How to Use Claude Skills

Claude Skills turn Claude Code from a general-purpose AI assistant into a domain-specific expert. This guide walks you through finding, installing, and using skills in three simple steps — no technical setup required.

Before You Start

Make sure you have Claude Code installed. Claude Code is Anthropic's official CLI tool for working with Claude in your terminal and editor. If you haven't installed it yet:

$ npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Find a Skill

Start by browsing the Skiln directory. With over 4,000 skills across categories like Frontend, Backend, Testing, Database, Security, and more, there is likely a skill for your use case. You can:

-Browse all skills and filter by category
-View the best skills ranked by community stars
-Search by keyword from any page using the search bar
-Check out skill packs — curated bundles for common workflows

Tip: Look for skills with high star counts and the "Verified" badge. These have been tested and reviewed by the community.

Install the Skill

Each skill page on Skiln includes an install command. Most skills install with a simple git clone or by copying a single file. Here is the typical process:

# Create the .claude directory if it doesn't exist

$ mkdir -p .claude

# Option A: Clone a skill repo

$ git clone https://github.com/author/skill-name .claude/skill-name

# Option B: Copy a single skill file

$ curl -o .claude/code-review.md https://raw.githubusercontent.com/...

Multiple skills at once? Use the Skiln Config Generator to select multiple skills and MCP servers, then export a single configuration file.

Use the Skill

Once skills are in your .claude/ directory, Claude Code automatically discovers them. Just start Claude in your project and work as usual — Claude will apply the relevant skills when it detects matching context.

# Start Claude Code in your project

$ claude

# Claude now uses your installed skills automatically

Claude > Review the code in src/api/auth.ts

# Claude applies the code-review skill automatically

Automatic activation

Skills are context-aware. A testing skill activates when you ask about tests. A database skill activates when working with queries. No manual triggers needed.

Stack multiple skills

Install as many skills as you want. Claude combines them intelligently — a frontend skill and a testing skill both apply when writing component tests.

Popular Skills to Get Started

See all examples →

Next Steps

Browse Directory Best Skills Config Generator Skill Packs

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay to use Claude Skills?

No. Claude Skills are free, open-source markdown files. You need a Claude Code subscription from Anthropic to use Claude Code itself, but the skills that extend it are community-contributed and free.

Can I use multiple skills at the same time?

Yes. Place as many skill files as you want in your .claude/ directory. Claude Code loads all of them and activates the relevant ones based on context. There is no conflict — skills complement each other.

How do I remove a skill?

Delete the skill's markdown file from your .claude/ directory. Claude Code will no longer use it on the next session. There are no lingering side effects.

Can I customize a skill after installing it?

Absolutely. Skills are plain markdown files. Open them in any editor to add, remove, or modify instructions. Tailoring a skill to your project's conventions often yields the best results.

Where can I learn more about creating skills?

Check out the Claude Code documentation on Anthropic's site for the full specification. You can also browse existing skills on Skiln to see how they're structured, then submit your own creations to the directory.