How to add, use, and fix Cursor Skills

1. Add Cursor Skills

This example uses a local project. You need Cursor installed and a folder you can edit.

1. Open your project in Cursor. Create a meeting-recap folder inside .cursor/skills.
2. Save the example below as SKILL.md. The name must match its folder; include a description too.
3. Use the personal path for local access across projects. Open Customize → Skills to see discovered skills.

For this project

.cursor/skills/meeting-recap/SKILL.md

For your projects on this computer

~/.cursor/skills/meeting-recap/SKILL.md

The project path starts in your project folder. ~ means your home folder. Choose one location.

Practice example: your SKILL.md file

---
name: meeting-recap
description: Turn meeting notes into decisions and actions. Use when the user asks for a meeting recap.
---

Read the notes supplied by the user.
1. List the decisions.
2. Make an action list with an owner and due date.
3. Write "Not provided" for missing details. Do not invent them.
4. Return a draft for review. Do not send messages or change files.

Using a downloaded skill? Read its instructions and supporting files before adding it.

2. Use Cursor Skills

1. In Agent chat, type / and choose meeting-recap. Add the sample notes below.
2. Agent can also select the skill when your request matches its description.

/meeting-recap

Sample meeting notes:
Maya will draft the proposal by Friday.
The team agreed to offer a two-week trial.
Someone needs to check the budget; no owner was chosen.

Check the draft: Maya owns the proposal, Friday is its deadline, and the budget task has no named owner. If the answer adds facts, ask for a correction before using it.

Cursor Skills or Rules?

Cursor has both. Use a rule for guidance that should apply on its own, and a skill for a task you want done the same way each time.

Use a rule when

The guidance should apply in every chat, to matching files, or whenever you @-mention it. Project rules are .mdc files in .cursor/rules. A plain AGENTS.md file in your project also works.

Use a skill when

You want the same steps for one task, such as a meeting recap. A skill is a folder with SKILL.md and can include scripts or templates. Cursor loads it when your request matches, or when you type /skill-name.

Already have “Apply Intelligently” rules?

Cursor’s /migrate-to-skills command turns them into skills. Rules that always apply or target specific files stay rules.

Based on Cursor Skills documentation (opens in a new tab) and Cursor Rules documentation (opens in a new tab), checked on 12 October 2026.

3. Fix Cursor Skills

The skill does not appear

Check the folder, SKILL.md filename, name, and description. Look in Customize → Skills after saving.

It only works for some files

Check the paths field and whether the skill is inside a nested project folder. These can limit which files activate it.

It does not run automatically

Check for disable-model-invocation: true. That setting requires an explicit /meeting-recap command.

If a downloaded skill fails after starting, read the first error. Check its required tools, files, and access. A skill folder does not install those for you.