> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ironlabs.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Using Skills

> Activate, stack, and manage Skills in the Skills manager.

Skills live in the **Skills manager**. Open it from the composer's `+` panel.

<Note>
  **Screenshot coming.** Skills manager — active vs library.
</Note>

## Activate a Skill

In the Skills manager, find the skill you want and flip the **Active** toggle. From then on, that skill's instructions are appended to every prompt you send in the current chat.

You'll see active skills as **pills** above the composer so you always know what's on.

## Stack multiple Skills

Toggle on as many as you need. The assistant reads each skill's `SKILL.md` and blends the instructions — usually intelligently.

Some skills explicitly compose (a *Code Reviewer* + a *PR Description Writer* skill); others don't (two competing personas will fight).

## When to deactivate

* The skill isn't relevant to the current task.
* You're hitting context-budget limits — Skills cost tokens.
* You want a fresh routing decision without skill bias.

## Three states per skill

| State        | Meaning                                                  |
| ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Active**   | Instructions are loaded into every prompt this chat.     |
| **Inactive** | In your library, but not currently in use.               |
| **Archived** | Hidden from the library. Restore from **Show archived**. |

## Tips

* **Activate before, not during.** Toggling a skill mid-chat works, but the assistant has the freshest view of skill instructions if they're on from the start.
* **Pin your daily drivers.** Pinned skills surface at the top of the Skills manager.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Skills overview" icon="puzzle-piece" href="/foundry/skills/overview">
    What a skill is.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Importing skills" icon="upload" href="/foundry/skills/importing-skills">
    Bring your own.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>