handoff Skill (mattpocock/skills) for Claude Code: What It Does and How to Install It

Writes a handoff note from your current conversation so a fresh agent session can pick the work up where you stopped.

Installs: 1.1M; on skills.sh
Stars: 309.2K; on GitHub
Files: 1; besides SKILL.md
Updated: Nov 2026; last repo commit

handoff makes Claude summarise the conversation into a handoff document for the next agent. You type it yourself, optionally with a line about what the next session is for, and it tailors the note to that.

The note goes to your system temp folder, not your project. It points to specs, plans, issues and commits by path or link instead of copying them, lists which skills the next agent should call, and redacts keys, passwords and personal data. It runs no scripts and needs no API key.

Good for

Developers whose chat is getting long and who want to continue in a fresh session
Anyone passing half-done work from one agent to another
People who want the next session to start with the right skills loaded

Install handoff

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the handoff skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

npx skills add https://github.com/mattpocock/skills --skill handoff

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Requires Node.js.

From its listing on skills.sh. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

Compact the current conversation into a handoff document for another agent to pick up.

Key facts

Author: Matt Pocock (mattpocock/skills)
License: MIT
Installs on skills.sh: 1,080,972 (Nov 2, 2026)
GitHub stars: 309,237 (whole repo, Nov 2, 2026)
Last commit: Nov 1, 2026 (repo)
Files it bundles: SKILL.md, agents/openai.yaml
Starts: Only when you call it

What it includes

Summarises the conversation so a fresh agent can continue the work
Write · Write the handoff
Saves to $TMPDIR, else /tmp (%TEMP% on Windows), not your workspace
Files · Save to temp folder
Names the skills the next agent should call
Suggested skills section
References specs, plans, ADRs, issues, commits and diffs by path or URL
Link, do not copy
Removes API keys, passwords and personal data from the note
Redact secrets
Your text says what the next session is for, and the note is tailored to it
Optional focus argument

From the official docs

Questions

What does the handoff skill do?

It writes a summary of your current conversation as a file, so a new agent session can continue the work. It leaves out anything already saved in specs, plans, issues or commits and links to them instead.

How do I install it?

Use the install box at the top of this page. The skill is set to not start on its own, so you call it by name when you want a handoff.

Where does the handoff file go?

To your operating system's temp folder, not the project. On macOS and Linux that is $TMPDIR or /tmp. Copy it somewhere permanent if you need to keep it.

How do I tell it what the next session is for?

Add a short description when you call it. The skill treats your text as the focus of the next session and tailors the note.

Does it need an API key or run scripts?

No. It is a single instruction file, so it needs no key and runs no scripts.

Is it safe? Will it leak secrets?

It is told to redact API keys, passwords and personal data, but that is an instruction to the model, not a guarantee. Read the note before you share it. skills.sh audits: Gen Agent Trust Hub pass, Socket pass, Snyk pass.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: mattpocock/skills
Folder: skills/productivity/handoff

mattpocock/skills skills.sh

Sources

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

Show all 3

handoff SKILL.md · github.com
skills.sh listing and audits · skills.sh
mattpocock/skills · github.com