How to install a skill in Claude Code, Cursor or Codex

The command

Every skill page shows its command. Run it in any terminal with Node.js 18 or newer installed. The -g flag installs for your user account so every project can use it; without it, the skill goes into the current project only. The -y flag accepts the defaults instead of asking which agents to install for.

npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills@web-design-guidelines -g -y

Where the files go

Global installs land in ~/.agents/skills/<name>, with a symlink into ~/.claude/skills for Claude Code and equivalent folders for Cursor, Gemini CLI, Codex and others. Project installs go to .claude/skills/<name> (and the matching folders) inside the repository, which you can commit so teammates get the same skills.

Using, updating and removing

The agent picks a skill automatically when your request matches its description; in Claude Code you can also type /skill-name to force it. Run npx skills update to refresh everything you installed. To remove a skill, delete its folder from ~/.agents/skills (and the symlink) or from the project's .claude/skills.

npx skills update

If a skill fails to install

The most common error is a SKILL.md without name and description in its frontmatter; the CLI skips those and prints No valid skills found. Check the repository for a newer location (some authors move skills between repositories), or copy the SKILL.md folder into .claude/skills by hand.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an account?

No. The CLI clones the public repository and copies the folder.

Can I install several skills at once?

Yes. Run npx skills add owner/repo without @skill to choose from every skill in that repository.

Does it work on Windows?

Yes, in PowerShell, cmd or Git Bash with Node.js installed.

Content last reviewed: 2026-09-03