Gemini CLI is Google's command-line AI coding agent. It supports the SKILL.md format for customizing agent behavior. Here's where it stores skills and how the directory structure works.
> Quick Answer: Gemini CLI stores personal skills at `~/.gemini/skills/` and project skills at `.gemini/skills/` relative to your repo root. The same SKILL.md files that work in Claude Code, OpenClaw, and Codex CLI work in Gemini CLI without modification.
Where does Gemini CLI store personal skills?
Personal skills live at `~/.gemini/skills/`. These are available across all your projects.
```
~/.gemini/skills/
├── code-reviewer/
│ └── SKILL.md
├── test-generator/
│ └── SKILL.md
└── git-commit-writer/
└── SKILL.md
```
On macOS: `/Users/yourname/.gemini/skills/`. On Linux: `/home/yourname/.gemini/skills/`.
Where does Gemini CLI store project skills?
Project skills live at `.gemini/skills/` inside a repository. These are shared with anyone who clones the repo, making them useful for team-wide workflows.
```
your-project/
├── .gemini/
│ └── skills/
│ └── team-review/
│ └── SKILL.md
├── src/
└── package.json
```
How do I install a skill in Gemini CLI?
```bash
# Create the directory
mkdir -p ~/.gemini/skills
# Download from Agensi and unzip
unzip code-reviewer.zip -d ~/.gemini/skills/
# Verify
ls ~/.gemini/skills/code-reviewer/SKILL.md
```
Start a new Gemini CLI session. Skills load automatically based on their description triggers.
How does Gemini CLI compare to other agents?
All major AI coding agents follow the same pattern — personal and project skill directories with SKILL.md files:
| Agent | Personal skills | Project skills |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini CLI | `~/.gemini/skills/` | `.gemini/skills/` |
| Claude Code | `~/.claude/skills/` | `.claude/skills/` |
| OpenClaw | `~/.openclaw/skills/` | `.openclaw/skills/` |
| Codex CLI | `~/.codex/skills/` | `.codex/skills/` |
| Cursor | N/A | `.cursor/skills/` |
The SKILL.md file format is identical across all agents. Write a skill once, copy it to any agent's directory, and it works.
Can I share skills between Gemini CLI and other agents?
Yes. Copy the skill folder between agent directories and it works immediately:
```bash
# Share a Claude Code skill with Gemini CLI
cp -r ~/.claude/skills/code-reviewer ~/.gemini/skills/
# Share a Gemini CLI skill with OpenClaw
cp -r ~/.gemini/skills/test-generator ~/.openclaw/skills/
```
No modification needed. This cross-agent compatibility is the core benefit of the SKILL.md open standard.
For the full path reference and more details on skill storage, read Where Are Claude Skills Stored?.
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*Browse security-scanned skills for Gemini CLI, Claude Code, OpenClaw, and 20+ agents on Agensi.*
