Before You Start
You need an active Claude Pro, Team, or Enterprise subscription. The free plan does not support skills, MCPs, or plugins.
Open claude.ai in your browser and confirm you are logged in to your paid account.
Each section below is independent. You can install them in any order. Start with whichever category matches your biggest need right now.
Install Skills (7)
Skills are custom instruction sets that teach Claude specific workflows. They live inside your projects and activate automatically when relevant.
You can browse and install skills by typing / in the message bar and selecting "Add a skill." You can also search the skill library from inside any project's settings.
How to install a skill:
Install these 7 skills:
Connect MCPs (8)
MCPs (Model Context Protocol connectors) are live wires between Claude and your existing tools. Once connected, Claude can read, write, and take actions inside those tools without you copying and pasting anything.
How to connect an MCP:
MCPs connect at the account level. Once connected, they are available across all your projects and chats.
Connect these 8 MCPs:
Some MCPs (like Stripe and Zapier) require a paid subscription to that service. Make sure your account is active before connecting.
Add Plugins (8)
Plugins are pre-built toolkits that bundle multiple capabilities into a single install. Unlike skills (which are instruction sets), plugins give Claude access to new tools and commands.
How to install a plugin:
Install these 8 plugins:
Turn On Built-in Features (7)
These are features that already exist inside Claude. They do not require installing anything, but some are turned off by default or need to be accessed from specific menus.
How to enable each one:
| Feature | Where to find it | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | Settings > Profile | Toggle "Memory" on. Claude starts learning from your conversations. |
| Projects | Left sidebar | Click + New Project. Add instructions, files, and skills. |
| Artifacts | Settings > Features | Toggle "Create and analyze artifacts" on. Claude generates visual outputs. |
| Claude Code | Claude Desktop app | Open the Code tab in the desktop app. No terminal required. |
| Claude in Chrome | Chrome Web Store | Install the extension. Claude can read and act on pages you visit. |
| Cowork | Claude Desktop app | Open the Cowork tab. Assign multi-step tasks that run in the background. |
| Claude in Excel | Microsoft Add-ins | Install from the Excel add-in store. Claude works inside your spreadsheet. |
Verify Your Setup
After installing everything, run a quick check to confirm each category is working.
Test your skills:
Test your MCPs:
Test your plugins:
If Claude does not recognize a skill or plugin, try refreshing the page. Some installs take a few seconds to propagate.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Skill not showing up | Not added to the current project | Open project settings and add the skill manually |
| MCP says "not connected" | Authorization expired | Go to Connect Apps, find the connector, click Reconnect |
| MCP permissions error | Insufficient permissions granted | Disconnect and reconnect, granting all requested permissions |
| Plugin not recognized | Install did not complete | Refresh the page. If it persists, search for the plugin and install again |
| Claude Code tab missing | Using web app instead of desktop | Download and open the Claude desktop app |
| Memory not saving context | Feature toggled off | Go to Settings > Profile and toggle Memory on |
| Cowork not available | Not on a supported plan | Verify your subscription includes Cowork access |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Skills, MCPs, plugins, and most built-in features require a Claude Pro, Team, or Enterprise subscription. The free tier does not support them.
Allow 30 to 45 minutes for all 30 items. Skills and plugins install in seconds. MCPs require authentication with each service, which takes 1 to 3 minutes each.
Yes. Each item is independent. Start with the category that matches your most immediate need.
Check that you are on a supported plan, that the connector is available in your region, and that you have granted the required permissions. Some MCPs require a paid subscription to the third-party service (e.g., Stripe, Zapier).
MCPs use OAuth-based connections. Claude reads and writes to services you have already authorized. Review the permissions carefully during the connection step. You can revoke access at any time from your Claude settings.
No. Skills added to your account are available in all projects, including your Business DNA Project. MCPs and plugins are account-level, so they work everywhere automatically.
Sources and GitHub Links
Every item in this guide is open source or freely available. Below are the direct links to each skill, plugin, and tool referenced in this guide.
Skills
| Skill | Source | Author |
|---|---|---|
| resume-tailor | github.com/varunr89/resume-tailoring-skill | Varun R |
| voice-lock | github.com/gncll/voice-cloner-skill | Gencay |
| story-bank | github.com/yanliudesign/Behavior-question-skill | Yan Liu |
| carousel-builder | github.com/charlesdove977/carousel-builder | Charlie Dove |
| frontend-design | github.com/anthropics/skills | Anthropic (official) |
| caveman | github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman | Julius Brussee |
| skill-creator | github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-official | Anthropic (official) |
MCPs
| MCP | Connect via | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Notion | Claude Settings > Connect Apps | First-party integration. Requires Notion account. |
| Slack | Claude Settings > Connect Apps | First-party integration. Requires Slack workspace. |
| Zapier | Claude Settings > Connect Apps | Requires Zapier account (free or paid). |
| Perplexity | Claude Settings > Connect Apps | Requires Perplexity account. |
| Granola | Claude Settings > Connect Apps | Requires Granola account for meeting notes. |
| Stripe | Claude Settings > Connect Apps | Requires active Stripe account with API access. |
| Google Drive | Claude Settings > Connect Apps | First-party Google integration. |
| Gmail | Claude Settings > Connect Apps | First-party Google integration. |
Plugins
| Plugin | Source | Author |
|---|---|---|
| gstack | github.com/garrytan/gstack | Garry Tan (Y Combinator) |
| superpowers | github.com/obra/superpowers | Jesse Vincent (Prime Radiant) |
| context7 | github.com/upstash/context7 | Upstash |
| crm-toolkit | Claude Plugin Marketplace | Community |
| contract-reviewer | Claude Plugin Marketplace | Community |
| research-toolkit | Claude Plugin Marketplace | Community |
| social-scheduler | Claude Plugin Marketplace | Community |
| invoicing-toolkit | Claude Plugin Marketplace | Community |
Built-in Features
| Feature | Documentation |
|---|---|
| Memory | Anthropic Support: Memory |
| Projects | Anthropic Support: Projects |
| Artifacts | Anthropic Support: Artifacts |
| Claude Code | docs.anthropic.com/claude-code |
| Claude in Chrome | Anthropic Support: Chrome Extension |
| Cowork | Anthropic Support: Cowork |
| Claude in Excel | Anthropic Support: Excel |
Links verified as of August 2026. Skills and plugins in the Claude marketplace can also be installed directly via the / slash command without visiting GitHub. Some community plugins (crm-toolkit, contract-reviewer, research-toolkit, social-scheduler, invoicing-toolkit) are available through the Claude Plugin Marketplace and may not have standalone GitHub repos.
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