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How to Install and Use Claude Skills

Install skills with npx skills add owner/repo, a Claude Code plugin, a folder in ~/.claude/skills, or a ZIP upload in the Claude app.

Local servers
Yes
runs stdio servers
Hosted servers
Yes
connects by URL
Config
CLI + JSON
how servers are added
Plugins
Yes
plugin marketplaces

A skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file. Installing one means putting that folder where your tool looks for it. In Claude Code that is ~/.claude/skills/<name>/ for every project or .claude/skills/<name>/ for one repository. Claude Code picks up new skills without a restart.

npx skills is a CLI from Vercel Labs that copies or links skills from a GitHub repo into Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, OpenCode and other agents. It needs Node.js 22.20 or later. The Claude app (claude.ai and Desktop) does not read folders: you upload a ZIP under Customize > Skills, and code execution must be on.

Good for

  • Claude Code users adding skills from GitHub
  • Claude app users on Free, Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise who want custom skills
  • Cursor, VS Code and Codex users reusing the same SKILL.md folders

Install skills in the Claude app

  1. 1

    Turn on code execution

    Skills need code execution. On Free, Pro, Max or Ultra, open Settings > Capabilities and turn on Code execution and file creation (called Create and edit files in the newer layout). On Team, skills are on by default. On Enterprise, an owner turns on Skills and Code execution and file creation in Organization settings > Plugins & skills, Policy tab.

  2. 2

    Zip the skill folder

    The ZIP must contain the skill folder as its root, for example my-skill.zip holding my-skill/SKILL.md, not loose files. The folder name should match the skill's name.

  3. 3

    Upload it

    Go to Customize > Skills, click +, then + Create skill, then Upload a skill, and choose the ZIP. The skill appears in your list with a toggle. Anthropic's own skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, PDF) are already there; switch them on.

  4. 4

    Use it, also in Claude Code

    Ask for a task that matches the description; Claude loads the skill itself. Skills enabled on your account also sync into Claude Code v2.1.273 or later when you sign in with the same account; run /skills to see them under claude.ai sync.

    Prompt
    Use my brand guidelines skill to format this one-page summary.

Install skills in Claude Code without npx

  1. 1

    From a plugin marketplace

    Skills that ship as plugins install from inside Claude Code. For Anthropic's example skills, run /plugin marketplace add anthropics/skills, then /plugin install document-skills@anthropic-agent-skills (or example-skills@anthropic-agent-skills).

    Plugin skills run as /plugin-name:skill-name.

  2. 2

    By copying the folder

    Download or clone the repo and copy the skill folder (the one that holds SKILL.md) to ~/.claude/skills/<skill-name>/ for all your projects, or to .claude/skills/<skill-name>/ in a repo and commit it so your team gets it.

    Claude Code watches these folders and picks up the skill in the current session. If you created the top-level skills folder during the session, run /reload-skills after each change there until you start a new session.

  3. 3

    Check it loaded

    Run /skills to list loaded skills, or invoke the skill by name with /<skill-name>. If it never triggers on its own, its description probably lacks the words you use.

Install skills with npx skills

  1. 1

    Run npx skills add with a GitHub repo

    From your project folder run npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills (any owner/repo works, as do full GitHub URLs, GitLab URLs and local paths). The CLI lists the skills in the repo and the agents it detected; pick the ones you want.

    Skills go into the current project by default. Add -g to install for all projects.

  2. 2

    Pick one skill and one agent directly

    Skip the prompts with flags: npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill web-design-guidelines -a claude-code. Use --list to see a repo's skills without installing, and -y to skip confirmations.

    For Claude Code the CLI writes to .claude/skills/ (project) or ~/.claude/skills/ (with -g). Cursor, Codex, Gemini CLI and GitHub Copilot use .agents/skills/ in the project.

  3. 3

    Use the skill

    Start claude in the project and ask for something that matches the skill's description, or type / plus the skill name to run it directly. Ask "What skills are available?" to confirm it loaded.

    Prompt
    What skills are available?
  4. 4

    Update or remove it later

    • npx skills list shows installed skills
    • npx skills check looks for updates
    • npx skills update updates them
    • npx skills remove <name> removes one
    • npx skills find <query> searches for new ones

Code

terminal
# Install from a GitHub repo (pick skills and agents interactively)
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills

# One skill, for Claude Code only, available in every project
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill web-design-guidelines -a claude-code -g

# See what a repo contains without installing
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --list

# Manage installed skills
npx skills list
npx skills check
npx skills update
npx skills remove web-design-guidelines
Requires Node.js 22.20 or later. Set DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1 to turn off the CLI's anonymous usage data.
Claude Code prompt
/plugin marketplace add anthropics/skills
/plugin install document-skills@anthropic-agent-skills
/plugin install example-skills@anthropic-agent-skills
Installs Anthropic's example and document skills as plugins.
terminal
# Personal: every project on this machine
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
cp -r path/to/my-skill ~/.claude/skills/

# Project: this repo only (commit it to share)
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r path/to/my-skill .claude/skills/
The folder you copy must contain SKILL.md at its top level.
ZIP layout for claude.ai
my-skill.zip
  └── my-skill/
      ├── SKILL.md
      └── resources/
Upload in Customize > Skills > + > Create skill > Upload a skill. Files placed directly in the ZIP root are the wrong structure.

Common errors and fixes

  • "No skills found" from npx skills add

    Cause: The repo has no SKILL.md files with both name and description in the frontmatter.

    Fix: Check the repo path (point at the folder that contains the skills) and that each SKILL.md has valid name and description fields.

    Source

  • npx skills fails on an older Node.js

    Cause: The skills CLI requires Node.js 22.20 or later.

    Fix: Upgrade Node.js, then run the command again.

    Source

  • Skill installed but Claude never uses it

    Cause: The description lacks the words you use, or the frontmatter YAML does not parse, so Claude cannot match it.

    Fix: Invoke it with /skill-name to test, put trigger words in description, and run `claude plugin validate ~/.claude/skills` to find frontmatter errors.

    claude-code Source

  • Marketplace "claude-plugins-official" not found

    Cause: The marketplace has not been added in this Claude Code install.

    Fix: Run `/plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-plugins-official`, then retry the install. For Anthropic's skills repo, use `/plugin marketplace add anthropics/skills`.

    claude-code Source

  • Unexpected key(s) in SKILL.md frontmatter: argument-hint. Allowed properties are: allowed-tools, compatibility, description, license, metadata, name

    Cause: claude.ai uploads accept only the six Agent Skills spec fields; Claude Code-only fields fail.

    Fix: Remove Claude Code-only fields such as argument-hint, context or disable-model-invocation before you zip and upload.

    Source

  • Skill works in the terminal but is "not found" in a cloud scheduled task or Cowork

    Cause: Cowork and cloud sessions do not read ~/.claude/skills on your machine.

    Fix: Enable the skill on your claude.ai account, or commit it to the repo's .claude/skills/ for cloud sessions outside a project.

    claude-code Source

Questions

What is npx skills?

skills is an open-source CLI from Vercel Labs for installing Agent Skills. npx skills add <owner/repo> downloads skills from a Git repo and installs them for the coding agents you pick, including Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and OpenCode. It needs Node.js 22.20 or later. Browse skills at skills.sh or with npx skills find.

How do I install Claude skills from GitHub?

Run npx skills add owner/repo, or paste a direct path such as npx skills add https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/tree/main/skills/web-design-guidelines. Without the CLI, copy the folder that contains SKILL.md into ~/.claude/skills/<name>/. If the repo is a plugin marketplace, use /plugin marketplace add owner/repo in Claude Code.

Where are Claude skills stored?

Claude Code reads personal skills from ~/.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md (on a Mac that is /Users/<you>/.claude/skills/) and project skills from .claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md in the repo. Plugin skills live inside the plugin. Skills you upload to claude.ai are stored in your account; Claude Code downloads them to ~/.claude/skills/synced/.

How do I use Claude skills in Claude Code?

Install the skill into ~/.claude/skills/ or .claude/skills/, start claude, and either ask for something that matches the skill's description or type /skill-name. Claude Code loads only each skill's name and description until it is used, so installed skills cost little context.

Can Cursor use Claude skills?

Yes. Cursor reads .cursor/skills/ and .agents/skills/, and for compatibility also loads .claude/skills/ and ~/.claude/skills/. A skill you installed for Claude Code shows up in Cursor without copying it.

How do I use Claude skills in VS Code?

GitHub Copilot in VS Code reads project skills from .github/skills/, .claude/skills/ or .agents/skills/ and personal skills from ~/.copilot/skills/, ~/.claude/skills/ or ~/.agents/skills/.

How do I enable skills in the Claude app?

Turn on Code execution and file creation in Settings > Capabilities, then open Customize > Skills and toggle skills on. Skills are available on Free, Pro, Max, Ultra, Team and Enterprise plans. On Team they are on by default; on Enterprise, an owner must turn Skills on for the organization.

How do I update or remove skills?

With the CLI: npx skills check, npx skills update and npx skills remove <name>. For a folder you copied, delete ~/.claude/skills/<name>/ or .claude/skills/<name>/. For a plugin skill, run /plugin uninstall <plugin>@<marketplace>. For a claude.ai skill, toggle it off in Customize > Skills.

Why does my skill not load in a Cowork or cloud session?

Cowork and cloud sessions do not read ~/.claude/skills/ on your machine. Enable the skill on your claude.ai account (upload it in Customize > Skills), or for cloud sessions outside a project, commit it to the repository's .claude/skills/.

Information

updated Nov 1, 2026

Transports
stdio, SSE, Streamable HTTP
Config file (all)
.mcp.json (project) or ~/.claude.json (user)
MCP docs
code.claude.com

Docs

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 10
  1. Use skills in Claude · support.claude.com
  2. How to create custom skills · support.claude.com
  3. anthropics/skills · github.com
  4. Extend Claude with skills · code.claude.com
  5. vercel-labs/skills · github.com
  6. skills CLI reference · github.com
  7. skills CLI supported agents · github.com
  8. skills CLI troubleshooting · github.com
  9. Agent Skills · cursor.com
  10. Use Agent Skills in VS Code · code.visualstudio.com

Updated Nov 1, 2026.