColorSettings( const wxString& aName )
+COLOR_SETTINGS* SETTINGS_MANAGER::registerColorSettings( const wxString& aName, bool aAbsolutePath )
 {
     if( !m_color_settings.count( aName ) )
     {
-        COLOR_SETTINGS* colorSettings = RegisterSettings( new COLOR_SETTINGS( aName ) );
+        COLOR_SETTINGS* colorSettings = RegisterSettings( new COLOR_SETTINGS( aName,
+                                                                              aAbsolutePath ) );
         m_color_settings[aName] = colorSettings;
     }
 
@@ -303,27 +304,25 @@ void SETTINGS_MANAGER::loadAllColorSettings()
     wxDir third_party_colors_dir( third_party_path.GetFullPath() );
     wxString color_settings_path = GetColorSettingsPath();
 
-    JSON_DIR_TRAVERSER copier(
-            [&]( const wxFileName& aFilename )
-            {
-                wxFileName new_file( color_settings_path, aFilename.GetFullName() );
-
-                if( !new_file.Exists() )
-                    wxCopyFile( aFilename.GetFullPath(), new_file.GetFullPath());
-            } );
-
     // Search for and load any other settings
     JSON_DIR_TRAVERSER loader( [&]( const wxFileName& aFilename )
                                {
                                    registerColorSettings( aFilename.GetName() );
                                } );
 
+    JSON_DIR_TRAVERSER thirdPartyLoader(
+            [&]( const wxFileName& aFilename )
+            {
+                COLOR_SETTINGS* settings = registerColorSettings( aFilename.GetFullPath(), true );
+                settings->SetReadOnly( true );
+            } );
+
     wxDir colors_dir( color_settings_path );
 
     if( colors_dir.IsOpened() )
     {
         if( third_party_colors_dir.IsOpened() )
-           third_party_colors_dir.Traverse( copier );
+           third_party_colors_dir.Traverse( thirdPartyLoader );
 
         colors_dir.Traverse( loader );
     }
diff --git a/include/settings/color_settings.h b/include/settings/color_settings.h
index 59f8120966..e098b7c354 100644
--- a/include/settings/color_settings.h
+++ b/include/settings/color_settings.h
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ public:
      */
     std::vector<COLOR4D> m_Palette;
 
-    explicit COLOR_SETTINGS( const wxString& aFilename = wxT( "user" ) );
+    explicit COLOR_SETTINGS( const wxString& aFilename = wxT( "user" ),
+                             bool aAbsolutePath = false );
 
     virtual ~COLOR_SETTINGS() {}
 
diff --git a/include/settings/json_settings.h b/include/settings/json_settings.h
index 0118810058..b3ea477b22 100644
--- a/include/settings/json_settings.h
+++ b/include/settings/json_settings.h
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ public:
 
     void SetFilename( const wxString& aFilename ) { m_filename = aFilename; }
 
+    void SetLocation( SETTINGS_LOC aLocation ) { m_location = aLocation; }
     SETTINGS_LOC GetLocation() const { return m_location; }
 
     void SetLegacyFilename( const wxString& aFilename ) { m_legacy_filename = aFilename; }
diff --git a/include/settings/settings_manager.h b/include/settings/settings_manager.h
index 0d96ca5b1a..b11ef412ee 100644
--- a/include/settings/settings_manager.h
+++ b/include/settings/settings_manager.h
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ private:
      */
     COLOR_SETTINGS* loadColorSettingsByName( const wxString& aName );
 
-    COLOR_SETTINGS* registerColorSettings( const wxString& aFilename );
+    COLOR_SETTINGS* registerColorSettings( const wxString& aFilename, bool aAbsolutePath = false );
 
     void loadAllColorSettings();