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How to Migrate a Google Gem to a Skill Without Losing Its Instructions

A Gem’s instructions and Knowledge attachments take separate steps to migrate. Follow Google’s process, check file limits and formats, and test for missing features.

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You can preserve a Gem’s written instructions when rebuilding it as a Gemini skill, but its Knowledge files need a separate download-and-upload step, and some Gem features may not carry over. Copy the Gem’s name, description, and instructions into a new skill, package its Knowledge files with the generated SKILL.md, then test the result before relying on it.

Before you start: choose the destination

Google’s manual procedure turns a Gem into a Gemini skill. If you mean a skill for another platform, such as Codex, treat the Markdown file as a possible starting point—not as proof that tools or behavior will transfer. Google says skills made on other platforms can be imported using SKILL.md; OpenAI says skills can be supported in Codex, while noting that availability, installation, and syncing vary by product and surface. See Google’s Gem-to-skill transition guide, Google’s Gemini skills guide, and OpenAI’s Skills in ChatGPT help page.

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For either destination, keep a local copy of the original Gem text and downloaded attachments until you have inspected and tested the new version.

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Manually migrate a Gem to a Gemini skill

  1. Save the Knowledge files. Open the Gem for editing and download each file in its Knowledge section separately. Make a local folder for the skill; Google’s manual guide specifies a lowercase folder name with words separated by hyphens. Keep the Gem open so you can copy its text in the next step.
  2. Create a skill and copy the Gem’s text fields. In Gemini, go to Settings → Skills → Create manually. Copy the Gem’s name, description, and instructions into the corresponding fields, then create the skill. Google says the skill name is automatically updated to its required format.
  3. Download the generated skill file. Open the skill’s actions menu and choose the download option. Google says this downloads a ZIP containing SKILL.md.
  4. Combine the file and attachments. Unzip the download and move SKILL.md into the local folder containing the Knowledge files. For the folder upload, the folder name must match the skill name.
  5. Replace the skill with the packaged folder. Return to the same skill’s actions menu, choose Replace skill, and upload the folder containing SKILL.md and the reference files.
  6. Inspect and test it. Open the uploaded skill and confirm the instruction text and intended files are present. Run representative tasks, especially any that depended on a Gem tool or linked repository, before making the skill part of a critical workflow.

Google’s manual steps are documented in its transition guide. Copying the instruction box alone does not move Knowledge attachments; those are handled in their own download and upload steps.

Check files and upload requirements

Before uploading, confirm that SKILL.md is at the root of the folder, rather than nested inside another directory. Google requires lowercase skill names with words separated by hyphens. Its Gemini skills documentation lists readable formats including Markdown and text, common code and data formats, HTML, CSS, SVG, and some media. It says binary office formats such as DOCX, XLSX, and DOC are unsupported.

  • The total upload limit is 100 MB.
  • Scripts that require internet access are not supported.
  • Check that each file type is supported and that the combined folder is within the size limit.

The official guidance does not guarantee that every attachment type or every Gem capability will be preserved identically. Retaining the original text and files gives you a source to consult if the skill needs correction.

Expect some Gem features not to transfer

A successful upload is not the same as feature parity. Google says most default tools available in Gems do not work with skills for now, and specifically notes that GitHub files are not currently supported in skills. If the Gem relied on a tool or linked repository, check whether the destination supports that capability and adapt the instructions to the available workflow. Google’s current caveats appear in its transition help.

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Automatic migration is a separate Google process, not an export guarantee. Google Workspace guidance says remaining Gemini-app Gems will be migrated to draft skills that creators must review and activate; it also recommends manually rebuilding high-priority Gems and re-uploading files to support prompt verification and continuity. See Google Workspace’s transition guidance.

Using the skill in Codex or another platform

Google says users can import skills created on other platforms by uploading their SKILL.md files. OpenAI describes skills as reusable workflows that can contain instructions, examples, code, and supporting resources, and says skills can be supported in Codex and other OpenAI products. The importable file format does not establish that Gemini-specific tools, triggers, or behavior will work unchanged. Follow the destination product’s supported installation flow, revise platform-specific instructions, and test the result there. Sources: Google’s skills guide and OpenAI’s skills help page.

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Google Workspace users: check the product and rollout

Gemini app skills and Workspace skills are separate surfaces. In guidance last updated September 30, 2026, Google says they do not currently sync. Users who need a skill across both platforms, or who are transitioning Gems used in Workspace, must manually recreate them in Google Workspace Studio. Check Google’s Workspace transition page for current instructions.

That page lists phased rollout milestones, not universal deadlines: Workspace skill rollout beginning October 5, 2026; Gemini app rollout beginning October 13, 2026; Gems moving to Settings on November 17, 2026; and business/enterprise Gems ending no sooner than March 1, 2027, with education Gems ending no sooner than June 1, 2027. These dates are Google’s announced timeline as stated in the September 30, 2026 update; check the live page for changes and for the timeline that applies to your user segment.

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