How to add a skill to the Claude app
The four steps to add your first skill to Claude, in plain words, with a link to the full guide.
Adding a skill to Claude means uploading one small .zip file in the Claude app. You download the skill, turn on code execution in Settings, upload the file under Customize, then switch the skill on. It works on every Claude plan, takes about two minutes, and you only do it once per skill.
The four steps
- Download the skill. Keep the .zip as it is; don't unzip it.
- Turn on code execution. In Claude, go to Settings › Capabilities and switch on “Code execution and file creation”.
- Upload it. Go to Customize › Skills, click “+”, then “Create skill” › “Upload a skill”, and choose the .zip.
- Switch it on and try it. Toggle the skill on, start a new chat and paste the example from the skill's page.
Works on every Claude plan, Free included. On Team or Enterprise, an Owner must allow Skills and code execution in Organization settings (on by default for Team).
The full guide with pictures shows each step, plus the extra settings some skills need.
If it does not show up
Check that the file is still a .zip, then upload it again. If the skill still will not run, the Easy fixes guide walks through the usual causes.
Questions
Do I need to add a skill more than once?
No. Add it once and it stays in your account, ready whenever you ask.
Which plans can add a skill?
Works on every Claude plan, Free included. On Team or Enterprise, an Owner must allow Skills and code execution in Organization settings (on by default for Team).