How to Install OpenClaw Skills: Setup Guide for ClawAgora, ClawHub, and Manual Config

How do you install OpenClaw skills?

There are three ways to add skills to an OpenClaw workspace: install a community template on ClawAgora (fastest), install from ClawHub (most variety), or configure manually (most control). This guide covers all three methods with step-by-step instructions.

Prerequisites: An active ClawAgora subscription with a provisioned workspace instance. If you don't have one yet, start here.

Option A: Install from the ClawAgora community library

This is the fastest path. Community templates are complete, tested workspace configurations — not just individual skills, but entire environments ready to run.

Step 1: Browse the community library

Go to the Community Library. You can:

Browse by category (automation, data analysis, development, etc.)
Search for specific skill types
Filter by rating or recency

Step 2: Evaluate a template

Click on a template to see:

Description — what the template does and what skills are included
Skills included — a list of all skill definitions in the template
Tools and integrations — what external services the template connects to
Reviews — ratings and feedback from other users
Q&A — questions answered by the contributor
Version history — changelog of updates

Step 3: Install the template

Click Install to add the template to your Library (accessible from the navigation menu). Skills from the template are available in your workspace.

Step 4: Verify

Open the Chat interface and test the skills. Ask your agent to perform a task that uses the installed skills. If something doesn't work, check the Q&A section on the template page or ask the contributor a question.

Option B: Install from ClawHub

ClawHub has a larger catalog of individual skill definitions. This path gives you more variety but requires you to configure the workspace yourself.

Step 1: Find skills on ClawHub

Browse ClawHub to discover skills. Each listing includes:

Skill name and description
Configuration format
Required dependencies
Example usage

Step 2: Add the skill definition

Copy the skill definition from ClawHub. In your ClawAgora workspace configuration, add the skill definition following the standard OpenClaw format.

The exact process depends on the skill type, but typically involves:

Adding the skill's JSON or YAML definition to your workspace config
Setting any required environment variables
Installing any dependencies the skill needs

Step 3: Test

Open the Chat interface and verify the skill works. Check workspace logs if you encounter issues.

Option C: Manual configuration

For custom skills you build yourself or receive from other developers.

Step 1: Write or obtain the skill definition

A standard OpenClaw skill definition includes:

Name — unique identifier for the skill
Description — what the skill does (used by the AI agent to decide when to invoke it)
Parameters — input schema the skill accepts
Execution logic — what happens when the skill is called

Step 2: Add to workspace

Add your custom skill definition to your workspace configuration. Ensure the definition follows the OpenClaw specification so the agent can discover and invoke it correctly.

Step 3: Iterate

Test the skill through the Chat interface. Refine the description and parameters based on how well the agent invokes it. Clear, specific skill descriptions produce better agent behavior.

Managing installed skills

Updating community templates

When a contributor publishes an update to a template you installed:

Go to your Library
Templates with available updates are marked
Review the changelog to see what changed
Click Update to install the new version

Checking skill compatibility

ClawAgora supports standard OpenClaw skill formats. If a skill works with OpenClaw, it works on ClawAgora. There is no proprietary format or lock-in.

Resource considerations

Each skill adds some overhead. Here's a rough guide:

Plan	Compute	RAM	Typical skill capacity
Spark ($29.90/mo)	1 OCPU	4 GB	5–15 lightweight skills
Forge ($59.90/mo)	2 OCPU	8 GB	15–30 skills
Blaze ($109/mo)	4 OCPU	16 GB	30–60 skills
Inferno ($239/mo)	4 OCPU	16 GB, 2 instances	60+ skills across instances

These are rough estimates. Actual capacity depends on how resource-intensive each skill is.

Ready to add skills to your workspace? Browse the community templates or explore ClawHub for community-built skills.

If you're still setting up your workspace, start with our setup guide. For a comparison of ClawHub and ClawAgora, see ClawAgora vs ClawHub. And for all hosting options compared, check out Best OpenClaw Hosting Platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add skills to my ClawAgora workspace?

There are three ways: (1) Install a community template that includes pre-configured skills, (2) find skills on ClawHub and add their definitions to your workspace configuration, or (3) write custom skill definitions yourself. Community templates are the fastest path since they come fully configured.

Are ClawHub skills compatible with ClawAgora?

Yes. ClawAgora workspaces support standard OpenClaw skill formats. Any skill that follows the OpenClaw specification can be installed in a ClawAgora workspace, regardless of where you found it — ClawHub, GitHub, or any other registry.

Do I need to pay extra for skills on ClawAgora?

Skills themselves are free to install if you have the skill definition. What you pay for on ClawAgora is the hosting plan (compute, AI messaging, infrastructure). Community templates — which are complete pre-configured workspaces — are free to download and install.

How many skills can I install in one workspace?

There is no hard limit on the number of skill definitions. The practical limit depends on your plan's compute and memory allocation. The Spark plan (1 OCPU, 4 GB RAM) handles most typical configurations. If you run many resource-intensive skills simultaneously, consider the Forge or Blaze plans.

What happens when a skill is updated?

For community templates, ClawAgora supports version tracking. When a contributor publishes an update, you can update your installed template from your Library. For manually installed skills, you manage updates yourself by updating the skill definition in your workspace configuration.