OpenClaw Skills and ClawHub: How to Extend Your Agent
Built-in, ClawHub, workspace and custom skills
By Tal SlavinUpdated
How do I add skills to OpenClaw?
Skills are the main way to add capabilities to OpenClaw. Built-in skills cover shell, files, browser and messaging; ClawHub hosts community skills you install with one command; workspace skills stay private to a project; and you can write your own or connect MCP servers.
☰On this page (2 sections)
Skills are the primary way to add capabilities to OpenClaw. New here? Read what OpenClaw is.
How skills work#
- Built-in skills cover shell, files, browser and messaging.
- ClawHub hosts community skills you can install with a single command through the ClawHub CLI.
- Workspace skills stay private to one project.
- You can write your own skills or connect MCP servers.
After installing a skill, restart the Gateway or reload so the agent can use it. Popular categories include email, calendar, GitHub, browser automation and custom data tables.
Always review a skill's permissions before enabling it; a skill runs with the agent's access (OpenClaw security). Skills combine well with scheduled automations.
Sources & Further Reading#
| Claim / Topic | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Skills, ClawHub, skill format and CLI | OpenClaw docs: Skills | Read 2026-11-03 |
Frequently asked questions
How do I add skills to OpenClaw?
Skills are the main way to add capabilities to OpenClaw. Built-in skills cover shell, files, browser and messaging; ClawHub hosts community skills you install with one command; workspace skills stay private to a project; and you can write your own or connect MCP servers.
What is ClawHub?
ClawHub is OpenClaw's community skill registry, with a CLI for installing and publishing skills. Always review a skill's permissions before enabling it.
Do I need to restart after installing a skill?
Yes. Restart or reload the Gateway after installing a skill so the agent can use it.
How we sourced this. OpenClaw skills and ClawHub docs read on 2026-11-03. Methodology