How to install a Claude skill in under two minutes

Installing a skill takes three steps: download the ZIP, put it where your agent looks for skills, and ask for the task. There's no build step and no configuration file to edit. This guide covers Claude Code on the command line and the Claude apps on the web and desktop, then walks through the problems people most often hit.

Step 1: Download the skill

Every skill page on this site has a download button. The ZIP contains one folder named after the skill. Inside are the original files from the GitHub repository (SKILL.md and anything it uses), the repository's licence and a short attribution note saying where it came from.

Step 2a: Install for Claude Code

Claude Code looks for skills in two places: a personal folder in your home directory, used in every project, and a project folder inside a repository, used only there. Open a terminal in the folder where the ZIP was downloaded and run one of these, replacing <name> with the skill's file name.

Because the ZIP already contains a folder, you end up with ~/.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md, which is exactly the layout Claude Code expects. If you install into a project, commit the folder so your teammates get the skill too.

Step 2b: Install in the Claude apps

1. Open Claude on the web or the desktop app.
2. Go to Settings → Capabilities and find the Skills section.
3. Choose to upload a skill and select the ZIP you downloaded. Don't unzip it first.
4. Make sure the new skill is switched on in the list.

Step 3: Ask for the task

There's nothing to invoke. Start a new conversation or session and describe what you want in plain words. The agent reads each installed skill's description and loads the one that matches your request. If you've installed a skill for writing release notes, for instance, asking “write release notes for the changes since the last tag” is enough.

Many skill pages on this site list example prompts that match the skill's description. They're a good first test, because you know the wording lines up with what the skill says it's for.

Writing PlansAgent skillA good first skill for coders: plans before code.Agent skill · MITSystematic DebuggingAgent skillMakes the agent find a root cause before changing anything.Agent skill · MITContent Strategy PlannerAgent skillA good first skill for marketers.Agent skill · MIT

Troubleshooting

The skill never seems to get used

• Start a fresh session. Agents read the list of skills when a session begins, so a skill added mid-conversation may not be noticed until the next one.
• Check the folder depth. The path should be skills/<name>/SKILL.md. A common mistake is ending up with skills/<name>/<name>/SKILL.md after unzipping twice, or SKILL.md sitting directly inside skills/.
• Reword your request to match the description. Open SKILL.md, read the description line, and use similar words.
• Ask the agent directly: “Which skills do you have available?” If yours isn't listed, it isn't installed where the agent is looking.

I can't find the Skills option in the Claude app

The Skills section sits under Settings → Capabilities. If it's missing or greyed out, check that code execution and file creation are switched on in the same area, since skills depend on them, and that your plan or your organisation's admin allows skills. Work accounts sometimes have skills turned off centrally.

The upload is rejected

• Upload the ZIP itself, not the unzipped folder or the SKILL.md on its own.
• If you've edited the skill, make sure SKILL.md still starts with frontmatter containing a name and a description.
• Re-download the file if your browser or operating system unpacked it automatically.

The skill runs a script that fails

Some skills expect a tool to be installed, such as Python, Node.js or a particular command-line program. The README or SKILL.md usually says what's needed. Install the missing piece, or ask the agent to tell you what the script needs before it runs it.

Two skills clash

If two installed skills have similar descriptions, the agent may pick the wrong one. Remove the one you use less, or move it into a single project's .claude/skills folder so it only applies there.

Updating and removing skills

A skill is just a folder, so updating means replacing it and removing means deleting it. To update, delete the old folder and unzip the new version in its place. In the Claude apps, remove the skill from the list and upload the new ZIP. Keep any skills you've customised in version control so an update doesn't overwrite your changes.

CClaude skill packaging guidePromptWhen you're ready to package a skill of your own.In a packClaude CodeAI toolThe terminal and IDE agent that reads ~/.claude/skills.PaidClaudeAI toolThe Claude apps, where skills are uploaded as ZIPs.Freemium