5 Things to Do When Setting Up Claude

Configure Claude with profile instructions, projects, skills, and connectors.

Introduction

30 Second Summary

You talk to Claude all the time, but every conversation starts from scratch. It does not know your name, your preferences, or what you have been working on for the past two weeks.

In this project, you will set up Claude from scratch as a personalized assistant. You will install the desktop app, write permanent profile instructions, build a project workspace, create a custom skill, and connect an everyday app.

What You'll Build

Picture asking Claude to plan your meals for the week and getting back a formatted table with prep times, a grocery list sorted by store section, and batch cooking tips pulled from your own notes, all without re-explaining a thing.

By the end of this project, you'll have:

A personalized Claude that knows your name, writing style, and personal context from the very first message of every conversation. No more cold starts.
A project workspace where Claude remembers your goal, your uploaded documents, and your specific instructions across every conversation you start inside it.
A custom skill that produces output in your exact format every time, plus a live Gmail connection that lets Claude search your inbox, read threads, and draft replies using your real emails.
Secret Mission: Set up a scheduled task that reads your unread emails every morning at 9 a.m., studies your writing style, and drafts replies for you on autopilot.

Do I need a paid Claude plan?

This project assumes you have an active Claude Pro subscription ($20/month). Pro unlocks unlimited projects, custom skills, connectors, and scheduled tasks.

You can sign up or check your current plan at claude.ai under your account settings.

Before We Start

Before we dive in, let's lock in what you're about to build and why it matters.

Get Claude Pro and Install Claude Desktop

Most people only use Claude through a browser tab. That means Claude is buried among dozens of other tabs, and you have to hunt for it every time you want to ask something.

Installing Claude Desktop puts Claude one keyboard shortcut away on your computer. It also unlocks features like Cowork that let Claude work on tasks in the background. In this step, you will confirm your Pro subscription and get the desktop app up and running.

In this step, get ready to:

Confirm your Claude Pro or Max subscription is active.
Download and install Claude Desktop on your computer.
Verify both surfaces are working and synced.

Confirm your Claude Pro subscription

Claude Pro unlocks the full personalization toolkit you will use throughout this project. Without it, features like unlimited projects, custom skills, connectors, and scheduled tasks are unavailable or limited.

Open your browser and navigate to claude.ai.
Sign in with your existing account, or create a new one if you do not have one yet.
Click your initials or name in the lower-left corner.
Select Settings from the menu.
Navigate to Billing. Your current plan is displayed on this page.

✔️ I see Pro or Max on my Billing page

You are all set. Your subscription is active and you have access to every feature in this project.

ⓧ I see a free plan or no plan at all

On the Billing page, click Upgrade plan.
Click Get Pro plan.
Choose between monthly and annual billing.
Enter your payment information and click Subscribe.

Once your subscription is confirmed, you will be redirected back to Claude with Pro features enabled.

What does Claude Pro unlock?

Pro gives you unlimited projects, custom skills, remote connectors, and scheduled tasks. These are the features you will configure throughout this project to turn Claude into a personalized assistant.

Pro also gives you higher usage limits and priority access during busy periods. You can check your usage anytime in Settings > Usage.

Download and install Claude Desktop

Claude Desktop is a standalone app that lives outside your browser. It gives you a dedicated window for Claude and enables features like desktop extensions and Cowork that only work through the app.

macOS

In your browser, navigate to claude.ai/download.
Find the macOS section and click Download.
Once the download finishes, open the downloaded file.
Drag the Claude icon into your Applications folder.
Press Cmd+Space to open Spotlight.
Type Claude and press Enter to open Claude Desktop.
Sign in with the same account you use on claude.ai.

Windows

In your browser, navigate to claude.ai/download.
Find the Windows section and click Download.
Once the download finishes, open the downloaded file.
Follow the installer prompts and click Install.
Press the Windows key to open your search bar.
Type Claude and press Enter to open Claude Desktop.
Sign in with the same account you use on claude.ai.

Claude Desktop opens to a new conversation screen. Your account name appears in the lower-left corner, confirming you are signed in.

Why install a desktop app if the browser works?

The browser version and the desktop app share the same account, conversations, and features. The difference is access. Claude Desktop stays in your dock or taskbar instead of competing with browser tabs.

It also enables Cowork sessions that can access local files on your machine and run tasks in the background. You will use Cowork in the Secret Mission later.

🙋‍♀️ Claude Desktop not opening?

On macOS, make sure you dragged the Claude icon into Applications, not just onto your desktop or downloads bar.
On Windows, try running the installer again as an administrator. Right-click the downloaded file and select Run as administrator.
If macOS blocks the app with a security warning, open System Settings > Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway next to the Claude entry.
Search for Claude using Spotlight (macOS) or the Start menu (Windows). If it does not appear, open your Applications folder (macOS) or Program Files folder (Windows) and launch Claude directly.

Still stuck? Help me get Claude Desktop running on my computer.

Verify both surfaces are synced

You now have two ways to talk to Claude. The final check is confirming they share the same account and conversations.

In Claude Desktop, start a new conversation by typing a quick message like "Hello, testing sync" and pressing Enter.
Switch to your browser and open claude.ai.
Check the sidebar on the left. The conversation you just started in Claude Desktop should appear in the list.

You should see the same conversation on both surfaces. Your account is synced and both Claude Desktop and claude.ai are ready to use.

Conversation not showing up in the browser?

Make sure you are signed into the same account on both surfaces. Click your initials in the lower-left corner on each surface and compare the name or email shown.
Refresh the claude.ai page in your browser. New conversations may take a moment to appear.

Need more help? My Claude Desktop and browser conversations are not syncing.

Your Claude Pro account is confirmed and Claude Desktop is installed. Next up, you will write profile instructions that teach Claude who you are and how you like to communicate.

Write Your Profile Instructions

Claude Desktop is installed and both surfaces are ready. Now it's time to make Claude actually useful by teaching it who you are.

Without profile instructions, Claude treats you like a stranger in every conversation. You waste the opening messages explaining who you are, what you care about, and how you like responses formatted. Profile instructions fix this by giving Claude permanent context about you, so it never needs a cold start.

In this step, get ready to:

Customize and save your profile instructions with personal context and writing style rules.
Test that Claude uses your preferences automatically in a new conversation.

Customize and save your profile instructions

Profile instructions are account-wide settings that apply to every conversation with Claude. The template below has two parts: personal context that you fill in with your own details, and writing style rules that are ready to use as-is.

On claude.ai, click your initials in the lower left corner.
Select Settings.
Find Instructions for Claude. This is where you tell Claude who you are and how you want it to communicate.

You should see an empty text field. You'll fill this with a profile template, starting with the personal context section below.

Fill in the highlighted fields in this template with your own details, then copy the result:

My name is [[YOUR_NAME="Your Name"]]. I am a [[YOUR_ROLE="your role or occupation"]] based in [[YOUR_CITY="your city or region"]]. I use Claude for [[YOUR_USE_CASES="your primary use cases, e.g., meal planning, writing, research, managing personal projects"]].

Personal context:
- [[INTEREST="Key interest or hobby, e.g., I cook vegetarian meals for two people"]]
- [[LIFESTYLE="Lifestyle detail that affects recommendations, e.g., I work from home and meal prep on Sundays"]]
- [[OTHER_CONTEXT="Any other relevant context, e.g., I'm training for a half marathon or I have two kids under 5"]]

What should I put here?

Think about the things you find yourself re-explaining to Claude. Your name, your job, your dietary preferences, your family situation. Anything that shapes what kind of help you need.

The more specific you are, the better Claude's responses will be. "I cook vegetarian meals for two people" is far more useful than "I like cooking."

Not sure where to start? Ask Claude to help you figure out what to put here.

Paste your customized personal context into the Instructions for Claude field.

You should see your personal details in the text field. Now you'll add the second part of the template directly below it: the writing and communication rules.

Copy the writing rules below and paste them at the end of your personal context in the same field:

Writing and communication rules:

Style:
- Be direct. Lead with the answer, then explain if I ask.
- Write in a natural, conversational tone. Not corporate, not overly casual.
- Never use em dashes. Use commas, periods, colons, or separate sentences instead.
- No emojis in responses unless I use them first.
- Use sentence case for headings, not Title Case.
- Vary your sentence length. Mix short and long. Do not write in a monotone mid-length cadence.

Things to avoid:
- Sycophancy and filler. Never open with "Great question!", "Absolutely!", "Of course!", "I'd be happy to help!", or "That's a really interesting point." Just answer.
- Signposting. Do not write "Let's dive in," "Here's what you need to know," or "Let's break this down." Start with the content.
- Promotional language. Do not call things "game-changing," "powerful," "robust," "cutting-edge," or "innovative." Describe what the thing actually does.
- Filler phrases. Replace "in order to" with "to." Replace "due to the fact that" with "because." Replace "it is important to note that" with nothing.
- Excessive hedging. Do not write "it could potentially possibly be argued." Say what you mean.
- Generic conclusions. Do not end with "the future looks bright" or "exciting times lie ahead." End on the last concrete point.
- Rule of three. Do not force ideas into groups of three to sound comprehensive.
- Lists of ten. When I ask for a recommendation, give me your top pick with a clear reason. I will ask for more options if I want them.

Behavior:
- Push back when I am wrong or when there is a better approach. Do not just agree with me.
- If my question is based on a misconception, correct it before answering.
- Ask clarifying questions when my request is ambiguous rather than guessing.
- When comparing options, use a table. When listing steps, use numbered lists. When explaining a concept, use prose.

What do these rules do?

The Style section controls Claude's tone and formatting. Direct answers first, no em dashes, no emojis unless you use them.

The Things to avoid section strips out the generic AI-sounding filler that makes responses feel robotic. No "Great question!" openers, no buzzwords, no padding.

The Behavior section tells Claude to push back when you're wrong and ask questions when your request is unclear. These are ready to use as-is, but feel free to tweak any rule to match your taste.

Make sure both sections are in the field: your personal context at the top, then the writing rules below it.
Click Save.

Don't see a Save button?

Make sure you clicked into the Instructions for Claude text field and that your text is actually in the field, not just on your clipboard. If the field looks empty, try pasting again.

Help me save my profile instructions in Claude.

✔️ Awesome, I've got everything!

Great. Double check that both sections are in the field: your personal context at the top, then the writing and communication rules below.

ⓧ I'd like to double check the full code

Scroll up and confirm both of the following sections are in your Instructions for Claude field, in this order:

Personal context (the first block above): your name, role, city, use cases, and three personal context bullet points. All placeholder fields should be filled in with your own details.
Writing and communication rules (the second block above): the Style, Things to avoid, and Behavior sections. These should be pasted below your personal context with no gap.

Test your instructions in a new conversation

Saving the instructions is only half the job. You need to confirm Claude actually uses them without being prompted.

Close the Settings panel.
Start a brand new conversation by clicking the compose button or the New chat button in the sidebar.

You'll run two quick tests. The first checks whether Claude knows your personal context. The second checks whether it follows your writing rules.

Ask Claude something related to your personal context. For example, if you said you cook vegetarian meals, try:

What should I make for dinner tonight?

Before you read the response, think about what you expect. Should Claude ask about your dietary preferences, or should it already know them?

Claude's response should reflect the personal context you set. If you mentioned vegetarian cooking, the suggestions should be vegetarian without you having to specify that.

Now test the writing rules. Ask Claude to write something short:

Write me a short email declining a meeting.

Check the response against your writing rules. Claude should not open with filler like "Of course!" or "I'd be happy to help!" and should not use em dashes.

What should I see?

Claude should jump straight to the answer with no preamble. The tone should be direct and conversational. Your personal context (dietary preferences, lifestyle, family details) should be woven into the response naturally, as if Claude already knows you.

🙋‍♀️ Claude ignored your preferences?

Make sure you started a new conversation after saving your instructions. Profile instructions do not retroactively apply to existing chats.

Double check that you clicked Save after pasting your instructions. Go back to Settings and confirm your text is still in the Instructions for Claude field.

Help me figure out why Claude isn't following my profile instructions.

Claude now responds as if it knows you. Next up, you'll create a dedicated project workspace so Claude can focus on a specific goal with its own context and instructions.

Create Your First Project

Your profile instructions are live. Every new conversation now starts with Claude already knowing your preferences and writing style.

Profile instructions apply to every conversation. But when you are working on a specific goal, like weekly meal planning, a job search, or planning a trip, you need context that stays separate and doesn't disappear between chats.

In this step, get ready to:

Create a dedicated project workspace for a personal goal.
Upload context to the project's knowledge base.
Chat inside the project and confirm Claude uses your uploaded context.

Create a new project and set its instructions

Claude Projects give you a dedicated workspace for a specific goal. Each project gets its own instructions and knowledge base, so your context stays organized and separate from other conversations.

In claude.ai, hover over the left sidebar and click Projects.
Click + New Project.

Pick a project that matches a real goal you have right now, or use one of these examples:

Meal Planning

Enter Weekly Meal Planning as the project name.
Add a description: Plan and prep meals for the week.

Job Search

Enter Job Search Tracker as the project name.
Add a description: Track applications and prep for interviews.

Trip Planning

Enter Japan Trip March 2027 as the project name.
Add a description: Plan a 10-day Japan itinerary.

Does Claude read the project description?

Claude does not have access to the description. It exists purely for your own reference, so you can remember what the project is for at a glance.

Click Set project instructions.

Write instructions that tell Claude what matters for this project. Use the example for your chosen project, or write your own:

Meal Planning

I meal prep on Sundays for the week ahead.
I love recipes from Yotam Ottolenghi, Samin Nosrat, and J. Kenji López-Alt.
I shop at [[GROCERY_STORE="your go-to grocery store e.g. Trader Joe's, Costco"]].
Budget is $100/week for two people.
Keep weeknight meals under 30 minutes.

Job Search

I'm looking for [[TARGET_ROLE="your target role e.g. Senior Marketing Manager"]] roles.
I have [[YEARS_EXPERIENCE="your years of experience e.g. 4"]] years of experience.
I prefer remote positions at startups (Series A-C).
Help me tailor applications and prep for interviews.

Trip Planning

Planning a 10-day trip to Japan in March 2027.
Two travelers. Budget is $5,000 total excluding flights.
We love food, temples, and hiking.
No interest in shopping districts.
Prefer a mix of traditional ryokans and budget hotels.

Click Save instructions.

How are project instructions different from profile instructions?

Profile instructions apply to every conversation across your entire account. Project instructions apply only inside this specific project.

When you chat inside a project, Claude follows both at the same time. Your writing style rules and personal context carry over, and your project-specific details layer on top.

Upload context to the knowledge base

The right side of your project page shows the knowledge base. This is where you add documents, notes, and reference material that Claude can draw from inside every project chat. The more real context you add, the better Claude's answers become.

Add the following items to your knowledge base. Click the + button on the right side of your project page, then select Add text content for each item. Fill in the highlighted fields with your own details.

Meal Planning

Add two text items to your knowledge base.

Click +, select Add text content, and give it the title My food preferences. Paste in the following:

Household: [[HOUSEHOLD_SIZE="e.g. 2 adults, 1 toddler"]]
Allergies: [[ALLERGIES="e.g. none, but don't like cilantro"]]
Protein preferences: [[PROTEINS="e.g. chicken thighs, salmon, chickpeas, lentils"]]
Weeknight max cook time: [[COOK_TIME="e.g. 30 min"]]
Lunches: [[LUNCH_STYLE="e.g. leftovers from dinner"]]
Breakfast: [[BREAKFAST_STYLE="e.g. keep it simple - yogurt, eggs, oatmeal rotation"]]
Last week we made: [[RECENT_MEALS="e.g. shakshuka, lemon chicken, pasta e ceci"]]

Click + again, select Add text content, and title it Chefs and recipes I love. Paste in the following:

Chefs I always come back to:
- [[CHEF_1="e.g. Yotam Ottolenghi - love his vegetable sides from Simple and Plenty"]]
- [[CHEF_2="e.g. Samin Nosrat - her braised chicken legs from Salt Fat Acid Heat"]]
- [[CHEF_3="e.g. J. Kenji Lopez-Alt - The Food Lab's smash burgers and roasted broccoli"]]
- [[CHEF_4="e.g. Ina Garten - her lemon chicken is my comfort food default"]]

Recipes I want to try:
- [[RECIPE_1="e.g. Ottolenghi's lamb shawarma from Jerusalem"]]
- [[RECIPE_2="e.g. Kenji's halal cart chicken"]]
- [[RECIPE_3="e.g. Marcella Hazan's tomato butter sauce"]]

Job Search

Add two items to your knowledge base. Real documents work best here.

Click + and upload your actual resume as a PDF. This is where Claude gets the most value.
If you don't have one handy, select Add text content, title it My resume, and fill in the template below:

Experience summary:
- [[EXPERIENCE_1="e.g. 4 years as a marketing coordinator at a B2B SaaS company"]]
- [[EXPERIENCE_2="e.g. Managed email campaigns, social media, and event marketing"]]
- [[EXPERIENCE_3="e.g. Comfortable with HubSpot, Google Analytics, Canva"]]
- [[EXPERIENCE_4="e.g. Led a rebrand project that increased website traffic 40%"]]

Education:
- [[EDUCATION="e.g. BA Communications, University of Oregon, 2020"]]

What I want next:
- [[GOAL_ROLE="e.g. Senior marketing manager or content strategist role"]]
- [[GOAL_COMPANY="e.g. Remote-first company, ideally Series A-C startup"]]
- [[GOAL_SALARY="e.g. Salary target: $95-120k"]]
- [[GOAL_GROWTH="e.g. Want more ownership over strategy, less execution"]]

Click + again, select Add text content, and title it A job listing I'm interested in. Find a real listing on LinkedIn, Indeed, or your job board of choice and paste the full description in. If you don't have one yet, use this example:

Role: Senior Marketing Manager
Company: Greenline (Series B, climate tech)
Location: Remote (US)
Salary: $95,000 - $125,000

About the role:
We're looking for a Senior Marketing Manager to own our content
strategy and demand generation. You'll work closely with the
founder and a small design team to build Greenline's brand
from the ground up.

Requirements:
- 4+ years in B2B marketing
- Experience with HubSpot or similar marketing automation
- Strong writing skills and portfolio of published content
- Bonus: experience in climate, energy, or sustainability

Trip Planning

Add three items to your knowledge base. Upload real documents if you have them, or use the examples as a starting point.

Click + and upload your flight booking confirmation as a PDF. You can save a confirmation email as a PDF from most email apps, or download it from the airline's website.
If you don't have a real booking yet, select Add text content, title it Flight confirmation, and paste in this example:

Booking confirmation - Japan Airlines
Confirmation code: ABC123

Outbound: March 12, 2027
  LAX -> NRT (Narita)
  Depart 11:25am, arrive March 13 at 3:30pm (local time)

Return: March 22, 2027
  KIX (Osaka) -> LAX
  Depart 6:10pm, arrive March 22 at 12:45pm (same day)

Click + again, title this one Must-sees from a friend. Paste in recommendations from a friend who has been, or use this example:

ok here's my Japan list from when we went last year!!

TOKYO - stay in Shinjuku, way easier for trains.
Definitely do Tsukiji outer market EARLY (like 7am).
Shibuya crossing is cool for 5 min but don't spend
a whole day there. Golden Gai for tiny bars at night.

KYOTO - Fushimi Inari at sunrise before the crowds.
Arashiyama bamboo grove same thing, go early. The
monkey park up there is actually really fun. Nishiki
market for street food lunch.

OSAKA - Dotonbori for street food, get the takoyaki
from the place with the giant octopus sign. Day trip
to Nara to see the deer, super easy train ride.

Skip: Robot Restaurant (tourist trap), Harajuku on
weekends (too packed)

Click + one more time. If you have a budget spreadsheet or notes doc for your trip, upload it directly as a PDF or paste it in.
If you don't have one yet, select Add text content, title it Trip budget so far, and paste in this example:

Trip budget tracker
Total budget: $5,000 (excluding flights)

Accommodation target: $2,000
  - Want 2-3 nights in a ryokan (traditional inn)
  - Rest in budget hotels or hostels with private rooms

Food target: $1,500
  - One nice sushi omakase (~$150 for two)
  - Rest street food and casual restaurants

Activities: $800
  - Day hike on Kumano Kodo trail
  - Cooking class in Kyoto
  - Temple entry fees

Transport: $500
  - 7-day Japan Rail Pass
  - Local metro cards

Buffer: $200

Your uploaded content now appears in the knowledge base panel. Claude uses all of it as background context for every chat you start inside this project.

Don't see the + button?

Make sure you are on the project's main page, not inside an active chat. The knowledge base panel with the + button appears on the right side of the project overview page.

I can't find where to upload context to my Claude project's knowledge base.

Test your project with a real question

Your project has instructions and the knowledge base has context for Claude to reference. Time to see it all working together.

Start a new chat inside your project by clicking in the message input area on the project page.

Before you send your message, think about what you expect to see. If Claude is using your project instructions and uploaded context, how should its response be different from a regular conversation?

Meal Planning

Type: Plan my meals for next week.

Job Search

Type: Review my experience and suggest 3 types of roles I should target.

Trip Planning

Type: Build me a day-by-day itinerary.

Claude responds using both your profile instructions and your project-specific context. You should see references to your uploaded material and details from your project instructions woven into the response.

Claude isn't referencing your uploaded context?

Double check that you started the chat from inside the project, not from the main Claude homepage. Chats started outside a project do not have access to that project's knowledge base or instructions.

Why isn't Claude using my project's knowledge base in its responses?

Your project is set up and working. Next up, you'll create a custom skill that teaches Claude to follow your preferred output format every time.

Create a Custom Skill

Download and Create a Custom Skill

Your project workspace gives Claude dedicated context for a specific goal. But right now, Claude still sounds like... Claude. Ask it to write an email, a social post, or a meeting summary, and they all come out in that unmistakable AI voice.

A custom skill teaches Claude to follow specific rules every time a certain type of task comes up. In this step, you'll install a pre-made skill from the directory and build your own skill that strips the AI out of Claude's writing.

In this step, get ready to:

Browse the skills directory and install a pre-made skill.
Create a custom natural-writer skill that makes Claude's writing sound human.
Upload the skill and test it with a writing prompt.

Browse and install a skill from the directory

Before you build your own skill, take a look at what already exists. Claude has a built-in skills directory with pre-made skills from Anthropic and partners like Notion, Figma, and Atlassian.

On claude.ai, click Customize in the left sidebar.
Click the Skills tab.
Click the + button.
Click Browse skills to open the full directory.

You should see a catalog of available skills organized by category.

Browse the directory and find a skill that looks useful to you.
Click Install on the skill you chose.

The skill appears in your skills list under Customize and is enabled by default. Claude uses it automatically when your prompt matches what the skill does.

What are skills?

Skills are bundles of instructions that Claude loads when they match your request. Think of them as cheat sheets for specific tasks. Claude reads the skill's description, decides if it's relevant, and follows the instructions inside.

Skills you install from the directory are view-only. If you want to tweak how one works, you can download a copy, edit it, and upload it as your own.

Create your natural writing skill

The directory skill was a one-click install. Now you'll build one from scratch. This skill teaches Claude to write like a real person instead of an AI, cutting out all the telltale phrases that make AI text obvious.

Press Cmd+Space (macOS) or the Windows key (Windows) to open your search bar.
Type Terminal and press Enter to open it.
Move to your Desktop by running this command:

cd ~/Desktop

Create your skill folder and the SKILL.md file inside it by running these commands:

mkdir natural-writer
cd natural-writer
touch SKILL.md

Confirm the file exists by running:

ls

You should see SKILL.md in the output.

Don't see SKILL.md?

Make sure you ran cd natural-writer before running ls. You need to be inside the folder to see its contents.

If the folder wasn't created, re-run the mkdir and touch commands above.

Why isn't my SKILL.md file showing up?

Open SKILL.md in a text editor by running:

open -a TextEdit SKILL.md

Use plain text mode

TextEdit opens in rich text mode by default, which adds formatting that breaks your skill file. Click Format in the menu bar, then click Make Plain Text. If you have another text editor like VS Code or Sublime Text, you can use that instead.

Paste the following into your empty file:

---
name: natural-writer
description: Rewrites output to sound like a real person, not an AI. Use when the user asks to write, draft, compose, or edit any text including emails, messages, social posts, bios, or paragraphs.
---

# Natural Writer

When writing or editing text, follow these rules to sound human:

## Words and Phrases to Never Use
- "delve", "leverage", "utilize", "facilitate", "streamline"
- "I'd be happy to", "Absolutely!", "Great question!"
- "In today's fast-paced world", "In today's digital age"
- "It's important to note that", "It's worth mentioning"
- "game-changer", "cutting-edge", "groundbreaking"
- "foster", "navigate", "landscape", "robust"

## Style Rules
- Use short sentences. Mix in fragments when they land.
- Start some sentences with "And" or "But."
- Always use contractions (don't, won't, it's, can't).
- Pick specific words over vague ones. Say "fix" not "address."
- End on a concrete point, not a sweeping summary.
- Skip the throat-clearing. Get to the point in the first sentence.
- Sound like you're talking to a friend, not presenting at a conference.

What does this file do?

The three dashes (---) at the top and bottom mark the YAML frontmatter. Claude reads this block first to decide whether the skill matches your request.

name is the skill's identifier. It must be lowercase with hyphens, and it must match your folder name.
description tells Claude when to activate the skill. The trigger phrases here cover writing, drafting, and editing tasks.
The body below the frontmatter lists the banned AI phrases and the style rules Claude follows when the skill activates.

Save the file by pressing Cmd+S (macOS) or Ctrl+S (Windows).

How does Claude decide when to use a skill?

Claude loads your skill in stages. The YAML frontmatter (name and description) is always available in Claude's system prompt. When your message matches the description's trigger phrases, Claude loads the full body of SKILL.md and follows the instructions inside.

✔️ Awesome, I've got everything!

Great. Make sure you have saved your file before moving on.

ⓧ I'd like to double check the full code

Your SKILL.md should contain the YAML frontmatter at the top (between the --- markers) followed by the Natural Writer heading, the banned phrases list, and the style rules. Scroll up and confirm all sections are present.

Upload and test the skill

Claude accepts skills as ZIP files. You'll compress your folder in Finder, then upload it through the Skills settings on claude.ai.

Open Finder (macOS) or File Explorer (Windows) and navigate to your Desktop.
Right-click the natural-writer folder.
Select Compress.

A file called natural-writer.zip appears on your Desktop next to the original folder.

Switch back to claude.ai in your browser.
Click Customize in the lower left corner.
Click Skills.
Click the + button.
Click + Create skill.
Click Upload a skill.
Select the natural-writer.zip file from your Desktop and upload it.
Toggle the skill on so it is active.

Your skill now appears in the Skills list with its toggle switched on.

Are skills private?

Yes. Custom skills you upload are private to your individual account. No one else can see or use them.

🙋‍♀️ Upload failed?

Make sure the ZIP file contains the natural-writer folder as its root, not a subfolder inside another folder. The folder name must match the name field in your YAML frontmatter exactly.

If you saved in TextEdit without switching to plain text mode, hidden formatting may have broken the file. Open SKILL.md again, click Format then Make Plain Text, re-save, re-compress, and upload again.

Why is my skill upload failing?

Test the skill in a conversation

The skill is uploaded and active. Before you run your test, think about what you expect to see.

Start a new conversation on claude.ai.

Before you type your prompt, predict: will Claude's response read like a polished AI paragraph, or will it sound like something a real person wrote?

Type a prompt that triggers your writing skill, such as:

Write a short paragraph about why morning routines matter

Press Enter to send your prompt.

Claude's response should read like a real person wrote it. No "In today's fast-paced world," no "delve," no sweeping summary at the end. Short sentences, contractions, and a conversational tone.

Claude still sounds like an AI?

Go back to Customize and check that the skill's toggle is switched on under Skills.

Make sure your prompt matches the trigger phrases in the skill's description field. Try phrasing it differently, like "Draft a paragraph about" or "Write me a short bio."

Why isn't Claude using my natural writing skill?

Your skill is live and working. Every time you ask Claude to write something, it drops the AI voice and sounds like a real person. Next up, you'll connect Claude to Gmail so it can read your real emails and draft replies.

Connect Your Everyday Apps

Your custom skill ensures Claude follows your preferred output format every time. But Claude is still working in isolation, cut off from your emails, notes, and documents.

Remote connectors link Claude to cloud apps you already use. The directory includes connectors for Google Drive, Notion, Slack, and more. In this step, you will connect Gmail so Claude can search your inbox, summarize threads, and draft replies using your real emails.

In this step, get ready to:

Find Gmail in the connectors directory and start the setup process.
Sign in with your Google account and grant Claude permission to access your inbox.
Test the connector by asking Claude to summarize your recent unread emails.

Find Gmail in the connectors directory

Claude has a built-in directory of apps you can connect to. The directory includes dozens of connectors, but you will start with Gmail so Claude can work with your real emails.

On claude.ai, click Customize in the left sidebar.
Click the Connectors tab.
Click the + button, then select Browse connectors to open the full directory.

You can also browse from Claude Desktop

In Claude Desktop, the path is the same: click Customize in the left sidebar, then open the Connectors tab. You can also navigate directly to claude.ai/directory in your browser.

You should see a catalog of available connectors organized by category. Take a look around to see what's available, then find Gmail.

Find Gmail in the directory.
Click on it to review the description and capabilities.
Click Connect to begin the setup process.

What is a remote connector?

A remote connector links Claude to a cloud app you already use. It lets Claude read data from that app, like searching your Google Drive files or scanning your Gmail inbox, so it can give answers based on your real information instead of guessing.

Remote connectors work across every Claude surface: web, desktop, and mobile. Connect once, and it is available everywhere.

Connect your Google account

After you click Connect, Claude opens Google's sign-in page in a new window. This is where you grant Claude permission to read your Gmail inbox.

Sign in with the Google account whose emails you want Claude to access.
Review the permissions Claude is requesting. Claude needs read access to search and summarize your emails.
Click Allow to grant permission and complete the authentication.

Once authenticated, you are redirected back to Claude. The connector is now active.

Return to Customize in the left sidebar and click the Connectors tab.
Confirm that Gmail now appears in your connected connectors list.

Authentication not completing?

Make sure your browser is not blocking pop-ups. The Google sign-in flow opens in a new window.

Check that you are signing in with the correct Google account. If you have multiple accounts, Google defaults to the last one you used.

Try disconnecting and reconnecting. Go to Customize > Connectors, find Gmail, click it, and click Disconnect. Then click Connect again to re-authenticate.

Why can't I connect Gmail to Claude?

Test Gmail with a real question

Gmail is connected, but the real test is whether Claude can actually pull your emails into a conversation. Before you try, take a guess: do you think Claude will be able to read your inbox right away, or will you need to do something else first?

Start a new conversation on claude.ai.
Click the + button in the lower left of the chat interface.
Hover over Connectors.
Confirm Gmail appears in the list and its toggle is turned on.

Now ask Claude a question that requires your Gmail inbox to answer.

Type a prompt like: "Summarize my most recent unread emails."
Press Enter to send your prompt.

Claude searches your Gmail inbox and pulls real email data into its response. You should see actual sender names, subject lines, and summaries from your account, not a generic answer.

What should I see?

Claude's response should reference specific emails from your inbox. You should see real sender names and subject lines, with links back to the original emails for verification.

Claude may also ask for your explicit approval before taking certain actions, like creating a draft reply. This is normal.

🙋‍♀️ Claude not pulling your emails?

Make sure the Gmail toggle is on for this conversation. Click the + button in the lower left, hover over Connectors, and check that Gmail's toggle is enabled.

Try being more specific in your question. Instead of "What's new?" try "Summarize my unread emails from the last 3 days."

Start a brand new conversation and try again. Connectors are toggled per conversation.

Why isn't Claude reading my Gmail?

Secret mission

Set Up a Scheduled Task

You have set up profile instructions, a project, a writing skill, and a Gmail connector. Now put it all on autopilot. Create a scheduled task that reads your unread emails every morning and drafts replies in your writing style, using emails you have already sent as a reference.

Clean Up Your Resources

This project uses your existing Claude Pro subscription. No additional paid resources were created beyond what your plan already covers.

Decide whether to keep your configurations running, pause them to come back later, or remove them entirely.

Resources you used:

Scheduled task in Cowork (runs automatically on your chosen cadence).
Custom skill (weekly-meal-planner) uploaded via Customize > Skills.
Remote connector (e.g., Google Drive, Gmail, or Notion) linked to your Claude account.
Claude project (e.g., "Weekly Meal Planning") at claude.ai/projects.
Profile instructions saved in your Claude settings.
Local files: weekly-meal-planner folder and ZIP file on your Mac.
Claude Desktop app installed in your Applications folder.

Keep everything running

No action needed. Choose this if you are still actively using your Claude setup.

Your profile instructions, project, skill, and connector all remain active.
Your scheduled task continues to run on its cadence until you pause or delete it.
Claude Desktop stays installed and synced with your claude.ai account.
Everything is covered by your existing Pro subscription. There are no additional costs.

Pause - I'll come back to this later

Stop the scheduled task while keeping everything else in place. This is a good option if you want to take a break without losing your setup.

Open the Scheduled page in Cowork.
Click into your scheduled task and select Pause.
Your profile instructions, project, skill, and connector remain active with no ongoing cost beyond your Pro subscription.
You can resume the task at any time from the same Scheduled page.

Delete - I don't want to use this again

Remove all configurations and local files created during this project.

Open the Scheduled page in Cowork.
Click into your scheduled task and delete it.
Click Customize in the lower left corner and navigate to Skills.
Remove the weekly-meal-planner skill.
Return to Customize and navigate to Connectors.
Disconnect your connected app (e.g., Google Drive, Gmail, or Notion).
Go to claude.ai/projects and delete your project.
Click your initials in the lower left corner and select Settings.
Find Instructions for Claude, clear the text field, and save.
In Finder, locate the weekly-meal-planner folder and its ZIP file on your Mac and move both to the Trash.
To remove Claude Desktop, open your Applications folder in Finder and drag Claude to the Trash.

Nice Work!

You just turned Claude from a generic chatbot into a fully personalized assistant. It knows who you are, organizes your work into focused spaces, follows your preferred formats, connects to your real tools, and can even do work for you on autopilot.

You've learned how to:

Install Claude Desktop and write profile instructions that give Claude your personal context and writing style from the very first message.
Create a dedicated project workspace with its own knowledge base and build a custom skill that produces consistently formatted output every time you ask for a recurring task.
Connect Gmail as a remote connector so Claude can search your inbox, read email threads, and draft replies using your real data.
Secret Mission: Set up a scheduled task in Cowork that reads your unread emails every morning, studies your writing style, and drafts replies on autopilot.

Ready to quiz yourself?