The 3 steps
Download the installer
Grab the latest Windows installer — 76 MB, hosted on claudskills.com:
Save it to Downloads or anywhere convenient.
Click through SmartScreen (if it appears)
Double-click the downloaded ClaudSkills.Setup.1.0.17.exe. You may see a blue "Microsoft Defender SmartScreen" warning:
"Microsoft Defender SmartScreen prevented an unrecognized app from starting. Running this app might put your PC at risk."
- Click More info
- Click Run anyway
This warning appears because the .exe isn't yet code-signed by a recognized authority. The publisher is Adam Lankamer (the same publisher as GifPerfect and Ucaption — both already in the Microsoft Store with millions of installs combined).
Run the install wizard
The standard Windows installer wizard opens:
- Click Next through the licence + install location screens (defaults are fine)
- Click Install — wait ~10 seconds
- Click Finish — done
Launch ClaudSkills from the Start menu (or the desktop shortcut). Sign in with the email address tied to your Pro subscription (the one you paid Stripe with) to unlock one-click install.
Verify the install worked
- Open Start menu → ClaudSkills
- The app loads the live catalog (~5 seconds, depending on connection)
- Click any skill → + Install
- If you're signed in with your Pro email, the skill installs to
%USERPROFILE%\.claude\skills\<slug>\SKILL.md - If you're not signed in or your subscription isn't active, you'll see a "Sign in for Pro install" prompt
Common errors
SmartScreen has no "More info" link, only "Don't run"
You're on a managed Windows install (corporate / school / Windows 10 in S Mode) where SmartScreen has been locked down. Either ask your IT admin to allow the install, or wait for the Microsoft Store version. S Mode users can switch out of S Mode for free in Settings → System → Activation → Switch to Windows 10/11 Home.
"App not compatible" or refuses to open
Check your Windows version: Windows 10 (1809+) or Windows 11 required. Run winver in the terminal to check.
"Install button does nothing" inside the app
Either you're not signed in or your Pro subscription expired. The sidebar shows your status (FREE / PRO / LIFETIME). Sign in with the email you used at Stripe checkout — the app checks https://claudskills.com/api/entitlement?email=... on every install attempt.
The downloaded .exe is being scanned forever by antivirus
Some corporate antivirus (Norton, McAfee, Cylance) will deep-scan unsigned installers. Wait it out — the file is 76 MB, scan typically completes in 1–3 minutes. If your antivirus blocks it entirely, add the file as an exception or wait for the Microsoft Store / code-signed version.
What's next?
Two parallel paths to remove the SmartScreen warning entirely: a code-signing certificate (lower friction) and Microsoft Store submission (one-click install via the Store, alongside GifPerfect, Ucaption, and the rest of the Acreator Store portfolio). Either path eliminates the SmartScreen prompt; the installer itself doesn't change. Existing installs auto-update via the app's built-in updater once those land.
Watch the What's New feed for the announcement.
Other platforms
- macOS Apple Silicon — ClaudSkills-1.0.17-arm64.dmg (signed + notarized, no warnings)
- macOS Intel — ClaudSkills-1.0.17-x64.dmg (signed + notarized, no warnings)
- Manual install (no app required) — See the full install guide for the curl + git clone methods