> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/anthropics/skills/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Installation

> Install and use Anthropic skills in Claude Code, Claude.ai, and the Claude API

You can use skills in three environments: Claude Code (the most full-featured option with plugin support), Claude.ai (with built-in skills for paid plans), and the Claude API (for custom integrations).

## Claude Code

Claude Code supports skills through its plugin marketplace system. The Anthropic skills repository can be added as a marketplace, giving you access to two curated skill collections.

### Add the skills marketplace

Register the Anthropic skills repository:

```bash theme={null}
/plugin marketplace add anthropics/skills
```

This makes the `anthropic-agent-skills` marketplace available with two plugin collections:

* **document-skills** - Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and PDF processing
* **example-skills** - 12 example skills demonstrating various capabilities

### Install skills via browse

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the plugin browser">
    Run the browse command:

    ```bash theme={null}
    Browse and install plugins
    ```

    Or use the command palette (Ctrl+P) and select "Browse and install plugins"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the marketplace">
    Choose `anthropic-agent-skills` from the marketplace list
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a skill collection">
    Select either:

    * `document-skills` - Document processing suite (PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
    * `example-skills` - Creative, development, and enterprise examples
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install">
    Click "Install now" to add the skills to Claude Code
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Install skills via command

You can also install directly:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash Document skills theme={null}
  /plugin install document-skills@anthropic-agent-skills
  ```

  ```bash Example skills theme={null}
  /plugin install example-skills@anthropic-agent-skills
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### What's included

**document-skills** contains:

* `xlsx` - Create and edit Excel spreadsheets with formulas, charts, and formatting
* `docx` - Create and edit Word documents with tables of contents, track changes, and comments
* `pptx` - Generate PowerPoint presentations with custom themes and layouts
* `pdf` - Extract text/tables, merge/split PDFs, fill forms, add watermarks, OCR scanned documents

**example-skills** contains:

* `algorithmic-art` - Generate visual art through code
* `brand-guidelines` - Apply Anthropic's official brand colors and typography
* `canvas-design` - Create visual designs and layouts
* `doc-coauthoring` - Collaborative document creation workflows
* `frontend-design` - Build UI components with best practices
* `internal-comms` - Write newsletters, FAQs, and company updates
* `mcp-builder` - Generate Model Context Protocol servers
* `skill-creator` - Create and optimize new skills
* `slack-gif-creator` - Generate custom GIFs for team communication
* `theme-factory` - Generate and apply visual themes
* `web-artifacts-builder` - Create interactive web components
* `webapp-testing` - Automated testing workflows

### Use installed skills

Once installed, skills activate automatically when you mention related tasks:

<CodeGroup>
  ```text PDF extraction theme={null}
  Use the PDF skill to extract the form fields from contracts/agreement.pdf
  ```

  ```text Word document creation theme={null}
  Create a Word document with a table of contents and three sections: Introduction, Methods, Results
  ```

  ```text Excel analysis theme={null}
  Open sales-data.xlsx and create a pivot table showing revenue by region and quarter
  ```
</CodeGroup>

You can also explicitly invoke a skill:

```text theme={null}
Load the MCP builder skill and help me create a GitHub MCP server
```

## Claude.ai

Paid Claude.ai plans include access to all example skills from this repository. Skills are available automatically - no installation needed.

### Upload custom skills

You can also upload your own custom skills:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Prepare your skill">
    Create a folder with a `SKILL.md` file:

    ```markdown theme={null}
    ---
    name: my-custom-skill
    description: Description of what this skill does and when to use it
    ---

    # Instructions
    [Your skill instructions here]
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload to Claude.ai">
    1. Open Claude.ai and start a conversation
    2. Click the attachment icon or drag and drop your skill folder
    3. Claude will detect the SKILL.md file and load the skill
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use the skill">
    The skill is now available for the current conversation:

    ```text theme={null}
    Use my custom skill to process this data
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  For detailed instructions on uploading and using custom skills in Claude.ai, see [Using skills in Claude](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12512180-using-skills-in-claude#h_a4222fa77b).
</Note>

### Available built-in skills

All example skills from this repository are available in paid Claude.ai plans:

* Document processing (PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
* Creative tools (algorithmic art, canvas design, theme factory)
* Development tools (MCP builder, webapp testing, skill creator)
* Enterprise tools (brand guidelines, internal communications)

Skills activate automatically based on your requests.

## Claude API

The Claude API supports both Anthropic's pre-built skills and custom skills via the Skills API.

### Use pre-built skills

Anthropicmakes curated skills available via the API:

```python theme={null}
import anthropic

client = anthropic.Anthropic(api_key="your-api-key")

response = client.messages.create(
    model="claude-4-0-20250514",
    max_tokens=4096,
    skills=[
        {"type": "prebuilt", "name": "pdf"},
        {"type": "prebuilt", "name": "docx"}
    ],
    messages=[
        {"role": "user", "content": "Extract tables from report.pdf and create a Word document summary"}
    ]
)
```

### Upload custom skills

Create and upload your own skills:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a skill">
    Prepare a skill folder with SKILL.md:

    ```markdown theme={null}
    ---
    name: data-analysis
    description: Analyze CSV data and generate reports with visualizations
    ---

    # Data analysis workflow

    ## Steps
    1. Load CSV data
    2. Clean and validate
    3. Generate summary statistics
    4. Create visualizations
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Package the skill">
    Create a .skill file (ZIP archive with SKILL.md and resources):

    ```bash theme={null}
    zip -r data-analysis.skill SKILL.md scripts/ references/
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload via API">
    ```python theme={null}
    import anthropic

    client = anthropic.Anthropic(api_key="your-api-key")

    # Upload the skill
    with open("data-analysis.skill", "rb") as f:
        skill = client.skills.create(
            name="data-analysis",
            file=f
        )

    # Use the uploaded skill
    response = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-4-0-20250514",
        max_tokens=4096,
        skills=[{"type": "custom", "id": skill.id}],
        messages=[
            {"role": "user", "content": "Analyze sales-data.csv"}
        ]
    )
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Skills API quickstart

For complete API documentation and examples, see the [Skills API Quickstart](https://docs.claude.com/en/api/skills-guide#creating-a-skill).

Key capabilities:

* Upload custom skills as .skill files
* List and manage uploaded skills
* Use pre-built Anthropic skills
* Combine multiple skills in a single request
* Version and update skills

## Verify installation

To confirm skills are working:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash Claude Code theme={null}
  # List installed plugins
  /plugin list

  # Test a skill
  List the available skills and tell me what the PDF skill can do
  ```

  ```text Claude.ai theme={null}
  # Ask Claude to list available skills
  What skills do you have available?

  # Try using a skill
  Use the PDF skill to help me extract tables from a document
  ```

  ```python API theme={null}
  import anthropic

  client = anthropic.Anthropic(api_key="your-api-key")

  # List available pre-built skills
  skills = client.skills.list()
  for skill in skills:
      print(f"{skill.name}: {skill.description}")
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Troubleshooting

### Claude Code: Marketplace not found

If `/plugin marketplace add anthropics/skills` fails:

1. Verify you're using the latest version of Claude Code
2. Check that the repository URL is correct: `anthropics/skills`
3. Try adding with the full GitHub URL:
   ```bash theme={null}
   /plugin marketplace add https://github.com/anthropics/skills
   ```

### Claude Code: Skills not triggering

If installed skills don't activate:

1. Verify installation:
   ```bash theme={null}
   /plugin list
   ```
2. Explicitly mention the skill:
   ```text theme={null}
   Load the PDF skill and extract text from document.pdf
   ```
3. Check that your request matches the skill's description triggers

### Claude.ai: Custom skill not loading

If your custom skill doesn't load:

1. Verify the SKILL.md file has valid YAML frontmatter
2. Check that `name` and `description` fields are present
3. Ensure the file is named exactly `SKILL.md` (case-sensitive)
4. Try uploading just the SKILL.md file first, then add resources

### API: Skill upload fails

If skill upload returns an error:

1. Verify the .skill file is a valid ZIP archive
2. Check that SKILL.md is at the root of the archive
3. Ensure YAML frontmatter is valid
4. Verify your API key has skills upload permissions

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Understand skills" icon="book" href="/what-are-skills">
    Learn how skills work and the progressive disclosure system
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create a skill" icon="code" href="/creating-skills/overview">
    Build your first custom skill with the template
  </Card>

  <Card title="Explore examples" icon="folder-open" href="/skills/overview">
    Browse the full collection of example skills
  </Card>

  <Card title="API reference" icon="code" href="https://docs.claude.com/en/api/skills-guide">
    Complete Skills API documentation
  </Card>
</CardGroup>