skills.md Codex Docs, 2026-02-19 20:37 UTC → 2026-03-31 00:39 UTC

1# Agent Skills1# Agent Skills

2 2 

3Give Codex new capabilities and expertise3Use agent skills to extend Codex with task-specific capabilities. A skill packages instructions, resources, and optional scripts so Codex can follow a workflow reliably. Skills build on the [open agent skills standard](https://agentskills.io).

4 4 

5Use agent skills to extend Codex with task-specific capabilities. A skill packages instructions, resources, and optional scripts so Codex can follow a workflow reliably. You can share skills across teams or with the community. Skills build on the [open agent skills standard](https://agentskills.io).5Skills are the authoring format for reusable workflows. Plugins are the installable distribution unit for reusable skills and apps in Codex. Use skills to design the workflow itself, then package it as a [plugin](https://developers.openai.com/codex/plugins/build) when you want other developers to install it.

6 6 

7Skills are available in the Codex CLI, IDE extension, and Codex app.7Skills are available in the Codex CLI, IDE extension, and Codex app.

8 8 

67 67 

68Codex supports symlinked skill folders and follows the symlink target when scanning these locations.68Codex supports symlinked skill folders and follows the symlink target when scanning these locations.

69 69 

70## Install skills70These locations are for authoring and local discovery. When you want to

71distribute reusable skills beyond a single repo, or optionally bundle them with

72app integrations, use [plugins](https://developers.openai.com/codex/plugins/build).

71 73 

72To install skills beyond the built-ins, use `$skill-installer`:74## Distribute skills with plugins

75 

76Direct skill folders are best for local authoring and repo-scoped workflows. If

77you want to distribute a reusable skill, bundle two or more skills together, or

78ship a skill alongside an app integration, package them as a

79[plugin](https://developers.openai.com/codex/plugins/build).

80 

81Plugins can include one or more skills. They can also optionally bundle app

82mappings, MCP server configuration, and presentation assets in a single

83package.

84 

85## Install curated skills for local use

86 

87To add curated skills beyond the built-ins for your own local Codex setup, use `$skill-installer`. For example, to install the `$linear` skill:

73 88 

74```bash89```bash

75$skill-installer install the linear skill from the .experimental folder90$skill-installer linear

76```91```

77 92 

78You can also prompt the installer to download skills from other repositories. Codex detects newly installed skills automatically; if one doesn’t appear, restart Codex.93You can also prompt the installer to download skills from other repositories.

94Codex detects newly installed skills automatically; if one doesn't appear,

95restart Codex.

96 

97Use this for local setup and experimentation. For reusable distribution of your

98own skills, prefer plugins.

79 99 

80## Enable or disable skills100## Enable or disable skills

81 101