Guide · Agent skill
How to use the SearXNG Search Specialist agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The searxng skill is a set of written instructions that teaches an AI agent to run web searches through SearXNG, a self-hosted metasearch engine that combines results from many search engines without tracking the user. This guide is for readers who have not used agent skills before. By the end you will know what the skill changes about the agent's behaviour, how to install it, how to phrase requests so it triggers, and what you need in place before it works.
SearXNG Search SpecialistRightNow-AI/openfang · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Get a SearXNG instance. Make sure you have a running SearXNG instance that the agent can query. The skill does not include one.
- 2Download the ZIP. Download the searxng skill ZIP from this page and unzip it. The folder contains SKILL.md.
- 3Place the folder. Copy the folder into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder.
- 4Or upload in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, open Settings, go to Capabilities, and upload the skill under Skills.
- 5Ask a natural question. Request research in plain language and name the kind of content you want, such as news or programming answers.
- 6Check the sources. Read the cited URLs and dates the agent gives, and open the primary sources before relying on a claim.
What the searxng skill makes the agent do
The skill turns the agent into a web search specialist that prefers SearXNG for privacy-sensitive searches. It tells the agent to pick a search category that fits the topic, such as news for current events or it for programming questions, and to use techniques like exact phrases, site limits, and engine shortcuts.
Its answers follow fixed habits. The agent is told to cite source URLs, prefer official documentation and research papers over blog posts and forums, state the date of information when recency matters, and present both sides when sources conflict. It is also told to curate the most relevant three to five sources rather than dump every result.
Install the searxng skill
Download the ZIP file for the skill from this page and unzip it. The skill is a folder that contains a single file, SKILL.md. Place the folder in one of two locations: ~/.claude/skills/ to make it available across your projects, or a project's .claude/skills/ folder to limit it to that project.
If you use the Claude apps instead, open Settings, go to Capabilities, and upload the skill under Skills.
- Personal install: put the unzipped folder in ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: put the unzipped folder in the project's .claude/skills/ folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the skill
Trigger the skill with natural requests
You do not need a special command. Ask for research in plain language and mention privacy, sources, or a topic type where it helps the agent choose a category. Requests that name a kind of content (news, images, programming questions, scientific papers) map onto the skill's category list most directly.
The skill also responds to requests about checking several sources or flagging outdated information, since those behaviours are written into its instructions.
- "Search privately for recent news about battery recycling and give me the three best sources with dates."
- "Find the official documentation for this error message and cite the URLs."
- "Look for scientific papers on coastal flooding and note where they disagree."
Know what the skill can and cannot search
The skill supports more than 30 categories. The main ones are general, images, news, videos, music, files, it, science, books, maps, q&a, social media, wikimedia, dictionaries, currency, weather, and translate. The instructions also describe the !engine syntax for targeting a specific engine, site:example.com for searching one domain, quotes for exact phrases, and a page parameter for more results.
Time filtering is only available if the SearXNG instance supports it, and the skill advises checking that instance's preferences page. Results depend on the upstream engines and the instance's configuration, so the skill cannot guarantee complete coverage.
Safety notes: scripts and network access
The skill contains instructions and a category list only. It does not include scripts, and it does not contain code that performs searches. Its effect comes from the agent following the text, and the searches themselves go over the network to a SearXNG instance.
The skill does not set up a SearXNG server and does not include one. You must have a running instance that the agent can query. Because the instructions assume such an instance exists, the agent may have no instance available, and then the skill cannot run searches.
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: yes
- Requires: a running SearXNG instance the agent can query
Tips for better results
Give a specific topic and, where it applies, a version number, framework name, or exact error message. The skill's own guidance is to start narrow, use exact phrases for precise matches, and reformulate with synonyms or a broader or narrower scope when the first query disappoints.
Ask the agent to name the date of its sources and to flag unreliable or outdated pages. Verify important links yourself, since the skill's rules tell the agent not to include URLs it has not verified, but no tool can guarantee a link stays live.
- State whether you want news, images, IT, or science results
- Ask for primary sources such as official docs or papers
- Request a structured comparison with pros and cons when choosing between options
What people use it for
- Researching a news topic while avoiding tracking, with dated and cited sources.
- Finding official documentation for a programming error, using the it category and exact error text.
- Comparing scientific or technical claims across several sources and noting where they conflict.
- Looking up dictionary definitions, currency conversions, or translations through the matching categories.
- Searching one domain with site: limits when you already know which documentation site to check.
Frequently asked questions
What is the searxng agent skill?
It is a SKILL.md instruction file that teaches an AI agent to search the web through SearXNG, a self-hosted metasearch engine. The agent picks a category, uses search operators, and summarizes the top sources with links and dates.
How do I install the searxng skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. Put the folder in ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder, or upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Does the searxng skill need an API key?
The skill's instructions say SearXNG needs no API keys. You do need a running SearXNG instance the agent can query, because the skill does not include or set one up.
Is the searxng skill free?
The source does not state pricing or licence terms beyond the listed licence, which is Apache-2.0. Check the licence in the repository before reuse.
Why doesn't the skill return results?
The most likely cause is that the agent has no SearXNG instance to query, since the skill assumes one exists. Results also depend on the upstream engines and the instance's configuration.
How does the searxng skill compare to other search skills?
This skill's distinguishing feature is its use of a self-hosted SearXNG instance for tracking-free metasearch. Other search skills may use different backends, so compare what each one requires before choosing.
New agent skills, repos and AI tools — every week
The best new skills and open-source projects, the fastest-growing repos, and one free prompt. Five minutes to read. Unsubscribe anytime.
Our verdict
Use this skill if you want an agent to research the web privately, cite sources, and flag outdated or conflicting information, and you already run or can reach a SearXNG instance. Pick something else if you need a guaranteed live server connection, or complete and verified search coverage, since results depend on upstream engines and instance configuration.
Download the skill