Create and edit skills with Copilot

Microsoft Copilot skills help you turn a repeatable task into a reusable workflow. You can create a new skill from a Copilot conversation, refine the skill in the builder, or upload an existing skill package for later use.

What are Skills?

Skills let you customize Microsoft Copilot to perform specific tasks and follow consistent workflows. A skill provides reusable instructions and can include supporting files or scripts to help Copilot complete tasks according to your needs.

You can use skills to:

  • Automate repeatable tasks without providing the same instructions each time.
  • Standardize workflows using predefined instructions, templates, and quality guidelines.
  • Apply specialized guidance to help Copilot complete tasks consistently.

Copilot can automatically use a skill when it's relevant to your task, or you can choose which skill to use. You can also turn off automatic use for specific skills.

How skills work

Each skill includes a required SKILL.md file containing its instructions. Skills can also include supporting reference files, assets, scripts, and folders.

Copilot Chat supports the https://agentskills.io/. You can upload a SKILL.md file directly or package a skill and its supporting files in a .zip file.

Before you start

  • You need access to Microsoft Copilot.
  • You need permission to open Agents & Skills.
  • If you plan to upload a skill, have the SKILL.md file or packaged skill ZIP ready.

Create a skill from Copilot Chat

Start in Copilot Chat by describing the workflow you want Copilot to repeat.

Include:

  • The intended outcome
  • The required steps
  • Any constraints or guardrails
  • The expected output format
  • Any source files or data the skill should use

For example, you might ask Copilot to draft a status email from a recent report, keep the output in a fixed format, and include the source file link in the response.

When Copilot offers to create the skill, open it in the skill builder.

Review and edit the skill

In the skill builder, review each part of the draft skill:

  • Name
  • Description
  • Instructions
  • Workflow
  • Included files

Edit any content that is incomplete, vague, or broader than the task you want the skill to handle. Keep the instructions focused on one clear job so the skill stays predictable.

Use the updated draft to confirm that Copilot has the right steps, inputs, and output requirements before you save it.

Save or update the skill

After you finish your edits, save the skill.

If the skill already exists, update it with the revised content and review the final version again before you share it more widely.

Add an existing skill

You can add a skill that you already have in one of these formats:

  • A standalone SKILL.md file
  • A packaged skill ZIP that contains SKILL.md at its root and can also include supported reference files, assets, scripts, and subfolders

To upload a skill:

  1. In Microsoft Copilot, open Home.
  2. Right click Agents, and choose More agents
  3. Choose Upload skill from the Add drop down. The Upload skill user interface appears.
  4. Upload SKILL.md or the packaged skill ZIP.
  5. Review the skill name and description.
  6. Save the skill.

After you save it, open the skill again to review its instructions and included files.

Discover and manage skills

Open Agents & Skills to discover and manage:

  • Agents
  • Personal skills
  • Installed plugin packages that contain skills

Skills and plugins deployed by your organization, or acquired through Copilot Cowork, can appear in Copilot Chat when they are available to you. Some items may not appear until they are installed or shared in the right location.

Use a skill

You can use a skill in two ways:

  • Select the specific skill. Open or select the installed skill, then enter the task you want it to complete. You can also select the skill from the Agents and Skills section in the Copilot interface. Use explicit invocation when you want Copilot to use a specific skill for the request.
  • Automatic use a skill. When Let Copilot use this skill automatically is enabled, you can describe the outcome in a normal Copilot conversation. Copilot can select the relevant skill without you naming it each time.

You stay in control. Open Agents & Skills, select the skill, and turn automatic invocation off when you do not want Copilot to select it automatically.

Use skills with Advanced Reasoning

Create or use a skill with Advanced Reasoning when the task involves complex, multi-step work. Review the current preview limits for skill files, scripts, network access, and package installation before you rely on that capability in production workflows.