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Add Skills to an Agent

Skills are reusable capability packages that extend what an agent can do. Each skill is a self-contained directory with a manifest, templates, and supporting files.

Prerequisites​

  • A created agent
  • Understanding of the task you want the agent to perform

Steps​

1. Open the Skills tab​

Navigate to Agents in the sidebar, click your agent, then select the Skills tab.

2. Create a new skill directory​

Click New Skill. This creates a skill directory with a SKILL.md file -- the skill manifest that describes the skill's purpose and capabilities.

3. Write the SKILL.md manifest​

The SKILL.md file follows a standard skills specification. At minimum, it should contain:

  • Skill name -- a clear, descriptive title
  • Description -- what the skill enables the agent to do
  • Instructions -- how and when the agent should use this skill
  • Constraints -- any rules or limitations

Here is a minimal example:

# Weekly Report Writer

## Description
Generates a formatted weekly status report from task data and conversation summaries.

## Instructions
Use this skill when asked to produce a weekly report. Gather completed tasks from the past 7 days, summarize key conversations, and format the output using the template below.

## Constraints
- Only include tasks marked as Done in the reporting period.
- Keep the report under 500 words.

## Template
### Weekly Report - {date}
**Completed Tasks:** {task_list}
**Key Highlights:** {highlights}
**Blockers:** {blockers}

4. Add supporting files​

Depending on your skill, you may want to include:

  • Templates -- boilerplate documents, email drafts, or report formats the agent fills in
  • Rubrics -- evaluation criteria the agent uses to assess quality
  • Reference data -- lookup tables, style guides, or domain-specific knowledge
  • Examples -- sample inputs and expected outputs

Place these files in the same skill directory alongside SKILL.md.

5. Save and test​

Save your changes. Adding or modifying a skill requires an agent restart for the changes to take effect. Restart the agent from the Agents list or the Agent Profile page, then test the skill by giving the agent a task that should trigger it.

Verify​

  • The skill appears in the agent's Skills tab with its name and description.
  • Ask the agent to perform a task covered by the skill. The agent should reference the skill's instructions and templates in its response.
tip

Skills are a good fit for tasks that require consistent formatting, domain-specific knowledge, or multi-step workflows with reusable templates. If you just need a simple set of steps, a procedure may be a better choice.

info

Skills follow a standard specification, which means they are portable across tools and platforms that support the same format.