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Cursor Skills: add and use Agent Skills in Cursor

Cursor reads Skills from more folders than Claude Code or Codex, but it quietly skips any Skill whose name doesn’t match its folder. Here’s where to put Skills, how to run them, and how they differ from Cursor rules.

For Cursor users8 min to complete
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Start here:Install·Name rule·Rules vs Skills

The short answer

  1. 1Put the Skill in ~/.cursor/skills/ for every project (the only folder that can sync to Cloud Agents), or in .cursor/skills/ for one project.
  2. 2The name in SKILL.md must match the folder name — lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only.
  3. 3Find it under Customize → Skills. Run with /skill-name, or attach with @skill-name.
  4. 4Browse Cursor Skills on SkillsRadar and install with npx @skillsradar/cli@latest install <slug> --agent cursor.

Where Cursor looks for Skills

Cursor checks its own folders, the shared ~/.agents/skills/, and Claude Code / Codex folders too. If you already use another agent, your Skills may already be visible.

FolderWhat it’s for
~/.cursor/skills/Every project. The only folder that syncs to Cloud Agents. SkillsRadar installs here with --agent cursor.
~/.agents/skills/Every project on this computer. Also read by Codex.
.cursor/skills/ or .agents/skills/One project, anywhere in the repo. Nested folders apply to files under them.
.claude/skills/, .codex/skills/ (and ~ equivalents)Compatibility — Skills from Claude Code and Codex work here too.

How to add Skills to Cursor

SkillsRadar’s Cursor adapter writes to ~/.cursor/skills/, which is also the folder that can sync to Cloud Agents.

Easiest if Cursor is already open

  1. 1

    Copy the install prompt

    Open the Skill on SkillsRadar, select Copy install prompt, then Copy.

  2. 2

    Paste into Cursor

    Send it. Cursor follows SkillsRadar’s install instructions.

    Install prompt
    Read https://skillsradar.dev/skills/<slug>/install.md and follow the instructions to install the skill.

    You should see: You should see the version and folder under ~/.cursor/skills/.

After installing

Cursor looks for Skills when it starts. After installing, open a new chat or reload the window, then check Customize → Skills under the Agent Decides group.

The naming rule that makes Skills disappear

Cursor only loads a Skill when the name in its SKILL.md exactly matches the folder it sits in. When they differ, there’s no error — the Skill just isn’t there.

Example: you download launch-page, rename the folder to landing, and it vanishes. Rename the folder back, or change name to landing.

A name Cursor accepts uses only lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens; matches the folder that holds SKILL.md; and is paired with a description.

How to run a Skill in Cursor

  1. 1

    Call it with /

    In chat, type / and the Skill’s name, then your request:

    Cursor chat
    /launch-page Parcelo, a parcel-tracking dashboard for small online shops
  2. 2

    Keep it active for the session

    Pick it from the / menu and press Option+Enter (Mac) or Alt+Enter (Windows), or choose Use as Mode. It becomes a Custom Mode until you exit.

Use Skills in Cloud Agents

Cloud Agents don’t run on your computer, so they only get Skills Cursor syncs for them.

  1. 1

    Keep the Skill in ~/.cursor/skills/

    Project Skills and ~/.agents/skills/ stay on your machine.

  2. 2

    Turn on sync

    Open Settings → Agents → Context and Tools and enable Sync Skills for Cloud Agents.

  3. 3

    Or publish for your team

    Open the Skill in Customize → Skills and choose Publish.

Cursor rules vs Skills

Rules are short guidance Cursor adds to the conversation. A Skill is a procedure the agent loads only when the task calls for it.

A procedure, on demand

Skill

  • A folder with SKILL.md
  • Runs when relevant, or when you type /name
  • Multi-step work, scripts, templates

Guidance in context

Rule

  • .mdc files in .cursor/rules/ (plain .md files are ignored)
  • Always Apply, Apply Intelligently, Apply to Specific Files, or Apply Manually
  • Short conventions. Cursor also reads AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md

Cursor Skill not showing up?

Check the name first. A mismatch between name and folder is the usual reason.

Not in Customize → Skills

Confirm name matches the folder, then open a new chat or reload the window.

Missing in Cloud Agents

Move it to ~/.cursor/skills/ and turn on sync.

Never picked on its own

Its description may not match how you ask, or paths limits it to other files.

Common questions

What is the difference between Cursor rules and Skills?

Rules are guidance Cursor adds to conversations, either always or for matching files. Skills are folders holding a procedure that the agent uses when it’s relevant or when you call it.

Can Cursor use Claude Skills?

Yes. Cursor reads ~/.claude/skills/ and .claude/skills/, as long as each Skill’s name matches its folder.

Where are Cursor Skills stored?

~/.cursor/skills/ or ~/.agents/skills/ for every project, and .cursor/skills/ or .agents/skills/ for a single project. SkillsRadar installs to ~/.cursor/skills/ with --agent cursor.

Do Skills work in Cursor Cloud Agents?

Only Skills in ~/.cursor/skills/, and only after you turn on Sync Skills for Cloud Agents.

Also on Learn

Claude CodeClaude CodeCodex CLICodexCompare all threeMCP guide

Back to the Learn hub.

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