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How to install Agent Skills in GitHub Copilot

This guide installs the diagnosing-superpowers skill in GitHub Copilot and ends with a check that Copilot lists it. A skill here is a folder with a SKILL.md file. You can copy the folder yourself or use the GitHub CLI route, which is a public preview. The folder paths and the install route come from GitHub Copilot's documentation, and the commands come from the listing's install data.

Updated Oct 26, 2026 · Built from catalog data; how we rank and grade

Checked against GitHub Copilot's documentation on Oct 26, 2026. Commands and config blocks are generated from the same install data as each listing page.

Before you start

  • GitHub Copilot installed and able to start.
  • Git, to copy a skill from its repository (or download the repository as a zip).
  • A skill folder: diagnosing-superpowers is used here.

  1. 1. Know what a skill is

    GitHub Copilot uses a copilot folder in your home directory for your own skills and the .github folder for a project. The file has to carry the exact name shown.

    • A file named exactly SKILL.md with name (required, lowercase hyphenated) and description (required); license and allowed-tools are optional.
    • Where GitHub Copilot looks: ~/.copilot/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md for you, .github/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md for one project.

  2. 2. Install a skill (diagnosing-superpowers)

    The first block uses the GitHub CLI, which is a public preview, so check your gh version before picking it. The second block is a manual copy into your user skills directory.

    With the GitHub CLI (public preview, needs gh 2.90.0 or later)
    gh skill install obra/superpowers diagnosing-superpowers
    Copy the skill folder into ~/.copilot/skills/
    git clone --depth 1 --branch main https://github.com/obra/superpowers.git skill-src
mkdir -p ~/.copilot/skills
cp -r skill-src/skills/diagnosing-superpowers ~/.copilot/skills/diagnosing-superpowers
rm -rf skill-src
    • Copy the skill folder into one of the skill directories, or run copilot skill add with a file, URL or directory. The GitHub CLI also has gh skill install OWNER/REPOSITORY SKILL (public preview, needs gh 2.90.0 or later).
    • gh skill installs for Copilot at project scope by default.

  3. 3. Load it in a session

    A skill added while a session is open needs a refresh, so either reload skills or open a new session.

    • A skill added mid-session shows up after /skills reload.

Check that it works

One check inspects a named skill in the CLI, and the other lists skills from your shell.

  • Run /skills info SKILL-NAME in the CLI, or copilot skill list.

Troubleshooting

A skill added mid-session does not show
Run /skills reload, then /skills info SKILL-NAME. Source

Security notes

  • A skill is instructions plus, sometimes, scripts that the agent can run with your permissions. Read SKILL.md and any scripts before you install a skill from someone you do not know.
  • Skills can tell the agent to do things you did not ask for; Agent Market does not grade skill security yet, so check the source yourself.
  • Prefer the host's own install route when it has one; here that is: Copy the skill folder into one of the skill directories, or run copilot skill add with a file, URL or directory. The GitHub CLI also has gh skill install OWNER/REPOSITORY SKILL (public preview, needs gh 2.90.0 or later).

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Servers and skills in this guide

Next, browse the skills that list GitHub Copilot as a supported host, or add an MCP server to GitHub Copilot.

  1. 1
    diagnosing-superpowers

    obra

    Use when a superpowers session went wrong and your human partner wants to know why — repeated work, ignored plans, stumbles, poor results, a skill that didn't…

    ★ 304.6KLast active Oct 21, 2026Claude Code, Claude apps, Codex, Cursor +6

Related

Sources

Cite this page

How to install Agent Skills in GitHub Copilot. Agent Mart. https://agentmart.dev/guides/install-skills-github-copilot (last updated 2026-10-26)