# How do skills work in ZeroTwo?

> Find, install and use skills, turn them off or remove them, and create your own with Skill Creator. Includes how skills differ on the desktop app.

Source: https://help.zerotwo.ai/en/articles/20001066-how-do-skills-work-in-zerotwo
Section: ZeroTwo
Last updated: 2026-10-05

A skill is a reusable set of instructions that teaches ZeroTwo how to do one kind of task your way. It is a folder with a `SKILL.md` file, plus any scripts or reference files it needs. The file's description tells ZeroTwo when the skill applies, and the instructions are read when it is used.

## Find and install skills

1. Click **Customize** in the left rail and choose **Skills**.
2. Use the **Search skills** box, or switch between the groups under the search box:
  - **Explore** lists skills you can add.
  - **Personal** lists skills you created or added yourself.
  - **System** lists the skills that come with ZeroTwo.
  - On the desktop app, skills that live in a project folder appear in a group named after that project.
3. Click **Install** next to a skill you want. Installed skills are listed in the Customize sidebar, which also has a search for them.

Click any skill to open its window. It shows the skill's `SKILL.md`, so you can read exactly what it tells ZeroTwo to do before you use it.

## Use a skill

- **Pick it in the message box.** In Work or Code mode, type **/** to see commands and skills, or **$** to see only skills, then choose one.
- **Try it from its window.** Click **Try now** to open a new Work chat with the skill already in the message box. You send the message yourself. The button is available once the skill is installed and switched on.
- **Let ZeroTwo pick.** In Work and Code, ZeroTwo is given the names and descriptions of your enabled skills and can decide to use one that matches your request.

## Turn a skill off or remove it

In a skill's window, use the switch at the top to turn it on or off. A skill that is switched off is labelled **Disabled**. To remove an installed skill, click **Uninstall**; the button is not shown for skills that come with ZeroTwo, for plugin skills or for skills that live as folders on your computer. The **More options** menu has **Manage**, which opens the skills list in **Settings > Plugins**.

## Create your own skill

- **Ask ZeroTwo.** In Work or Code mode, describe the process you want to reuse, for example "Turn how I write our weekly update into a skill". ZeroTwo can use its built-in **Skill Creator** skill to write the `SKILL.md` and save it to your account. Skills saved this way also sync to your desktop app.
- **Record it (desktop app only).** Choose **Add** at the top of the Customize page, then **Record a skill**. Demonstrate the workflow, then stop the recording.

Keep the description specific. It should say what the skill does and when to use it, and it can be at most 1,024 characters. A skill's name must be lowercase words joined by hyphens, such as `weekly-update`.

On the desktop app, skills are also ordinary folders. Your own skills are kept in `~/.zerotwo/skills`, and a project can keep its own in a `.claude/skills` or `.agents/skills` folder.

## Skills that come with plugins

A plugin can bundle skills together with connectors and other tools. When you install a plugin, its skills appear in your skills list. See the [connectors and plugins](https://help.zerotwo.ai/en/collections/12923329-connectors-and-plugins) articles.