How to Install Openclaw Skills
A step-by-step guide to finding, installing, and configuring Openclaw skills in any environment.
What Are Openclaw Skills?
Openclaw Skills are modular capabilities that extend what your Openclaw agent can do. Think of them like plugins or extensions — each skill adds a specific ability such as web search, file management, or API integration.
Finding Skills
You can discover skills through: - The official Skill Hub — the primary marketplace - Community repositories — GitHub and GitLab projects - This directory — curated and audited recommendations
Installation Methods
### Method 1: Direct Install from Skill Hub
The simplest approach for most users: 1. Open your Openclaw configuration 2. Navigate to Skills settings 3. Search for the skill by name 4. Click Install and follow the prompts
### Method 2: Manual Installation
For skills not in the official hub: 1. Clone the skill repository 2. Copy the skill directory to your Openclaw skills folder 3. Restart your Openclaw agent 4. Verify the skill appears in your skill list
### Method 3: Container-Based Installation
For containerized deployments: 1. Add the skill to your Dockerfile or docker-compose configuration 2. Mount the skill directory as a volume 3. Set required environment variables 4. Rebuild and restart containers
Configuration
Most skills require some configuration: - Environment variables — API keys, connection strings - Configuration files — Skill-specific settings in YAML or JSON - Permissions — Network access, filesystem access, shell execution
Verification
After installation, verify your skill works: 1. Check the skill appears in your active skill list 2. Run a simple test command 3. Check logs for any errors 4. Verify all required permissions are granted
Troubleshooting
Common issues: - Skill not appearing — Check the installation path and restart the agent - Permission denied — Ensure all required permissions are configured - API errors — Verify environment variables and API keys are set correctly