Gemini CLI Skills
Gemini CLI, Google's open-source terminal AI agent, reads Agent Skills from its skills directory. SkillMD lists 25,790 safety-reviewed
skills (SKILL.md files) you can use in Gemini CLI free: search by task, install with one command, or copy the file
into ./.agents/skills.
Install a skill in Gemini CLI
- CLI (recommended). Install the CLI once, then add any skill to Gemini CLI by slug:
npm i -g skillmds skillmd add <owner>/<name> -a gemini-cli # project scope → ./.agents/skills skillmd add <owner>/<name> -a gemini-cli -g # global scope → ~/.gemini/skills - Manual copy. Open any skill on SkillMD, download its SKILL.md, and save it as
./.agents/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md(or~/.gemini/skills/…for every project). - MCP server. If Gemini CLI supports MCP servers, connect the SkillMD server and ask the agent to search and install skills for you. Setup details: MCP docs.
Machine-readable version of this guide: /agents/gemini-cli.txt
Top skills for Gemini CLI
Frequently asked questions
Where does Gemini CLI look for skills?
Gemini CLI loads Agent Skills from ./.agents/skills inside a project and from ~/.gemini/skills globally. Each skill lives in its own folder as <skill-name>/SKILL.md; the agent reads the skill's description and applies it when a request matches.
How do I install a skill in Gemini CLI?
Run npm i -g skillmds once, then skillmd add <owner>/<name> -a gemini-cli in your project (add -g for global scope). The CLI writes the SKILL.md into .agents/skills for you. You can also copy the file by hand from any skill page on skillmd.com.
Do skills made for Claude Code work in Gemini CLI?
Yes. SKILL.md is an open, agent-neutral format: the same file works across Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Cursor, Codex, and 60+ other agents. Only the directory it lives in changes, and skillmd add -a gemini-cli handles that for you.