Install a Skill in Codex CLI

A skill is a superpower for your assistant: a short set of instructions that teaches it one job well. In Codex, a skill is a folder with a file called SKILL.md inside. The file must have a name and a description. Codex reads only the name and description at the start. It loads the full instructions when it decides to use the skill.

Codex follows the open Agent Skills standard, so many skill folders work in more than one assistant.

Option A: install a curated skill

Run the skill installer

Start Codex with codex. Then type the installer with the skill name. OpenAI's example installs the linear skill:

$skill-installer linear

You can also ask the installer in plain words to download a skill from another repository (a project folder on a site such as GitHub).

Restart if the skill is missing

Codex finds new skills by itself. If a new skill does not appear, quit with /quit and start codex again.

Option B: copy a skill folder by hand

Put the folder in a skills folder

Codex looks for skills in these places:

$HOME is your home folder. Copy the whole skill folder, with its SKILL.md file, into one of these paths.

Read the SKILL.md file

Open SKILL.md in a text editor before you use it. The description tells Codex when to use the skill. The rest is the instructions Codex will follow. A skill folder can also hold scripts (small programs), so only use skills from people you trust.

Use a skill

There are two ways:

• Type /skills and pick the skill from the list.
• Type $ and the skill name in your request.

Codex can also pick a skill by itself when your request matches the skill description.

Turn a skill off

To turn a skill off without deleting it, OpenAI shows this entry for your settings file ~/.codex/config.toml:

[[skills.config]]
path = "/path/to/skill/SKILL.md"
enabled = false

Restart Codex after you change the file.

Find skills that we checked in our Skills list. To compare skills with agents and connectors, read Skills, agents and connectors explained.