---
name: "SKILL.md + metadata.openclaw gates (bins/env/config) or it never loads"
description: "Use when SKILL.md needs metadata.openclaw gates (bins/env/config) or it never loads."
---

# SKILL.md + metadata.openclaw gates (bins/env/config) or it never loads

## When
Use when an OpenClaw skill is installed but silent because gates failed.

## Stop
If bins/env/config gates fail, it never loads — do not work around by pasting the body into chat.

## Steps
1. `~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/gemini-search/SKILL.md`:
2. Run the helper at `{baseDir}/scripts/run.sh` if present.
3. Wire the key in `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json` (injected for that agent turn on the host only — not the sandbox):
4. Verify, then start a new session (watcher refreshes file-backed skills; existing sessions keep the old snapshot):
5. Gates that skip the skill at load: `requires.bins` (all on PATH), `requires.anyBins` (one on PATH), `requires.env`, `requires.config` (truthy `openclaw.json` paths), `os: ["darwin"|"linux"|"win32"]`.

## Load
SKILL.md metadata.openclaw. Required bins/env/config.