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Install an agent skill in any AI coding agent

A skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file. Add free and premium Recaply skills to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Copilot, OpenCode or the Claude app.

By Recaply EditorsBeginner5 min6 stepsUpdated

A hand slides a sheet of paper into an open wooden toolbox that holds a wrench

An agent skill is a folder with a file called SKILL.md inside. The file starts with a short name and a description, then lists the steps your agent should follow. Your agent reads only the name and description until a task fits, then loads the rest.

Short answer: find the folder your agent reads, run the skill's install line in your project (or unzip a premium skill there), check that the agent lists it, then ask for the job it does. Each agent has its own guide, linked in step 2.

What you need

  1. Step 1: Know which kind of skill you have

    1 min

    Every skill on Recaply is one of two kinds, and each installs a different way.

    1. Free skills live in their maker's GitHub repo. You install them with Vercel's open source skills CLI, which puts the folder where your agent looks.
    2. Premium skills are Recaply's own. You buy one on its page (or open all of them with the plan), then click Download ZIP.
    3. Either way, the skill is a folder. Its SKILL.md starts with a name and a description between two --- lines.

    The folder's name and the name line should be the same. The Agent Skills format requires it, and VS Code and the Claude apps reject a skill when they differ.

  2. Step 2: Find the folder your agent reads

    1 min

    Each agent looks in its own folders. A project folder works only in that project; a personal folder works in all of them.

    1. Claude Code: .claude/skills/ in the project, ~/.claude/skills/ for you.
    2. Codex: .agents/skills/ in the repo, ~/.agents/skills/ for you.
    3. Cursor: .agents/skills/ or .cursor/skills/ in the project, ~/.agents/skills/ or ~/.cursor/skills/ for you.
    4. Gemini CLI: .gemini/skills/ or .agents/skills/ in the project, ~/.gemini/skills/ or ~/.agents/skills/ for you.
    5. GitHub Copilot: .github/skills/, .claude/skills/ or .agents/skills/ in the repo, ~/.copilot/skills/ or ~/.agents/skills/ for you.
    6. OpenCode: .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/ or .agents/skills/ in the project, ~/.config/opencode/skills/, ~/.claude/skills/ or ~/.agents/skills/ for you.
    7. Claude on the web and desktop: no folder. You upload a ZIP in Customize › Skills.

    ~ is your home folder, such as /Users/you on a Mac. Each skill gets its own folder inside these, like .claude/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md.

  3. Step 3: Install a free skill with one line

    1 min

    The skills CLI fetches the skill from GitHub and puts it where your agent looks.

    1. Open a terminal in your project folder.
    2. Copy the install line from the skill's Recaply page and run it.
    3. Its last part names your agent: claude-code, codex, cursor, gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode.
    4. Add -g to install the skill for all your projects instead of this one.
    The install line
    npx skills add <owner>/<repo> --skill <skill-name> -a <agent>

    You should see the CLI report what it installed, and a new folder named after the skill: in .claude/skills/ for Claude Code, in .agents/skills/ for the other five.

    The CLI says it found no skills?

    Each skill needs a SKILL.md with a name and a description at the top. Check the repo, and the spelling after --skill.

    Leave out -a and the CLI looks for the agents on your computer and asks which ones to use. -y skips its questions.

  4. Step 4: Or install a premium skill from its ZIP

    2 min

    A premium skill's ZIP holds one folder named after the skill, ready for your agent.

    1. On the skill's page, sign in, buy it (or use the plan), then click Download ZIP.
    2. Move the ZIP into your project folder and open a terminal there.
    3. For Claude Code, run the first line. For any other agent, run the second, with your agent's value at the end.
    Your lines
    # Claude Code
unzip <slug>.zip -d .claude/skills/

# Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot or OpenCode
unzip <slug>.zip && npx skills add ./<slug> -a <agent>

    You should see a folder named after the skill with SKILL.md directly inside, such as .claude/skills/<slug>/SKILL.md.

    On Windows, there's no unzip?

    Right-click the ZIP, choose Extract All, and move the extracted folder into your agent's skills folder from step 2.

    SKILL.md must sit directly inside the skill's folder. If you see <slug>/<slug>/, move the inner folder up one level.

  5. Step 5: Check that your agent can see it

    1 min

    Each agent has its own way to list the skills it found.

    1. Claude Code: run /skills.
    2. Codex CLI or IDE extension: run /skills.
    3. Cursor: restart it, then open Customize in the sidebar and go to Skills.
    4. Gemini CLI: run /skills reload, then /skills list.
    5. Copilot CLI: run /skills reload, then /skills list. In VS Code, run Chat: Open Customizations and pick Skills.
    6. OpenCode: restart it, then mention the skill as @skill-id in a prompt.

    You should see the skill's name in the list.

    It isn't listed?

    Check the folder from step 2 and that the file is named exactly SKILL.md. Then restart the agent or start a new session.

  6. Step 6: Run the skill

    1 min

    Agents load a skill on their own when your request matches its description. You can also call it by name.

    1. Ask for the job in plain words, using words from the skill's description.
    2. To be sure it loads, call it: /skill-name in Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code and Copilot CLI, $skill-name in Codex, @skill-id in OpenCode.
    3. Gemini CLI has no command for each skill. It asks for your OK before it turns a skill on.

    You should see the agent load the skill and follow its steps for your task.

    The agent ignores the skill?

    Call it by name. If that works but asking in plain words doesn't, the description doesn't match how you ask; use its words.

You get

A skill installed where your agent looks, listed, and ready to run

Try next

Install agent skills in OpenCode6 steps · 5 minInstall agent skills in GitHub Copilot6 steps · 5 minInstall agent skills in Gemini CLI6 steps · 5 min

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