# Claude Code reads skills only from .claude folder, test finds

Digest AI · Agents & Tools · published 2026-10-05T23:27:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/claude-code-reads-skills-only-from-claude-folder-test-finds

## Summary

A test of 19 possible locations for skill files in Claude Code and Codex found only one location each read by the tools. Claude Code 2.1.290 detected skills only in the `.claude/skills` folder, while Codex 0.153.4 read from `.agents/skills` and `.codex`—though the latter is not officially documented. The author placed empty skill files in 19 folders, naming each `probe-*`, and queried both tools to list matching skills. Neither tool found skills in the remaining 16 locations, including `.cursor` and `.gemini`, which the author suspects are for other tools like Cursor or Gemini CLI.

The experiment revealed a mismatch between documented and actual behavior: Codex read from `.codex` despite no mention in its documentation. To share skills across tools without duplication, the author linked a single file in `.agents/skills` to a symbolic link in `.claude/skills`. This approach ensures consistency when updating skills, as copying files to multiple locations risks inconsistencies. The author advises users to verify their skill locations with `find .claude/skills .agents/skills -maxdepth 1 -mindepth 1 2>/dev/null` and notes that home-directory locations (e.g., `~/.claude/skills`) were not tested.

## Key points

- Claude Code 2.1.290 reads skills only from `.claude/skills` folder, Codex 0.153.4 reads from `.agents/skills` and `.codex`
- 16 of 19 tested locations yielded no results for either tool, including `.cursor` and `.gemini`
- Symbolic linking a skill file in `.agents/skills` to `.claude/skills` lets both tools access the same file

## Why it matters

Users relying on skills for automation or workflows must place files in the correct folders to avoid visibility issues. The test highlights undocumented behavior and offers a workaround for cross-tool compatibility, reducing maintenance effort for shared skills.

## Sources

1. [18 out of 19 locations: Where your skill files are not read by Claude Code](https://note.com/generativeai_new/n/n634ae7870a07?hl=en) (note.com, 2026-10-05)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Claude Code reads skills only from .claude folder, test finds", 5 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/claude-code-reads-skills-only-from-claude-folder-test-finds

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