OpenClaw Skills: Install Gmail, Slack, and 50+ Plugins in Minutes

OpenClaw ships with about 50 built-in skills—modular packages that teach your AI how to work with Gmail, Slack, Discord, GitHub, Obsidian, Notion, weather, web search, and more. You can also install community skills from ClawHub or add your own. Skills are self-contained directories with a SKILL.md file: YAML metadata, Markdown instructions, and optional scripts. Plugins are TypeScript modules that extend OpenClaw with commands, tools, and background services. This guide shows you how to install, configure, and use skills and plugins in 2026.

1 Built-in Skills: What Comes Out of the Box

OpenClaw includes skills for communication (himalaya for email, Discord, Slack, Notion, Obsidian), development (GitHub, coding-agent, tmux), data and content (weather, summarize, web-search, gog), media (openai-whisper, video-frames, canvas), and utilities (1password, model-usage, healthcheck). You enable them in the Skills section of the OpenClaw UI or by editing ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json. Most skills need API keys or tokens—you will be prompted to fill those in when you enable a skill.

2 Install via the Skills UI (Easiest)

Open your OpenClaw interface (WebChat, Canvas, or the web UI), go to the Skills section, and search for the skill you want. Click to install or enable it, then fill in the required configuration fields (API tokens, endpoints, IDs). The UI will guide you through OAuth or token setup for services like Gmail or Slack. Once configured, the skill is active and your AI can use it. This is the recommended path for most users—no command line required.

3 Install from ClawHub (Community Skills)

ClawHub is the community repository for OpenClaw skills. Install the ClawHub CLI globally:

npm i -g clawhub

Then search and install skills:

clawhub search "skill-name"
clawhub install skill-name

Skills are cloned into your configured skills directory. OpenClaw partners with VirusTotal to scan community skills for security issues—check the OpenClaw blog for details. Always review a skill's SKILL.md before enabling it, especially if it requests broad permissions.

4 Manual Install from Git or Local Folder

For a skill hosted on GitHub or a local folder:

git clone https://github.com/user/skill-repo.git ~/.openclaw/skills/skill-name

Add the skill directory to your config if needed. In ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json, under the skills key, you can specify additionalSkillDirs or enable the skill by name. Restart the gateway after adding a new skill so it is loaded.

5 Plugins: Voice, Commands, and More

Plugins are TypeScript modules that extend OpenClaw with commands, tools, and background services. List and install them via the CLI:

openclaw plugins list
openclaw plugins install @openclaw/voice-call

The voice-call plugin, for example, adds phone call support. Other plugins may add CLI commands, skills, or tools. After installing, restart the gateway. Plugins are loaded at runtime and can register with the OpenClaw core.

Tips for a Smooth Skills Setup

Have your API keys ready before enabling skills—Gmail, Slack, and GitHub each need tokens. If your network blocks API access, a VPN with gigabit bandwidth keeps skill calls fast. Start with a few core skills (e.g., Gmail, calendar, web-search) and add more as you need them. OpenClaw can even write its own skills—ask it to build one for a tool or workflow you use often. For community skills, prefer those with VirusTotal verification and active maintainers.

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FAQ

What is the difference between skills and plugins?

Skills are Markdown-based packages that teach the AI how to use tools and APIs. Plugins are TypeScript code modules that extend OpenClaw with new commands, tools, or services. Skills are easier to create; plugins offer more power for developers.

Can OpenClaw create its own skills?

Yes. Users report asking OpenClaw to build a skill for Todoist, custom APIs, or workflows—and it writes the SKILL.md and scripts, then starts using them. This is one of the most powerful features of the platform.