How to add a skill to Claude and Claude Code

A skill is a folder of instructions, and sometimes reference files, that teaches an AI assistant how to do one job well. Claude reads the short description of each skill you have added, and when your request matches one, it loads the full instructions. You add a skill once, and it is there whenever the job comes up.

Every skill on Promptlexity uses the open SKILL.md format, so the same download works in the Claude apps, in Claude Code, and in other tools that support the format.

What is inside a skill

Unzip any skill from the skills library and you will find a folder with a file called SKILL.md. At the top of that file is a short header with the skill's name and a description of when to use it. Below that are the instructions themselves, written in plain English. Some skills also include extra files, such as a word list or a template, that the instructions refer to.

You can open SKILL.md in any text editor and change it to suit you. It is your copy.

Add a skill in the Claude apps

This works in Claude on the web and in the desktop apps.

Download the skill's zip from its page, for example the meeting notes skill. Do not unzip it.
In Claude, open Settings, then Capabilities.
Make sure code execution is turned on. Skills need it.
Find Skills, choose to upload one, and pick the zip.
Check the skill is switched on in the list.

Skills are available on the Claude plans that include them. If you do not see the Skills section, your plan or your organisation's settings may not include it yet.

Add a skill in Claude Code

Claude Code looks for skills in two places:

~/.claude/skills/ for skills you want in every project.
.claude/skills/ inside a project, for skills that belong to that project only. These can be committed so your whole team gets them.

Unzip the download so the folder sits directly inside one of those, for example ~/.claude/skills/code-review/SKILL.md. Start a new Claude Code session and the skill is available.

Check that it works

Ask for the job the skill is for, in your own words. With the code review skill added, try "review the changes in this branch". Claude will usually say that it is using the skill, and the answer will follow the structure the skill describes.

If Claude does not pick it up:

Check the description. Claude decides when to use a skill from its description. If your request uses very different words, mention the skill by name once: "use the code review skill".
Check the folder layout. The SKILL.md file must be directly inside the skill's own folder, not one level deeper.
Start a new chat or session. Skills are read when a conversation starts.

Change a skill to fit how you work

The fastest way to get more out of a skill is to edit it. Add your team's conventions to the code review skill, your house style to the plain English editor, or your meeting template to the meeting notes skill. Keep the description at the top accurate, because that is what Claude uses to decide when the skill applies.

Using skills in other chatbots

Support for SKILL.md in ChatGPT and Gemini is still rolling out and differs by plan and app. Where it is missing, the instructions still work as pasted text. See how to use skills in ChatGPT and Gemini.