How to Install Claude Skills
There are three ways to install Claude Skills depending on how you use Claude. Pick the method that matches your setup — you can always switch later.
Fastest: Download ZIP
Each skill in our directory has a Download ZIP button. Download it, unzip, and copy the files to your skills folder:
cp -r pdf/ ~/.claude/skills/pdf/
Replace pdf with any skill ID. Each skill page on our directory has a pre-built copy button.
Method 1: Claude Code (CLI)
Claude Code is Anthropic's command-line tool for developers. Skills installed here are automatically available in all your Claude Code sessions.
Download the skill ZIP
Find a skill in our directory and click Download ZIP, or download from the skill's GitHub page.
Unzip and create the skills directory
For personal (global) skills:
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/pdf
Or for project-only skills:
mkdir -p .claude/skills/pdf
Copy the skill files
cp -r pdf/ ~/.claude/skills/pdf/
Start using it
Claude automatically detects installed skills when relevant context appears. You can also invoke a skill directly with /skill-name in your Claude Code session.
Method 2: Claude Desktop / claude.ai
The Claude Desktop app and claude.ai support skills through ZIP file uploads. This is the easiest method if you don't use the command line.
Download the skill
Find a skill in our directory and click "Download ZIP" from the install tab, or download the skill folder from GitHub.
ZIP the skill folder
Make sure the ZIP contains a folder with a SKILL.md file inside it. Right-click the folder and choose "Compress" (macOS) or "Send to → Compressed folder" (Windows).
Upload to Claude
Open Claude → click Customize (bottom-left) → go to Skills → click the + button → select Upload a skill → choose your ZIP file.
Enable the skill
Toggle the skill on in your Skills list. It will now be available in all your conversations. Skills that require code execution need the "Code execution" capability enabled in Settings → Capabilities.
Method 3: Cowork (Desktop Automation)
Cowork is Claude's desktop automation mode. Skills here load from a shared folder on your machine and are available whenever Cowork is running.
Open the skills folder
~/.claude/skills/
Create the directory if it doesn't exist yet.
Add the skill folder
Copy the skill directory (containing SKILL.md) into the skills folder. Each skill should be in its own subdirectory.
Restart Cowork
Cowork picks up new skills on startup. The skill will appear in your available skills list.
Ready to explore?
Browse our curated directory of Anthropic and community skills.