How to install a Claude Code skill (Mac, Linux, Windows)

A Claude Code skill is just a folder with a SKILL.md file inside. Installing it means putting that folder where Claude Code looks. It takes under a minute.

1. Pick personal or project

Personal: ~/.claude/skills/ works in every project on your computer. Best for most people.
Project: .claude/skills/ inside a repo. Commit it and everyone on the project gets the skill.

2. Mac and Linux

Open Terminal in the folder with your download, then run:

mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
unzip taste-engine.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

3. Windows

Open PowerShell in the folder with your download, then run:

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force $HOME\.claude\skills
Expand-Archive taste-engine.zip -DestinationPath $HOME\.claude\skills

Replace taste-engine.zip with the name of your download. Packs unzip into several skill folders at once.

4. Check the folder

Each skill needs its own folder with SKILL.md directly inside it:

~/.claude/skills/
  taste-engine/
    SKILL.md
    LICENSE

If you see taste-engine/taste-engine/SKILL.md, move the inner folder up one level.

5. Use it

Start a new Claude Code session so it picks up the new skill. Then ask in plain words, for example: "Use Taste Engine to design my landing page." Claude also reaches for a skill on its own when your request matches its description.

Claude.ai instead of Claude Code

In Claude.ai, open Settings, then Capabilities, and upload the skill folder as a zip under Skills. Upload one skill per zip. If you don't see Skills there, turn on code execution on the same page first.

If it doesn't show up

Start a fresh session. Skills load when a session starts.
Check the folder is nested once, not twice (step 4).
Open SKILL.md and check it starts with a header that has a name and a description.
Ask more directly: name the skill in your request.