How to Install an AI Agent Skill in Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and More

Two Ways to Install Skills

There are two methods to install agent skills. The /learn command is the fastest. Manual installation gives you more control.

Method 1: The /learn Command (Recommended)

The /learn command lets you search, install, and manage skills directly from your AI agent's chat. No context switch needed.

Step 1: Install /learn

First, add the /learn command itself. Pick the method that matches your platform.

Claude Code (plugin):

/plugin marketplace add https://agentskill.sh/marketplace.json
/plugin install learn@agentskill-sh

Any platform (git clone):

# Claude Code
git clone https://github.com/agentskill-sh/learn.git ~/.claude/skills/learn

# Cursor
git clone https://github.com/agentskill-sh/learn.git ~/.cursor/skills/learn

# Codex
git clone https://github.com/agentskill-sh/learn.git ~/.agents/skills/learn

See the full install guide for all platform options including Claude Desktop, Manus, Amp, and more.

Step 2: Install any skill

Once /learn is set up, install skills by name:

/learn @anthropic/seo-content-optimizer

Or search by keyword:

/learn react testing

The agent searches 69,000+ skills, shows the top matches with descriptions and security scores, and installs the one you pick.

Step 3: Manage your skills

List installed skills:

/learn list

Check for updates:

/learn update

Remove a skill:

/learn remove skill-name

Method 2: Manual Installation (Git Clone)

If you prefer manual control, clone the skill's GitHub repo directly into your platform's skills directory.

Step 1: Find the skill

Browse agentskill.sh to find the skill you want. Each skill page shows the GitHub repository URL and the install command.

Step 2: Clone to the right directory

Every platform has specific directories where it looks for skills. Use the home directory path for global installation (available in all projects) or the project path for project-specific skills.

Claude Code:

# Global (all projects)
git clone https://github.com/owner/skill-name.git ~/.claude/skills/skill-name

# Project-level (shared via git with your team)
git clone https://github.com/owner/skill-name.git .claude/skills/skill-name

Cursor:

# Global
git clone https://github.com/owner/skill-name.git ~/.cursor/skills/skill-name

# Project-level
git clone https://github.com/owner/skill-name.git .cursor/skills/skill-name

Codex:

# Global
git clone https://github.com/owner/skill-name.git ~/.agents/skills/skill-name

# Project-level
git clone https://github.com/owner/skill-name.git .agents/skills/skill-name

GitHub Copilot:

git clone https://github.com/owner/skill-name.git .github/copilot/skills/skill-name

Complete Directory Reference

Step 3: Verify the installation

After cloning, check that the skill folder contains a SKILL.md file:

ls ~/.claude/skills/skill-name/SKILL.md

Start a new conversation with your agent and the skill should be available. You can also invoke it directly with /skill-name.

Global vs Project-Level Skills

You have two choices for where to install each skill.

Global skills (home directory, e.g. ~/.claude/skills/) are available in every project. Good for general-purpose skills like code review, testing helpers, or personal productivity workflows.

Project-level skills (repo directory, e.g. .claude/skills/) are committed to git and shared with your team. Good for project-specific conventions, deployment procedures, or domain knowledge that only applies to one codebase.

A common setup:

~/.claude/skills/           # Your personal skills
├── code-review/            # General code review
├── git-workflow/           # Your git preferences
└── learn/                  # The /learn command

my-project/.claude/skills/  # Shared with team via git
├── deploy/                 # Project-specific deploy steps
├── db-migrations/          # Database migration procedures
└── api-conventions/        # API naming and structure rules

Troubleshooting

Skill not recognized after installation

1. Check the directory: Make sure the SKILL.md file is in the correct skills directory for your platform (see table above)
2. Check the file name: The file must be named exactly SKILL.md (uppercase)
3. Start a new session: Some platforms only scan for new skills at session start
4. Check frontmatter: The SKILL.md must have valid YAML frontmatter with at least name and description fields

Permission denied when cloning

Use HTTPS instead of SSH if you do not have GitHub SSH keys configured:

# Use this
git clone https://github.com/owner/skill.git ~/.claude/skills/skill

# Not this
git clone [email protected]:owner/skill.git ~/.claude/skills/skill

Skill loads but agent ignores it

The description field determines when the agent activates a skill. If the description does not match your request well enough, the agent may not load it. Try invoking it explicitly with the slash command /skill-name.

Conflicting skills

If two skills have overlapping descriptions, the agent picks one based on relevance. Make descriptions more specific to avoid overlap. Check your installed skills with /learn list.

Next Steps

• Browse skills: Find skills for your platform at agentskill.sh
• Create your own: Follow the tutorial at How to Create a Skill
• Understand the format: Read What Is a Skill? for the full explanation
• Frontmatter reference: See all available fields at SKILL.md Frontmatter Guide
• Skills vs MCP: Understand the difference at Skill vs MCP

FAQ

How do I install a skill in Claude Code?

The fastest way is to install the /learn command, then type /learn @owner/skill-name. Alternatively, clone the skill repo to ~/.claude/skills/ (global) or .claude/skills/ (project-level). No restart needed.

Can I install skills in Cursor?

Yes. Cursor 2.4+ supports agent skills. Clone the skill folder to ~/.cursor/skills/ for global access or .cursor/skills/ for project-level. Cursor also reads .claude/skills/ for cross-platform compatibility.

What is the /learn command?

The /learn command is a skill from agentskill.sh that lets you search, install, update, and manage skills from inside your AI agent. It works in Claude Code, Cursor, and other SKILL.md-compatible platforms. Install it once and you can add any skill with /learn @owner/skill-name.

Do I need to restart my agent after installing a skill?

In most platforms, no. Skills are file-based, so the agent detects new skills automatically. If a skill does not appear, start a new conversation or restart the agent session.

Can I install the same skill on multiple platforms?

Yes. Clone the skill into each platform's skills directory. The SKILL.md format is the same everywhere. Some platforms (like Cursor) also check other platforms' directories for cross-compatibility.