How to Install the i-have-adhd Skill in Cursor: Complete Setup Guide

The i-have-adhd skill for Cursor can be installed in under a minute using npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a cursor -y or manually by copying the skill folder to ~/.cursor/skills/.

The i-have-adhd skill is an Agent Skill that tailors Cursor's AI output for users with ADHD—delivering concise, structured responses that reduce cognitive load. According to the ayghri/i-have-adhd repository, the skill follows the open Agent Skills specification and integrates seamlessly with Cursor's command system. This guide walks through both automated and manual installation methods, verification steps, and activation workflows.

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Automated Installation Using the npx CLI

The fastest way to install the i-have-adhd skill is via the official CLI tool. This method handles path configuration and ensures Cursor discovers the skill automatically.

Step 1: Run the Install Command

npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a cursor -y

The -a cursor flag instructs the CLI to install to Cursor's skill directory (~/.cursor/skills/). The -y flag skips interactive confirmation.

Step 2: Verify the Installation

npx skills list

You should see i-have-adhd in the output. Alternatively, use npx skills ls -g to list globally available skills.

Step 3: Activate in a Chat

Open any Cursor chat and type:

/i-have-adhd

The skill's rules immediately take effect for that session.

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Manual Installation (Without npx)

If you prefer not to use npx, install the skill by cloning the repository and copying files directly.

# Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd

# Create Cursor's skill folder if it doesn't exist

mkdir -p ~/.cursor/skills

# Copy the skill directory (folder name must match the skill name)

cp -R i-have-adhd/skills/i-have-adhd ~/.cursor/skills/

Critical: The destination folder must be named i-have-adhd. Cursor matches the folder name against the name: i-have-adhd field in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md.

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How Cursor Discovers and Loads Skills

Understanding the discovery mechanism helps troubleshoot installation issues.

Skill Definition Location

The core skill definition resides at skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md in the repository. This file contains:

• Frontmatter (name: i-have-adhd): Identifies the skill for command routing
• Rule set: Defines how Cursor modifies output when the skill is active
• Description: Appears in skill listings

Cursor scans these directories for skills:

Location	Scope
~/.cursor/skills/	Global (all projects)
.cursor/skills/ (project root)	Project-specific

Activation Commands

Command	Effect
/i-have-adhd	Activates ADHD-focused output for current session
"stop adhd mode" or "normal mode"	Deactivates the skill

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Making the Skill Always-On

To apply ADHD-optimized formatting to every Cursor session without typing /i-have-adhd each time, add the skill's rules to Cursor Settings.

1. Open Cursor → Settings → Rules → User Rules
2. Paste the content from the always-on snippet (documented in INSTALL.md lines 33-51):

## Output style

The reader has ADHD. Structure responses with clear headings, bullet points, and concise sentences. Prioritize actionable information over lengthy explanations.

This embeds the skill's behavior directly into your user profile, bypassing the need for per-session activation.

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Troubleshooting Installation Issues

Skill Not Appearing in npx skills list

• Check the folder name: Must be exactly i-have-adhd in ~/.cursor/skills/
• Verify file presence: SKILL.md must exist at ~/.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md
• Restart Cursor: Skill discovery happens at startup

/i-have-adhd Command Not Recognized

• Confirm the skill is listed in npx skills list
• Check that SKILL.md contains valid frontmatter with name: i-have-adhd
• Try the manual installation method to rule out CLI path issues

Permission Errors

# Fix ownership if needed

sudo chown -R $(whoami) ~/.cursor/skills/

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Summary

• Fastest install: npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a cursor -y
• Manual fallback: Clone repo and copy skills/i-have-adhd to ~/.cursor/skills/
• Activation: Type /i-have-adhd in any Cursor chat
• Always-on option: Paste rules into Cursor Settings → User Rules
• Key file: skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md defines the skill's identity and behavior

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Cursor store installed skills?

Cursor scans the ~/.cursor/skills/ directory in your home folder for global skills, and .cursor/skills/ in project roots for project-specific skills. The skill folder name must match the name field in its SKILL.md file.

Can I use the i-have-adhd skill without installing it?

Yes—you can paste the skill's rules directly into Cursor Settings → Rules → User Rules. This achieves the same output formatting without creating a skill folder. See INSTALL.md lines 33-51 for the exact snippet.

What does the -a cursor flag do in the install command?

The -a cursor flag tells the npx skills CLI to install the skill specifically for Cursor (as opposed to other editors that support Agent Skills). It ensures correct path placement and metadata formatting for Cursor's discovery system.

How do I turn off the ADHD formatting once activated?

Type "stop adhd mode" or "normal mode" in your chat. Alternatively, start a new chat session—the skill activates per-session unless you've added it to User Rules.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}