How to Use Gemini Skills: Create Custom AI Workflows

People often find themselves explaining the same preferences to AI repeatedly. A marketer might describe the brand voice for every content request. A researcher might re-upload the same reference documents for each analysis. A developer might restate debugging requirements across multiple chats.

Gemini Skills solve this problem by letting you save those repeated instructions once and reuse them across every chat and task. Instead of re-typing your preferences, formatting rules, or uploading the same context files, you create a Skill that teaches Gemini how to handle a specific task exactly the way you want.

This guide covers how to use Gemini Skills, how to create one in multiple ways, how to design effective custom AI workflows, and how to manage your Skill library.

What Are Gemini Skills?

Gemini Skills are reusable instructions and additional context that teach Gemini how to handle a specific task or workflow. They capture the “how” of your work so you can skip repetition and jump straight to results.

Think of a Skill as a saved template that combines your instructions, preferences, formatting requirements, and reference materials into one reusable package. Instead of manually uploading the same style guide or repeating your brand voice guidelines in every chat, you create a Skill once and tell Gemini to use it whenever you need that specific workflow.

How Gemini Skills Work

The flow is straightforward:

1. You define a repetitive task and create a Skill that tells Gemini how to handle it
2. Gemini automatically recognizes when the Skill is relevant, or you manually request it using a / command
3. Gemini applies your instructions and context to complete the task consistently
4. You get results that match your requirements without re-explaining yourself

Skills work across all your Gemini conversations and tasks, on your phone, tablet, computer, or the web. They’re saved to your personal Skills library and accessible whenever you need them.

How Gemini Skills Compare to Regular Prompts

A regular prompt is like giving instructions verbally each time. A Skill is like creating a written procedure manual you can reference whenever needed.

Gemini Skills vs Gems

Google previously offered Gems, a customization tool that worked similarly to Skills. Gems and Skills both let you customize your Gemini experience for tasks you do repeatedly. However, Google is transitioning from Gems to Skills to provide more flexibility and better workflow automation.

The key advantages of Skills over Gems include the ability to use Skills directly in your current chat without switching tabs, stack multiple Skills together for complex workflows, and include reference files that Gemini can reference throughout the workflow.

Google will automatically migrate your Gems to Skills when Gems are phased out. The timeline is:

• November 2026: Support for Gems ends for personal Google Accounts
• March 2027: Support ends for Workspace business, enterprise, and nonprofit customers
• June 2027: Support ends for Workspace education customers

Until the cutoff date, both Gems and Skills are available.

What Can You Use Gemini Skills For?

Gemini Skills work best for tasks you do repeatedly and want Gemini to handle consistently. Here are practical applications across different work styles.

Writing and Content Creation

• Brand voice: Save your writing style, tone, and brand guidelines so every piece of content matches your voice
• Content formatting: Specify how you want blog posts, social media captions, or newsletters structured
• Editing workflows: Include your editing checklist, grammar preferences, and revision requirements
• Marketing copy: Save your product description format, call-to-action style, and sales messaging approach
• Academic writing: Include citation style, essay structure, and formatting requirements

Research and Analysis

• Document summarization: Teach Gemini your preferred summary format and key information to prioritize
• Competitive analysis: Include your analysis framework, comparison categories, and insight format
• Report generation: Specify sections, layout, data visualization preferences, and conclusion structure
• Research methodology: Provide your research process, source evaluation criteria, and documentation style

Business and Productivity

• Weekly status reports: Save the format, metrics to include, and tone for your recurring reports
• Meeting preparation: Automate briefing document creation with key context and agenda format
• Product descriptions: Store your product description template, feature hierarchy, and customer benefit focus
• Project documentation: Include your documentation standards, terminology, and visual preferences
• Administrative workflows: Automate repetitive business tasks like invoice formatting or proposal structure

Complex Multi-Step Workflows

You can combine multiple Skills to create sophisticated workflows. For example, a content creator might use:

• /match-my-writing-style + /seo-optimization + /brand-guidelines to create SEO-friendly content in brand voice
• /meeting-prep + /competitor-research + /sales-framework to prepare comprehensive sales meeting briefs
• /code-review-checklist + /documentation-standard + /testing-protocol to ensure quality code submissions

Smaller, focused Skills are easier to maintain and combine than one massive Skill handling everything.

Read More: How to Automate Your Work with AI in 2026

What You Need Before Creating a Gemini Skill

Gemini Skills have specific requirements. Check these before you start:

Requirements:

• You must be 18 or older
• You must sign in with a personal Google Account (work or school accounts aren’t currently supported)
• Keep Activity must be enabled on your Google Account
• Skills are gradually rolling out and may not be available in your region or account yet

Available platforms:

• Gemini mobile app (Android and iPhone)
• Gemini web app at gemini.google.com
• Gemini app on Mac

Current limitations:

• Manually created Skills won’t save in the Gemini mobile app (create manually in the web app instead)
• Skills with uploaded files can’t be edited in the mobile app or Mac app (edit them in the web app)

How to Create a Gemini Skill

Google currently offers four ways to create a Skill. Choose the method that best fits your situation.

Method 1: Create a Skill With Gemini (Easiest)

The conversational approach is the fastest way to create a Skill, especially if you’re not sure how to structure it.

Steps:

1. Open the Gemini mobile app or go to gemini.google.com
2. Open a new chat
3. Describe what you want the Skill to do. For example: “Create a skill that turns my weekly project updates into a concise report with sections for completed work, current priorities, blockers, and next steps.”
4. Gemini generates a Skill with suggested instructions
5. Review the output and suggest refinements. Say things like “Make the tone more technical” or “Add a section for budget impact”
6. Once you’re satisfied, ask Gemini to save it as a Skill
7. Gemini automatically saves it to your Skills library

Why this works: You’re literally describing your workflow to Gemini, and it generates the Skill structure for you. Refinement happens naturally in conversation. This method is ideal if you’re new to Skills or want to iterate quickly.

Method 2: Create a Skill Manually

Manual creation gives you full control over structure and wording. Use this if you have clear, detailed instructions already in mind.

Steps:

1. Go to Menu (hamburger icon) > Settings > Skills (in the Gemini mobile app or web app)
2. At the top of the Skills page, tap Add Skill and select Create Manually
3. Enter a Skill name (should be concise and describe what it does, like “weekly-status-reports”)
4. Write a description (one or two sentences explaining what the Skill does)
5. Add detailed instructions (exactly how Gemini should approach this task)
6. Tap Create

What to include in instructions:

• Step-by-step process
• Formatting rules (font, structure, length)
• Tone and voice
• Required sections or data points
• Things to avoid
• Examples of desired output
• Quality standards

Example instructions for a status report Skill:

“Convert weekly project updates into a structured report. Include: 1) Work completed this week (3-5 bullet points), 2) Current priorities (3 priorities ranked by importance), 3) Blockers or challenges (any issues needing escalation), 4) Next week’s goals (3-4 action items). Use a professional but conversational tone. Keep each section to 2-3 sentences maximum. Flag any risks or dependencies.”

Method 3: Customize a Skill Template

Google provides recommended Skill templates to save you time. These include Skills like /prep-for-meetings and /match-my-writing-style.

Steps:

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Skills
2. Scroll to the “Recommended” section to see available templates
3. Select a template that matches your workflow
4. Edit the name to match your specific use case
5. Customize the description for your context
6. Modify the instructions to match your preferences exactly
7. Tap Create

When to use templates: If Google’s recommended Skill is 80% of what you need, customize it. If you need something different, create manually or with Gemini instead.

Method 4: Upload a SKILL.md File

Advanced users can upload Skills written in Markdown format. This method is ideal if you’re moving a Skill from another system or want to include reference documents.

Steps:

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Skills (only available in the web app)
2. Tap Upload
3. Select a SKILL.md file, or select a folder/ZIP file containing a SKILL.md file in the root folder
4. Include any reference files (PDFs, documents, code samples) in the same folder
5. Tap Open
6. Review and edit the Skill if needed
7. Tap Create

Upload requirements:

Why upload a Skill: This method is best if you have a complex Skill with multiple reference files, or if you’re importing a Skill from another platform.

How to Use Gemini Skills

Once you’ve created or enabled a Skill, there are two ways to use it.

Let Gemini Automatically Use a Skill

When you enable a Skill, Gemini can automatically recognize when it’s relevant to your current task and apply it without you asking. This is the “set it and forget it” approach.

How it works:

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Skills
2. Make sure the Skill you want is activated (enabled)
3. Use Gemini normally
4. When the context matches your Skill’s purpose, Gemini automatically applies it

Example: If you’ve created a /match-my-writing-style Skill and enabled it, when you ask Gemini to write a blog post, Gemini will automatically check your writing style Skill and apply your voice without you mentioning it.

Note: Automatic Skill use only works if the Skill is activated. If a Skill is deactivated, Gemini won’t use it automatically but can still use it if you request it manually.

Manually Request a Specific Skill

To explicitly tell Gemini to use a particular Skill, type / followed by the Skill name.

Steps:

1. In a chat or task, type / to see your available Skills
2. Select the Skill you want, or type the name directly (like /weekly-report)
3. Provide your input or task
4. Press enter

Example: /weekly-report followed by “Complete this week’s project update for the marketing team.”

Gemini then applies your Skill’s instructions to the task and delivers the output in the format you specified.

Use Multiple Gemini Skills Together

You can combine multiple Skills in a single prompt to handle complex, multi-step workflows.

Steps:

1. Type / to open the Skill selector
2. Add multiple Skills separated by spaces (like /writing-style /seo-optimization /brand-voice)
3. Provide your task
4. Gemini applies all three Skills simultaneously

Example workflow for content creation:

/match-my-writing-style /seo-optimization /brand-guidelines Write a product description for our new analytics tool for small business owners.

Gemini combines all three Skill instructions to create content that matches your voice, includes SEO best practices, and follows your brand guidelines.

Best practice: Combine 2-3 focused Skills rather than stacking 5-10. Too many Skills can conflict or create confusion. Smaller, focused Skills are easier to manage and combine.

How to Create a Custom AI Workflow With Gemini Skills

The difference between a mediocre Skill and a truly useful one is intentional design. Here’s how to build Skill workflows that actually save you time.

1. Find a Repetitive Task

Start by identifying what you do repeatedly:

• Tasks you perform weekly, daily, or monthly
• Instructions you give Gemini multiple times
• Workflows where you upload the same files or provide the same context
• Outputs that follow a predictable format
• Work that requires consistent quality or style

The best Skill candidates happen at least once a week. If it’s a one-time task, a Skill isn’t necessary.

2. Give the Skill One Clear Job

A Skill is most powerful when it has a single, well-defined purpose.

Avoid this: “Handle all my marketing needs” (too vague)

Do this instead: “Turn a competitor URL into a one-page comparison highlighting their positioning, pricing, and feature advantages” (specific and testable)

The more focused the Skill, the easier it is to create, maintain, combine with other Skills, and explain to Gemini.

3. Define Inputs and Outputs

Be explicit about what Gemini should expect and what you want back.

Define inputs:

• What format will the user provide? (Text, file, link, list of items)
• What context does Gemini need?
• What assumptions should it make?

Define outputs:

• What format should results take? (Bullet points, paragraphs, table, structured JSON)
• How long should the output be?
• What sections or elements must be included?

Example for a status report Skill:

• Input: Weekly project update (text or list)
• Output: Formatted report with specific sections, 300-400 words, professional tone

4. Add Rules and Quality Checks

Include specific rules that keep output consistent and high-quality.

Formatting rules:

• “Use 12-point Calibri font, single-spaced”
• “Start with an executive summary (2 sentences max).”
• “Include a visual: 1-2 supporting charts or diagrams”

Tone and voice:

• “Use a professional but friendly tone”
• “Avoid technical jargon; explain complex concepts in plain language”
• “Match the voice of someone with 10+ years in this industry”

Required elements:

• “Always include a risk assessment section”
• “Include at least 3 metrics or data points”
• “End with next steps and owners”

Things to avoid:

• “Don’t use first-person language”
• “Never make claims without sources”
• “Avoid buzzwords like ‘synergy’ or ‘paradigm shift'”

Validation criteria:

• “Fact-check any statistics or claims”
• “Ensure no grammatical errors”
• “Verify all links are current and accurate”

5. Add Supporting Context

If your workflow requires reference material, include it with the Skill.

When to add supporting context:

• Brand style guides or voice documents
• Code samples or documentation standards
• Competitor research or market data
• Templates or examples of desired output
• Regulatory requirements or compliance checklists

Upload these as reference files alongside your Skill. Gemini can then reference them throughout the workflow without you uploading them again.

6. Test the Skill With Real Examples

Before relying on a Skill, test it with actual inputs.

Testing checklist:

• Provide 3-5 real examples of input you’d actually use
• Check if output matches your expectations
• Verify the format is correct
• Confirm the tone and voice are right
• Look for any gaps in the Skill’s instructions

If results fall short, refine the Skill’s instructions. You can edit a Skill conversationally by asking Gemini to “make this section more detailed” or “simplify the tone.”

7. Split Complex Workflows Into Multiple Skills

If your workflow has multiple distinct phases, create separate Skills for each phase and combine them.

Instead of one massive Skill:

“Handle everything related to content creation from research to publication”

Create modular Skills:

1. /research-keywords for keyword research and gap analysis
2. /create-outline for content structure
3. /write-draft for first draft
4. /apply-brand-voice for tone consistency
5. /optimize-seo for search optimization

Then combine them: /research-keywords /create-outline /write-draft /apply-brand-voice /optimize-seo for a complete workflow.

Benefits: Skills are easier to update, simpler to understand, reusable for other workflows, and less likely to conflict.

Gemini Skills Example: Build an SEO Content Workflow

Here’s how to build a practical custom workflow using multiple Skills.

Goal: Create SEO-optimized product pages that match your brand voice.

The workflow:

1. Input: Product name and basic features
2. Skill 1 (/seo-research): Research target keywords, search intent, and competitor positioning
3. Skill 2 (/content-outline): Create an SEO-optimized outline with sections for headline, intro, features, benefits, CTA
4. Skill 3 (/seo-draft): Write the first draft following SEO best practices (keyword placement, meta descriptions, etc.)
5. Skill 4 (/match-brand-voice): Apply your unique brand voice and style
6. Skill 5 (/quality-check): Verify grammar, links, formatting, and accuracy
7. Output: Publish-ready product page

Skill 1: SEO Research

Name: seo-research

Description: Research target keywords, search volume, and competitor positioning for a product

Instructions: For the given product name and features, identify 5-10 primary and long-tail keywords. 

Check search volume and difficulty for each. Analyze the top 3 ranking competitors and their positioning. 

Output: Keyword list with volumes, competitor summary, and recommended keyword density targets.

Skill 2: Content Outline

Name: content-outline

Description: Create an SEO-optimized outline for product pages

Instructions: Use SEO keywords to structure a product page outline with these sections: 

H1 headline (include primary keyword), hero section, product overview, feature highlights, 

benefits, use cases, comparison to alternatives, customer testimonials, CTA, FAQ. 

Include recommended keyword placement for each section. Keep outline concise and clear.

Skill 3: SEO Draft

Name: seo-draft

Description: Write SEO-optimized product page copy

Instructions: Write the full product page following the outline. Naturally incorporate keywords 

without overusing them (maintain 1-2% keyword density). Write clear, benefit-focused copy. 

Include a meta description (150 characters) and focus keywords. Use short paragraphs and subheadings.

Skill 4: Match Brand Voice

Name: match-brand-voice

Description: Apply consistent brand voice to content

Instructions: Review the draft and adjust tone, language, and style to match our brand voice. 

We’re professional but approachable. Avoid jargon. Use active voice. Use “you” to address customers. 

Include our key messaging and value propositions naturally throughout.

Skill 5: Quality Check

Name: quality-check

Description: Final review of content quality and accuracy

Instructions: Review the content for grammar, spelling, clarity, and accuracy. 

Verify all links are correct. Ensure formatting is consistent. Check that all keywords are 

naturally integrated. Verify the meta description is under 160 characters. Provide final version ready to publish.

Running the workflow:

/seo-research /content-outline /seo-draft /match-brand-voice /quality-check Create an SEO product page for “CloudSync Pro,” which is a real-time data synchronization platform for enterprise teams.

Gemini applies all five Skills sequentially, producing a publish-ready product page optimized for search, aligned with your brand, and verified for quality.

Gemini Skills vs Tasks vs Schedules vs Gems

Understanding how these four concepts fit together prevents confusion.

How they work together:

• Your Skill teaches Gemini how to complete an action (the methodology)
• Your Task defines what you want done (the objective)
• Your Schedule sets when it happens (automatic or on demand)

Example: You want Gemini to create a weekly business briefing automatically every Monday morning.

• Skill (/business-briefing): Instructions for what goes into a briefing, format, tone
• Task: “Create my weekly business briefing”
• Schedule: “Every Monday at 8 AM”

When Monday at 8 AM arrives, the Schedule triggers the Task, which uses your Skill to generate the briefing.

How to Manage Gemini Skills

Once you’ve built a library of Skills, manage them effectively.

How to Edit a Gemini Skill

You can edit Skills in two ways.

Direct editing (simple changes):

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Skills
2. Tap the Skill you want to edit
3. Update the description or instructions directly
4. Tap Save

Conversational editing (complex refinements):

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Skills
2. Tap the Skill
3. Tap More (three dots) > Edit with Gemini
4. Chat with Gemini about the changes: “Make the tone more technical” or “Add a section for risk assessment”
5. Review and confirm the updated Skill

Editing Skills with uploaded files:

If your Skill includes reference files (PDFs, documents), you need to re-upload the entire Skill to update the files. Mobile and Mac apps don’t currently support this (use the web app instead).

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Skills
2. Tap the Skill
3. Tap More > Replace Skill
4. Upload the updated SKILL.md file and supporting files
5. Confirm the changes

How to Activate or Deactivate a Skill

Deactivating a Skill stops Gemini from using it automatically, but you can still request it manually with /.

To deactivate:

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Skills
2. Tap the Skill
3. Tap More > Deactivate

To reactivate:

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Skills
2. Tap the Skill
3. Tap More > Activate

When to deactivate: If a Skill is too general and Gemini triggers it incorrectly, deactivate it and use it manually instead. If you’re not using a Skill for a while, deactivate it to keep your Skill library clean.

How to Delete a Skill

Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Skills
2. Tap the Skill you want to delete
3. Tap More > Delete
4. Confirm

Best practice: Before deleting, download the Skill (see below) in case you need to recreate it later.

How to Download a Gemini Skill

Downloading exports your Skill as a .zip file you can share, back up, or import elsewhere.

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Skills
2. Tap the Skill you want to download
3. Tap More > Download
4. The .zip file contains your Skill’s SKILL.md file and any reference files

Why download: Backup important Skills before deleting. Share Skills with colleagues. Use Skills in other platforms that support the SKILL.md format.

Common Gemini Skills Problems and Fixes

Gemini Isn’t Using My Skill Automatically

Possible causes:

• Skill is deactivated (Check Menu > Settings > Skills and ensure it’s activated)
• The task context doesn’t match the Skill’s purpose closely enough (Gemini’s automatic recognition sometimes needs explicit requests)
• Skills haven’t been fully rolled out to your account yet (Feature availability varies by region)
• Skill needs clearer instructions (If the Skill’s trigger conditions are vague, Gemini won’t recognize when to use it)

Fix: Manually request the Skill using /skill-name to test if it works. If manual use works, the Skill is fine but may need clearer trigger instructions.

My Gemini Skill Isn’t Saving

Known issue: Manually created Skills won’t save in the Gemini mobile app.

Fix: Create manually in the Gemini web app (gemini.google.com) instead, or use “Create with Gemini” in the mobile app, which works reliably.

I Can’t Edit a Skill With Uploaded Files

Known issue: Skills with uploaded reference files can’t be edited in the mobile app or Mac app.

Fix: Edit in the Gemini web app (gemini.google.com). Alternatively, download the Skill, edit the SKILL.md file locally, and re-upload via the web app.

I Can’t Find Gemini Skills

Possible causes:

• Skills aren’t available in your region or account yet (Gradual rollout continues)
• You’re using a work or school Google Account (Currently, only personal accounts support Skills)
• You’re under 18 (Age 18+ required)
• Keep Activity isn’t enabled (Check myactivity.google.com and enable if needed)

Fix: Check Settings > About to verify your account type and age eligibility. Enable Keep Activity in your Google Account settings.

Best Practices for Creating Gemini Skills

Apply these proven principles to build Skills that actually save time.

Keep each Skill focused: A Skill with one clear job is easier to create, maintain, combine with others, and less prone to errors. Instead of a “do everything marketing” Skill, create separate Skills for copywriting, SEO, social media posting, and analytics.

Write precise instructions: Vague instructions produce inconsistent results. Include a step-by-step process, specific formatting rules, tone, required sections, and quality checks. The more detailed your instructions, the more reliably Gemini delivers.

Define expected outputs: Specify the format, length, structure, and style of output. “Create a report” is too vague. “Create a one-page report in PDF format with an executive summary, 3-4 data visualizations, and a conclusion with next steps” is clear.

Use examples where helpful: Including 1-2 examples of desired output in your Skill’s instructions significantly improves results. Show Gemini exactly what good looks like.

Add reference material only when useful: Uploading 50 PDFs “just in case” creates confusion. Include only reference files Gemini will actually need and reference in your instructions.

Test with real inputs: Before relying on a Skill, test it with 3-5 actual tasks. Verify output quality before using it for important work.

Keep complex workflows modular: Combine 2-3 focused Skills rather than creating one 500-line Skill. Smaller Skills are easier to update when one aspect of your workflow changes.

Review Skills periodically: As your work evolves, your Skills may become outdated. Review and update them quarterly to keep them relevant.

Disable Skills that shouldn’t auto-trigger: If a Skill is too general and Gemini keeps using it incorrectly, deactivate automatic use and invoke it manually with / instead.

Expert Takeaway:

The best Skill is not the longest one. It’s the one that gives Gemini enough instruction and context to perform a repeatable task consistently without requiring the same explanation every time. Start simple, test thoroughly, and refine based on real usage.

Limitations of Gemini Skills

Understand these current limitations to set realistic expectations.

Availability and rollout: Skills are gradually rolling out. They may not be available in your region, language, or account yet. Personal Google Accounts get access first, followed by Workspace accounts.

Account restrictions: Only personal Google Accounts currently support Skills. Work and school accounts don’t have access yet. You must be 18+. Keep Activity must be enabled.

Platform differences: Some features vary by platform. Mobile apps have fewer creation options than the web app. Some features (like uploading files) only work in the web app.

File format restrictions: You can upload plain-text files (.md, .txt, .py, .json, .pdf, .png, .jpg, etc.) but not binary formats (.docx, .xlsx). This limits the types of reference files you can include.

Upload size limit: Individual Skill uploads are capped at 100 MB total.

Internet-dependent scripts: Scripts within Skills can’t make external API requests or perform actions on external websites. This limits automation to Gemini-based workflows.

Automatic Skill selection limitations: Gemini’s automatic Skill recognition isn’t always accurate. Vague Skills or similar Skills sometimes trigger incorrectly. Manually invoking with / is more reliable.

AI output review required: Skills don’t eliminate the need to review Gemini’s output. You should verify results for accuracy, appropriateness, and quality before using them.

Changing product behavior: Google updates Gemini features frequently. Skill behavior may change with product updates.

Not a replacement for automation: Skills automate instructions within Gemini, but they aren’t a replacement for dedicated automation tools like Make or Zapier for complex, multi-system workflows.

Final Verdict

Gemini Skills are most valuable for people who:

• Repeat the same AI tasks regularly (weekly, daily, or multiple times per week)
• Need consistent, high-quality outputs that match specific formatting or style requirements
• Have recurring workflows with multiple steps and preferences
• Want to avoid re-uploading the same files or re-explaining the same instructions
• Manage complex tasks that benefit from combining multiple focused instructions

If you do the same task twice a week or more, investing time to create a Skill usually pays off within 2-3 weeks in time savings alone. The longer the task takes, or the more often you repeat it, the greater the ROI.

Start here: Identify one repetitive task you do at least weekly. Create a focused Skill for that task. Test it with 3-4 real examples. Refine based on results. Once that Skill is working well, expand to a second task. Most people don’t need 50 Skills. Five to ten well-designed Skills often cover 80% of repetitive work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Gemini Skills?

Gemini Skills are reusable sets of instructions and context that teach Gemini how to complete a specific task consistently. You create a Skill once (with your preferences, formatting, tone, and reference materials) and reuse it across all your chats and tasks without re-explaining yourself.

How do I create a Skill in Gemini?

You can create a Skill four ways: (1) Ask Gemini conversationally to create one in a chat, (2) Manually create one in Settings > Skills, (3) Customize a recommended template, or (4) Upload a SKILL.md file. The easiest method for beginners is asking Gemini conversationally.

Can Gemini create a Skill from a prompt?

Yes. Open a chat, describe what you want the Skill to do (“Create a skill that converts research notes into a formatted briefing”), and Gemini generates the Skill structure. You can refine it in conversation, and Gemini saves it to your Skills library.

How do I use Gemini Skills?

Use Skills two ways: (1) Let Gemini automatically recognize when a Skill is relevant (if it’s activated), or (2) Manually request a Skill by typing /skill-name in your chat. You can also combine multiple Skills in one prompt for complex workflows.

Can I upload a SKILL.md file to Gemini?

Yes, but only in the web app (gemini.google.com). Go to Settings > Skills > Upload, select a SKILL.md file or a folder containing one, and include any reference files (PDFs, documents, code samples) needed for the Skill.

Can Gemini automatically use Skills?

Yes, if a Skill is activated (enabled). Gemini recognizes when the Skill is relevant to your task based on context and applies it automatically. You can deactivate a Skill anytime to stop automatic use, but you can still invoke it manually with /.

Can I combine multiple Gemini Skills?

Yes. Type / to see your Skills, select multiple ones (like /research /outline /draft /edit), then provide your task. Gemini applies all selected Skills simultaneously to handle complex workflows.

What’s the difference between Gemini Skills and Gems?

Both customize Gemini for repetitive tasks, but Google is transitioning from Gems to Skills. Skills offer more flexibility, including the ability to use them directly in your current chat, stack multiple Skills, and include reference files. Gems will be automatically converted to Skills when Gems are phased out (November 2026 for personal accounts).

Are Gemini Skills free?

Yes. Skills are available to all eligible users at no cost. You don’t need a Google AI subscription to create or use Skills.

Why can’t I see Skills in Gemini?

Check these issues: (1) You’re using a work or school account (only personal accounts support Skills currently), (2) You’re under 18 (age 18+ required), (3) Keep Activity isn’t enabled in your Google Account, (4) Skills haven’t been rolled out to your region yet, or (5) You’re using an older version of Gemini (update your app).