The Skill does not appear
- 1
Check the printed target
Claude Code needs its agent option or the appropriate absolute target.
- 2
Open the actual folder
SKILL.md must be directly inside the Skill folder, with a valid header.
- 3
Check the machine and scope
A local installation is not automatically available remotely.
- 4
Refresh discovery
Reload or start a new agent session, then inspect its available-Skills list.
Use folder locations and your agent guide before creating another copy.
It is listed but never selected
Choose the Skill explicitly and run a small task with complete inputs. If that works, installation is not the main issue. Review the description, task wording and invocation settings for that agent.
Use the selection tests in Triggering to distinguish a poor match from an unavailable package. Do not rename managed files casually; keep a backup before customizing the method.
Another Skill runs
Inspect the name of the method actually loaded. Check for overlapping descriptions and duplicate personal or project copies. Select the intended Skill explicitly while diagnosing the task.
It starts and fails partway
| Failure point | Check |
|---|---|
| Reading inputs | Files exist and the agent can access them. |
| Running a command | Runtime version and dependencies match the package. |
| Calling a service | The connection is authorized and has the necessary access or credits. |
| Rendering or export | Required rendering tools are installed and output paths are writable. |
| Wrong facts or placeholders | Supply approved evidence and missing task inputs. |
Record the first useful error and the attempted action. Repeating the entire run can repeat paid service calls without addressing the cause.
It keeps using an old version
npx --yes https://howai.build/cli/howai-cli-0.1.5.tgz list --api https://howai.buildCompare the managed receipt with the copy the agent loaded. Search personal and project directories for another package with the same name. Start a fresh session after confirming the files were updated. For a manual ZIP installation, use the manual maintenance path.
It works locally but not remotely
Confirm that the remote environment has the Skill files, required runtimes and tool access. Use your agent's supported repository or sync workflow. Do not fix missing credentials by placing secrets in a shared package.
HowAI download and CLI errors
| Message or status | Next action |
|---|---|
| 401 / login required | Start HowAI authorization; match the code to your own request. |
| 402 / membership required | Check that you used the intended account and have entitlement. |
| 409 / package unavailable | Choose an installable listing; a preview has no archive. |
| 429 / daily download limit | Wait for the shown reset time. Tokens and devices share the allowance. |
| --agent and --target conflict | Choose one option. |
| Absolute target required / symlink path | Use the physical absolute Skills parent directory. |
| Modified or unmanaged directory | Inspect local files and back up changes. Do not force replacement blindly. |
| Integrity or file mismatch | Stop using that download and report the package and version. Do not disable verification. |
When requesting help at support@howai.build, include the Skill URL, CLI version, target, operating system and exact error. Remove tokens, private files, signed URLs and authorization codes.
FAQ
No. First identify whether the failure is discovery, selection, dependency or access. Forced replacement can discard your edits and will not solve many runtime problems.
Reviewed October 18, 2026 · HowAI editorial
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