By the end of this guide, you'll know how to create your own Skill (a bundle of instructions Claude loads only when relevant to a task) in the Claude app, turn it on for a company (Team/Enterprise) account, and manage skills as a developer via the API — in about 10-15 minutes including hands-on steps. This is based strictly on Anthropic's official announcement of Agent Skills from October 2025 and its subsequent updates.
🟢 Model references match the current lineup · model notice · Fable subscription
Fable 5 and 5.1 subscription (updated September 7, 2026): Claude Fable 5.1, released September 1, 2026, is the current Fable model and Fable 5 is now legacy. Plan terms are the same for both — Max and Team Premium plans include Fable at up to 50% of the weekly usage limit; Pro and Team Standard use usage credits (
What you need before starting
Before using Skills, make sure the following are in place.
- A Claude account — per Anthropic's announcement, Skills in the Claude apps are available to Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise users.
- Access to the Claude web or desktop app.
- If you're on a Team or Enterprise account, an organization admin (or their cooperation).
- For developers working via the API/Console: an Anthropic Console account, plus the Code Execution Tool included in your API requests along with the Skills beta header.
| Plan | Can an individual just turn it on in Settings? |
|---|---|
| Pro | Yes — enable directly in Settings |
| Max | Yes — enable directly in Settings |
| Team | No — an admin must first enable Skills organization-wide |
| Enterprise | No — an admin must first enable Skills organization-wide |
Quick glossary
- Agent Skills — folders of instructions, scripts, and resources that Claude loads only when relevant to the task at hand.
- SKILL.md — the instructions/description file inside a skill folder.
- skill-creator — a skill in the Claude app that generates a skill folder and its SKILL.md automatically, just from a conversation.
- Code Execution Tool — the tool that provides the secure environment Skills need to run their executable code via the API. Per current official docs the tool itself is generally available (GA); it is the Skills feature that requires a beta header.
- /v1/skills endpoint — endpoint (a URL address for sending requests) — how developers create and manage custom skill versions programmatically.
- Claude Console — Anthropic's developer management interface, where you can create, view, and upgrade skill versions.
How do Skills actually work?
Claude first scans its available skills when a task begins, and only loads a skill's instructions if it's relevant to what's being asked. Per the official announcement, this has four properties. It's composable — Claude automatically identifies which skills are needed and coordinates their use together. It's portable — the same format works across Claude apps, Claude Code, and the API. It's efficient — only what's needed loads, when it's needed. And it's powerful — skills can include executable code for tasks where running fixed code is more reliable than generating tokens. While using the Claude app, you can even see which skill is being used in Claude's chain of thought.
How do I build my own skill in the Claude app?
In the Claude app, you don't need to write a SKILL.md file by hand — describe what you want to the 'skill-creator' skill, and it generates the folder structure, the SKILL.md file, and any needed resources for you.
- Turn on Skills in Settings. The exact menu label may vary by app version, so look for a 'Skills' item on the settings screen and enable it. → Success signal: Skills-related options appear as enabled in later conversations.
- Describe your desired workflow in a new conversation. For example, ask skill-creator something like "I want a skill that builds an Excel file matching our weekly report template." → Success signal: Claude starts asking follow-up questions about the skill's purpose and when it should be used.
- Answer the questions to describe your workflow. skill-creator will ask, in order, for the skill's name, when it should apply, and what resources (templates, forms, etc.) it needs. → Success signal: once you finish answering, Claude tells you it has generated the folder structure, SKILL.md, and any needed resources.
- Leave the finished skill as-is. No manual file editing is required — the next time you ask for related work, Claude will automatically load and use this skill. → Success signal: when you request a similar task again, the newly created skill's name appears in Claude's chain of thought.
What's different for a company (Team/Enterprise) account?
On Team and Enterprise plans, an organization admin must first enable Skills organization-wide before an individual user can turn it on in their own Settings. If the admin hasn't enabled it yet, individual users may not see the Skills option at all, or it may remain off.
How do developers manage skills via the API and Console?
On the Claude Developer Platform (API), Skills can be added to Messages API requests, and the /v1/skills endpoint lets developers create and manage versions of their own custom skills. Using Skills via the API requires including the Code Execution Tool in the request along with the Skills beta header (skills-2025-10-02), since — per the official announcement — this tool provides the secure environment needed for a skill's executable code to run. Using Anthropic-created skills, Claude can read and generate Excel spreadsheets with formulas, PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, and fillable PDFs; custom skills you build can be created, viewed, and version-upgraded through the Claude Console.
Common sticking points & fixes
"I'm on a Team/Enterprise account but I don't even see a Skills option"
This usually means an admin hasn't enabled Skills organization-wide yet. Ask your admin to turn it on in the organization's settings first.
"I called a skill via the API but it didn't execute"
The request is likely missing the code_execution tool or the Skills beta header (skills-2025-10-02). Include both and try again.
For more detailed issues — like a skill you already built not being recognized or behaving unexpectedly — a dedicated skill-recognition troubleshooting guide is the more accurate resource.
Going further
Per the official announcement (updated December 18, 2025), Anthropic has since added organization-wide skill management, a directory of partner-built skills, and published Agent Skills as an open standard for cross-platform portability. Real-world examples cited include Box using Skills to turn stored files into PowerPoint, Excel, and Word documents that follow organizational standards, and Canva using Skills to customize agents. As a next step, try Anthropic's built-in skills (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, PDF) first, then use skill-creator to build a custom skill for your own workflow.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can I use Skills on the Free plan?
Per the official announcement, Skills in the Claude apps are stated to be available to Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise users. The Free plan isn't mentioned, so it's safest to check availability directly in the app.
Q. Do I need to know how to code to build a skill?
No. In the Claude app, skill-creator generates the folder structure, SKILL.md, and any needed resources just from a conversation about your workflow, so no manual file editing is needed. Building custom skills via the API/Console does require development work, however.
Q. I'm on a company account — can I just turn Skills on myself?
No. On Team and Enterprise plans, an admin must first enable Skills organization-wide before individual users can turn it on in their own Settings.
Q. What else do I need to enable to use Skills via the API?
You need to include the Code Execution Tool in the request and specify the Skills beta header. Per current official docs, this tool provides the secure environment Skills need to run, and the tool itself is generally available (GA).
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