Install Skills

Manage skills using the npx skills CLI. All commands use npx --yes (skip npx install prompt) and -a openclaw -y (target OpenClaw, skip confirmation).

Install scope: project vs global

• Project (default): installs to workspace. Skills work but are not tracked for check/update.
• Global (--global): installs to ~/.agents/skills/ and creates a lock file. Enables check/update.

Use --global for skills that should be kept up to date. Use project scope for experiments.

List skills in a repo

Always list before installing an unfamiliar repo:

npx --yes skills add owner/repo --list -a openclaw -y

Install a skill

# Project scope (no update tracking)
npx --yes skills add owner/repo --skill <skill-name> -a openclaw -y

# Global scope (enables check/update)
npx --yes skills add owner/repo --skill <skill-name> -a openclaw -y --global

Install one skill at a time unless explicitly asked to install multiple.

Source formats

# GitHub shorthand (preferred)
npx --yes skills add owner/repo --skill <name> -a openclaw -y

# Full GitHub URL
npx --yes skills add https://github.com/owner/repo --skill <name> -a openclaw -y

# Direct path to a specific skill in a repo
npx --yes skills add https://github.com/owner/repo/tree/main/skills/my-skill -a openclaw -y

# Local path
npx --yes skills add ./my-local-skills --skill <name> -a openclaw -y

Install all skills from a repo

npx --yes skills add owner/repo --skill '*' -a openclaw -y

Verify installed skills

npx --yes skills list -a openclaw
npx --yes skills list -a openclaw --global

Find skills

Search the skills directory by keyword:

npx --yes skills find <query>

Remove a skill

npx --yes skills remove <skill-name> -a openclaw -y
npx --yes skills remove <skill-name> -a openclaw -y --global

Check for updates and update

Requires skills to have been installed with --global:

npx --yes skills check
npx --yes skills update

Defaults

• Prefer GitHub shorthand owner/repo over full URLs.
• --list before installing an unfamiliar repo.
• One skill at a time unless asked otherwise.
• Always -a openclaw -y for deterministic, non-interactive installs.
• Use --global when the user wants skills kept up to date.