diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx b/packages/app/src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
index 4f6649ea..8824b09c 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   RefreshCw,
 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { toast } from 'sonner';
 import { NewSkillDialog } from '@/components/NewSkillDialog';
 import { SkillStateBadge } from '@/components/SkillStateBadge';
 import {
@@ -116,6 +117,9 @@ export function SkillsSidebarSection() {
         <CollapsibleContent>
           <SidebarGroupContent>
             <SkillImportPrompt />
+            <SkillsShareLocalOnlyPrompt
+              hasProjectSkills={skills.some((s) => s.scope === 'project' && !s.managed)}
+            />
             {skills.length === 0 ? (
               <p className="px-2 py-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
                 <Trans>No skills yet.</Trans>
@@ -498,6 +502,114 @@ function FileTreeNode({
   );
 }
 
+/**
+ * Local-only skills-are-hidden prompt. In local-only mode the whole `.ok/`
+ * tree is git-ignored, so `.ok/skills/` (shareable content) can't be committed
+ * — the "skills silently can't be shared" trap. When project skills exist in
+ * that state, offer a one-click carve-out that makes JUST `.ok/skills/`
+ * shareable while the rest of `.ok/` stays local (via `sharing.setSkillsShared`).
+ * Desktop-only (the sharing bridge is absent on the web host).
+ */
+function SkillsShareLocalOnlyPrompt({ hasProjectSkills }: { hasProjectSkills: boolean }) {
+  const { t } = useLingui();
+  // `localOnlyHidden` = local-only AND skills not yet carved out (the broken
+  // state this prompt exists to fix). null = not yet read / not applicable.
+  const [localOnlyHidden, setLocalOnlyHidden] = useState<boolean | null>(null);
+  const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // useEffect runs client-side, so `window` is defined (oxlint no-restricted-syntax).
+    const bridge = window.okDesktop?.sharing;
+    if (!bridge) return;
+    let cancelled = false;
+    const read = () => {
+      void bridge
+        .status()
+        .then((s) => {
+          if (!cancelled) setLocalOnlyHidden(s.mode === 'local-only' && !s.skillsShared);
+        })
+        .catch((err) => {
+          // Advisory read — degrade to hiding the prompt, but keep a signal so an
+          // IPC regression isn't invisible (packaged desktop has no user console).
+          console.warn(
+            JSON.stringify({
+              event: 'skills-share-status-read-failed',
+              error: err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err),
+            }),
+          );
+        });
+    };
+    read();
+    // Re-read on window refocus so the banner tracks a sharing-mode change made
+    // in Settings while the sidebar stayed mounted (closing that dialog refocuses
+    // the window). Without this the mount-time read goes stale.
+    window.addEventListener('focus', read);
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true;
+      window.removeEventListener('focus', read);
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  if (!hasProjectSkills || localOnlyHidden !== true) return null;
+
+  // No try/finally: this repo's React Compiler can't lower a finalizer clause,
+  // so capture the result/error and settle `busy` after the await (mirrors
+  // SharingSection's handler).
+  const share = async () => {
+    const bridge = window.okDesktop?.sharing;
+    if (!bridge || busy) return;
+    setBusy(true);
+    let result: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof bridge.setSkillsShared>> | null = null;
+    let err: unknown = null;
+    try {
+      result = await bridge.setSkillsShared(true);
+    } catch (caught) {
+      err = caught;
+    }
+    setBusy(false);
+    if (err !== null) {
+      // A wire-protocol violation surfaces as `ok:sharing:dispatch: ...` from the
+      // preload — meaningless to end users, so show a generic message instead.
+      const raw = err instanceof Error ? err.message : '';
+      toast.error(
+        raw.startsWith('ok:sharing:dispatch:')
+          ? t`Couldn't share skills: internal error. Please restart the app.`
+          : raw || t`Couldn't share skills`,
+      );
+      return;
+    }
+    if (result === null) return;
+    if (result.kind === 'applied') {
+      toast.success(t`Skills are now shared. Commit .ok/skills to share them with your team.`);
+      setLocalOnlyHidden(false);
+    } else if (result.kind === 'no-exclude') {
+      // Map internal reason codes to plain English (mirrors SharingSection).
+      const detail =
+        result.reason === 'no-git'
+          ? t`no git repository here`
+          : result.reason === 'inaccessible'
+            ? t`the git exclude file isn't writable`
+            : t`git configuration is unavailable`;
+      toast.warning(t`Couldn't share skills — ${detail}.`);
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div className="mx-2 mb-1 rounded-md border border-amber-300 bg-amber-50 p-2 text-xs dark:border-amber-700 dark:bg-amber-950">
+      <p className="mb-2 text-amber-900 dark:text-amber-200">
+        <Trans>
+          This project is local-only, so .ok/skills is hidden from git and these skills can't be
+          committed or shared. Share just the skills folder — the rest of your OK config stays on
+          this computer.
+        </Trans>
+      </p>
+      <Button size="sm" className="h-6 px-2 text-xs" disabled={busy} onClick={() => void share()}>
+        <Trans>Share skills</Trans>
+      </Button>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
 /**
  * One-time import offer: when this project is undecided about skill management
  * AND there are editor-dir skills OK could adopt, ask once. "Import" flips the
diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx b/packages/app/src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
index b2405464..d702c7aa 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
@@ -76,7 +76,14 @@ function SharingSectionBody() {
       // renders (the toast already surfaced the real error). A later refresh
       // failure keeps the last good status rather than clobbering it.
       setStatus(
-        (prev) => prev ?? { kind: 'status', mode: 'no-git', excluded: [], trackedUpstream: [] },
+        (prev) =>
+          prev ?? {
+            kind: 'status',
+            mode: 'no-git',
+            excluded: [],
+            trackedUpstream: [],
+            skillsShared: false,
+          },
       );
     }
   }
@@ -130,6 +137,43 @@ function SharingSectionBody() {
     await refresh();
   }
 
+  // Undo the local-only skills carve-out (`.ok/skills` back to hidden). Only
+  // offered when the project is in the carve state; mirrors onSelect's
+  // capture-error-after-await shape (no try/finally — React Compiler can't
+  // lower a finalizer).
+  async function onUndoSkillsShare() {
+    const bridge = window.okDesktop?.sharing;
+    if (!bridge || status === null || busy) return;
+    setBusy(true);
+    let result: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof bridge.setSkillsShared>> | null = null;
+    let err: unknown = null;
+    try {
+      result = await bridge.setSkillsShared(false);
+    } catch (caught) {
+      err = caught;
+    }
+    setBusy(false);
+    if (err !== null) {
+      toast.error(err instanceof Error ? err.message : t`Couldn't update skills sharing`);
+      return;
+    }
+    if (result === null) return;
+    if (result.kind === 'no-exclude') {
+      // Inspect the result like onSelect does — a `no-exclude` outcome (git
+      // config unavailable / exclude file unwritable) is a failure, not success.
+      const detail =
+        result.reason === 'no-git'
+          ? t`no git repository here`
+          : result.reason === 'inaccessible'
+            ? t`the git exclude file isn't writable`
+            : t`git configuration is unavailable`;
+      toast.warning(t`Couldn't update skills sharing — ${detail}.`);
+      return;
+    }
+    toast.success(t`.ok/skills is back to local-only.`);
+    await refresh();
+  }
+
   if (status === null) {
     return (
       <section aria-labelledby={TITLE_ID} className="space-y-3">
@@ -215,6 +259,33 @@ function SharingSectionBody() {
         </RadioGroup>
       )}
 
+      {status.mode === 'local-only' && status.skillsShared ? (
+        <div
+          className="flex items-start justify-between gap-2 rounded-md border border-muted-foreground/30 bg-muted/40 p-3 text-sm"
+          data-testid="settings-sharing-skills-exception"
+        >
+          <span>
+            <span className="font-medium">
+              <Trans>Exception: skills are shared</Trans>
+            </span>
+            <span className="block text-1sm text-muted-foreground">
+              <Trans>
+                .ok/skills is committable so your team gets your skills; the rest of .ok/ stays on
+                this computer.
+              </Trans>
+            </span>
+          </span>
+          <Button
+            variant="outline"
+            size="sm"
+            disabled={busy}
+            onClick={() => void onUndoSkillsShare()}
+          >
+            <Trans>Undo</Trans>
+          </Button>
+        </div>
+      ) : null}
+
       {refusal !== null ? (
         <div
           className="space-y-2 rounded-md border border-destructive bg-destructive/10 p-3 text-sm"
diff --git a/packages/app/src/lib/desktop-bridge-types.ts b/packages/app/src/lib/desktop-bridge-types.ts
index 0e93cae0..24d0c261 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/lib/desktop-bridge-types.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/lib/desktop-bridge-types.ts
@@ -743,6 +743,8 @@ export interface OkSharingStatusResult {
   readonly mode: 'shared' | 'local-only' | 'no-git';
   readonly excluded: readonly string[];
   readonly trackedUpstream: readonly string[];
+  /** True when local-only but `.ok/skills/` is carved back out as shareable. */
+  readonly skillsShared: boolean;
 }
 
 export type OkSharingSetModeResult =
@@ -1157,6 +1159,8 @@ export interface OkDesktopBridge {
   sharing: {
     status(): Promise<OkSharingStatusResult>;
     setMode(mode: 'shared' | 'local-only'): Promise<OkSharingSetModeResult>;
+    /** Toggle `.ok/skills/` shareability within local-only mode. */
+    setSkillsShared(shared: boolean): Promise<OkSharingSetModeResult>;
   };
 
   /**
diff --git a/packages/app/src/locales/en/messages.json b/packages/app/src/locales/en/messages.json
index bb710461..1cf5511e 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/locales/en/messages.json
+++ b/packages/app/src/locales/en/messages.json
@@ -234,6 +234,7 @@
     "4buZWd": ["Inherited from ", ["path"]],
     "4c_a6S": ["Nothing set yet."],
     "4g19V6": ["Failed to update property"],
+    "4h3e0H": ["Couldn't update skills sharing — ", ["detail"], "."],
     "4hJhzz": ["Table"],
     "4ieVh2": ["Pick “Custom” above to use this palette."],
     "4jDd0j": ["Anyone can see"],
@@ -474,6 +475,7 @@
     "9oE4C3": ["Browse your repos:"],
     "9sBe85": ["Follow us on"],
     "9tJX8r": ["By meaning"],
+    "9uI_rE": ["Undo"],
     "9xCnv8": ["Hide Terminal"],
     "9zb2WA": ["Connecting"],
     "A1taO8": ["Search"],
@@ -552,6 +554,9 @@
     "Bdha5y": ["Publishing..."],
     "BeWTQy": ["Loading starter packs"],
     "BgV29F": ["Visual editor find input focused"],
+    "Bh9671": [
+      "This project is local-only, so .ok/skills is hidden from git and these skills can't be committed or shared. Share just the skills folder — the rest of your OK config stays on this computer."
+    ],
     "Bn9-El": ["default"],
     "Bv5a9_": ["Selection statistics"],
     "Bx4EXG": ["Actions for ", ["label"]],
@@ -655,6 +660,7 @@
     ],
     "E7BhZn": ["Blank note"],
     "E9bKSA": ["Creating"],
+    "EARn6h": ["Couldn't share skills — ", ["detail"], "."],
     "EBVbtP": ["Could not duplicate item"],
     "EDl9kS": ["Subscribe"],
     "EDm3wJ": ["Loading diff renderer"],
@@ -902,8 +908,12 @@
     "Jw6EC4": ["Branch switch failed — try opening the ", ["targetNoun"], " manually."],
     "K-a33w": ["Start writing to create this page"],
     "K-h9cT": ["Couldn't save the resolution for ", ["filePath"], "."],
+    "K0FgsP": [
+      ".ok/skills is committable so your team gets your skills; the rest of .ok/ stays on this computer."
+    ],
     "K0N7zS": ["Config sharing status read failed"],
     "K1ckLX": ["Failed to create folder"],
+    "K2v7QF": ["Couldn't share skills"],
     "K6MQQk": ["Sync is failing. See the sync status for details."],
     "K6jjWB": [["packName"], " was already set up. Nothing to do."],
     "K6jxcj": ["Add a key"],
@@ -939,6 +949,7 @@
       "> isn't a known component. Copy the source to use it elsewhere, or delete the block."
     ],
     "Khxcyu": ["Terminal access isn't enabled for this project."],
+    "Kiytqd": ["Exception: skills are shared"],
     "KkEAud": ["Create a file from the current document or folder context."],
     "KmydK6": ["Bold"],
     "KnoB--": ["Will be saved as <0>", ["sanitized"], "</0>."],
@@ -1180,6 +1191,7 @@
     "PiH3UR": ["Copied!"],
     "PkeYXL": ["Expanded graph mode"],
     "Pkw7J9": ["This folder is empty."],
+    "PlGC6r": ["the git exclude file isn't writable"],
     "PqYWiC": [
       "Couldn't restart the server automatically. Try running `ok stop all` in a terminal, then reopen this project — or restart your computer if it persists."
     ],
@@ -1190,6 +1202,7 @@
     "Q5fqMz": ["Connection error — try again"],
     "Q6hhn8": ["Preferences"],
     "Q7W-mC": ["Same folder as current file"],
+    "Q7cNKe": ["Skills are now shared. Commit .ok/skills to share them with your team."],
     "Q8A-U_": ["Connected to"],
     "QAi7Q9": [
       "Branch <0>",
@@ -1305,6 +1318,7 @@
     "TJnkyf": ["ok ui responded but server.lock has no port yet"],
     "TKQ7K-": ["Install"],
     "TLIO3j": ["Toggle italic formatting."],
+    "TUzThQ": ["Share skills"],
     "T_R-Qz": ["Primary"],
     "T_wG4n": ["We couldn't check your GitHub connection."],
     "Ta25TG": ["No history yet"],
@@ -1504,6 +1518,7 @@
     "XvPJaT": ["Diff layout"],
     "Xv_ijG": ["https://github.com/owner/repo or owner/repo"],
     "Xw_maT": ["Type a query, then press ↵ to search your pages by meaning."],
+    "Xwump4": ["no git repository here"],
     "XyOUTJ": ["Exit merge"],
     "Xzy0s0": ["Remove ", ["fullLabel"], " from context"],
     "Y-Urt2": ["Block math equation rendered with KaTeX from a LaTeX source string."],
@@ -2310,6 +2325,7 @@
     "ogAuyr": ["Back to document view"],
     "ohUJJM": ["Plugins"],
     "omXJcU": ["Close others"],
+    "onTlRk": ["Couldn't update skills sharing"],
     "optX0N": [["0"], "h ago"],
     "oqB2ez": ["Previous match"],
     "osRqlv": ["Open delete confirmation for the selected file-tree items."],
@@ -2329,6 +2345,7 @@
     "pEQFsW": ["No matching projects."],
     "pFagOn": ["Source editing"],
     "pHYP6v": ["Open <0>Customize</0> in the sidebar <1/> <2>Skills</2>."],
+    "pQf2Ux": [".ok/skills is back to local-only."],
     "pRc-Im": ["Undone all edits on ", ["docName"]],
     "pTPqMK": ["Toggle a fenced code block."],
     "pWT04I": ["Checking..."],
@@ -2372,6 +2389,7 @@
     "qSKu2v": ["Source navigation and selection"],
     "qSxaOz": ["Accept their deletion"],
     "qUB_o_": ["Auto-sync is off — your edits stay local until you commit and push manually."],
+    "qXN416": ["Couldn't share skills: internal error. Please restart the app."],
     "qXg5W9": ["File saves to <0>~/Downloads/openknowledge.skill</0>."],
     "qXsafh": ["Publish to GitHub"],
     "qZv5ZR": ["Config sharing toggle failed"],
@@ -2762,6 +2780,7 @@
       "The properties block at the top of this doc has a formatting error. Switch to source mode to fix it."
     ],
     "zbymaY": [["0"], "m ago"],
+    "zcmYx4": ["git configuration is unavailable"],
     "zd00pH": ["Copy Path"],
     "zgSFyG": ["External link"],
     "zkz0Fg": ["Set up syncing"],
diff --git a/packages/app/src/locales/en/messages.po b/packages/app/src/locales/en/messages.po
index 62f3f255..0a52377f 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/locales/en/messages.po
+++ b/packages/app/src/locales/en/messages.po
@@ -29,6 +29,14 @@ msgstr " Your selection has been restored."
 msgid ".ok folders"
 msgstr ".ok folders"
 
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+msgid ".ok/skills is back to local-only."
+msgstr ".ok/skills is back to local-only."
+
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+msgid ".ok/skills is committable so your team gets your skills; the rest of .ok/ stays on this computer."
+msgstr ".ok/skills is committable so your team gets your skills; the rest of .ok/ stays on this computer."
+
 #. placeholder {0}: skill.name
 #. placeholder {1}: label(result.hosts)
 #: src/components/skill-actions.tsx
@@ -2322,6 +2330,18 @@ msgstr "Couldn't send the selection — please try again."
 msgid "Couldn't send your prompt — please try again."
 msgstr "Couldn't send your prompt — please try again."
 
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "Couldn't share skills"
+msgstr "Couldn't share skills"
+
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "Couldn't share skills — {detail}."
+msgstr "Couldn't share skills — {detail}."
+
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "Couldn't share skills: internal error. Please restart the app."
+msgstr "Couldn't share skills: internal error. Please restart the app."
+
 #. placeholder {0}: result.error
 #: src/components/skill-actions.tsx
 msgid "Couldn't uninstall skill: {0}"
@@ -2337,6 +2357,14 @@ msgstr "Couldn't update skill targets: {0}"
 msgid "Couldn't update skill: {0}"
 msgstr "Couldn't update skill: {0}"
 
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+msgid "Couldn't update skills sharing"
+msgstr "Couldn't update skills sharing"
+
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+msgid "Couldn't update skills sharing — {detail}."
+msgstr "Couldn't update skills sharing — {detail}."
+
 #: src/components/ConsentDialogBody.tsx
 msgid "Counting markdown files"
 msgstr "Counting markdown files"
@@ -3150,6 +3178,10 @@ msgstr "Entry"
 msgid "Error:"
 msgstr "Error:"
 
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+msgid "Exception: skills are shared"
+msgstr "Exception: skills are shared"
+
 #: src/components/NewWorktreeDialog.tsx
 msgid "Existing branch <0>{trimmed}</0> will be checked out into its own window, under <1>.ok/worktrees/</1>."
 msgstr "Existing branch <0>{trimmed}</0> will be checked out into its own window, under <1>.ok/worktrees/</1>."
@@ -3729,6 +3761,11 @@ msgstr "Get set up"
 msgid "Git auto-sync"
 msgstr "Git auto-sync"
 
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "git configuration is unavailable"
+msgstr "git configuration is unavailable"
+
 #: src/components/SyncStatusBadge.tsx
 msgid "Git identity isn't set — commits use a default author. Set yours so teammates see your name."
 msgstr "Git identity isn't set — commits use a default author. Set yours so teammates see your name."
@@ -5039,6 +5076,11 @@ msgstr "No git remote"
 msgid "No git repository — config sharing does not apply here."
 msgstr "No git repository — config sharing does not apply here."
 
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "no git repository here"
+msgstr "no git repository here"
+
 #: src/components/settings/SkillsManagerSection.tsx
 msgid "No global skills yet."
 msgstr "No global skills yet."
@@ -7002,6 +7044,10 @@ msgstr "Share doc"
 msgid "Share folder"
 msgstr "Share folder"
 
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "Share skills"
+msgstr "Share skills"
+
 #: src/components/SharingModeField.tsx
 msgid "Share this setup with your team?"
 msgstr "Share this setup with your team?"
@@ -7231,6 +7277,10 @@ msgstr "Skill renamed"
 msgid "Skills"
 msgstr "Skills"
 
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "Skills are now shared. Commit .ok/skills to share them with your team."
+msgstr "Skills are now shared. Commit .ok/skills to share them with your team."
+
 #: src/components/settings/SkillsManagerSection.tsx
 msgid "Skills teach agents repeatable tasks. Author them here; install a skill to project it into your editors' skill folders."
 msgstr "Skills teach agents repeatable tasks. Author them here; install a skill to project it into your editors' skill folders."
@@ -7776,6 +7826,11 @@ msgstr "The folders and templates are already here, so there's nothing to add."
 msgid "The formula <0>c = √(a² + b²)</0> renders inline."
 msgstr "The formula <0>c = √(a² + b²)</0> renders inline."
 
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "the git exclude file isn't writable"
+msgstr "the git exclude file isn't writable"
+
 #: src/components/TemplateProperties.tsx
 msgid "The menu label agents pick this template by (required)."
 msgstr "The menu label agents pick this template by (required)."
@@ -7988,6 +8043,10 @@ msgstr "This project"
 msgid "This project has no git repository — sharing mode does not apply. Initialize a repo to enable the toggle."
 msgstr "This project has no git repository — sharing mode does not apply. Initialize a repo to enable the toggle."
 
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "This project is local-only, so .ok/skills is hidden from git and these skills can't be committed or shared. Share just the skills folder — the rest of your OK config stays on this computer."
+msgstr "This project is local-only, so .ok/skills is hidden from git and these skills can't be committed or shared. Share just the skills folder — the rest of your OK config stays on this computer."
+
 #. placeholder {0}: info.appRuntime
 #: src/lib/install-server-drift-listener.ts
 msgid "This project is running a different, incompatible build of OpenKnowledge than this app (v{0})."
@@ -8225,6 +8284,10 @@ msgstr "Uncommitted changes"
 msgid "Underline"
 msgstr "Underline"
 
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+msgid "Undo"
+msgstr "Undo"
+
 #: src/components/ActivityPanelFileRow.tsx
 msgid "Undo all"
 msgstr "Undo all"
diff --git a/packages/app/src/locales/pseudo/messages.json b/packages/app/src/locales/pseudo/messages.json
index 6ee04960..6bf38f40 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/locales/pseudo/messages.json
+++ b/packages/app/src/locales/pseudo/messages.json
@@ -234,6 +234,7 @@
     "4buZWd": ["Ĩńĥēŕĩţēď ƒŕōḿ ", ["path"]],
     "4c_a6S": ["Ńōţĥĩńĝ śēţ ŷēţ."],
     "4g19V6": ["Ƒàĩĺēď ţō ũƥďàţē ƥŕōƥēŕţŷ"],
+    "4h3e0H": ["Ćōũĺďń'ţ ũƥďàţē śķĩĺĺś śĥàŕĩńĝ — ", ["detail"], "."],
     "4hJhzz": ["Ţàƀĺē"],
     "4ieVh2": ["Ƥĩćķ “Ćũśţōḿ” àƀōvē ţō ũśē ţĥĩś ƥàĺēţţē."],
     "4jDd0j": ["Àńŷōńē ćàń śēē"],
@@ -474,6 +475,7 @@
     "9oE4C3": ["ßŕōŵśē ŷōũŕ ŕēƥōś:"],
     "9sBe85": ["Ƒōĺĺōŵ ũś ōń"],
     "9tJX8r": ["ßŷ ḿēàńĩńĝ"],
+    "9uI_rE": ["Ũńďō"],
     "9xCnv8": ["Ĥĩďē Ţēŕḿĩńàĺ"],
     "9zb2WA": ["Ćōńńēćţĩńĝ"],
     "A1taO8": ["Śēàŕćĥ"],
@@ -552,6 +554,9 @@
     "Bdha5y": ["Ƥũƀĺĩśĥĩńĝ..."],
     "BeWTQy": ["Ĺōàďĩńĝ śţàŕţēŕ ƥàćķś"],
     "BgV29F": ["Vĩśũàĺ ēďĩţōŕ ƒĩńď ĩńƥũţ ƒōćũśēď"],
+    "Bh9671": [
+      "Ţĥĩś ƥŕōĴēćţ ĩś ĺōćàĺ-ōńĺŷ, śō .ōķ/śķĩĺĺś ĩś ĥĩďďēń ƒŕōḿ ĝĩţ àńď ţĥēśē śķĩĺĺś ćàń'ţ ƀē ćōḿḿĩţţēď ōŕ śĥàŕēď. Śĥàŕē Ĵũśţ ţĥē śķĩĺĺś ƒōĺďēŕ — ţĥē ŕēśţ ōƒ ŷōũŕ ŌĶ ćōńƒĩĝ śţàŷś ōń ţĥĩś ćōḿƥũţēŕ."
+    ],
     "Bn9-El": ["ďēƒàũĺţ"],
     "Bv5a9_": ["Śēĺēćţĩōń śţàţĩśţĩćś"],
     "Bx4EXG": ["Àćţĩōńś ƒōŕ ", ["label"]],
@@ -655,6 +660,7 @@
     ],
     "E7BhZn": ["ßĺàńķ ńōţē"],
     "E9bKSA": ["Ćŕēàţĩńĝ"],
+    "EARn6h": ["Ćōũĺďń'ţ śĥàŕē śķĩĺĺś — ", ["detail"], "."],
     "EBVbtP": ["Ćōũĺď ńōţ ďũƥĺĩćàţē ĩţēḿ"],
     "EDl9kS": ["Śũƀśćŕĩƀē"],
     "EDm3wJ": ["Ĺōàďĩńĝ ďĩƒƒ ŕēńďēŕēŕ"],
@@ -902,8 +908,12 @@
     "Jw6EC4": ["ßŕàńćĥ śŵĩţćĥ ƒàĩĺēď — ţŕŷ ōƥēńĩńĝ ţĥē ", ["targetNoun"], " ḿàńũàĺĺŷ."],
     "K-a33w": ["Śţàŕţ ŵŕĩţĩńĝ ţō ćŕēàţē ţĥĩś ƥàĝē"],
     "K-h9cT": ["Ćōũĺďń'ţ śàvē ţĥē ŕēśōĺũţĩōń ƒōŕ ", ["filePath"], "."],
+    "K0FgsP": [
+      ".ōķ/śķĩĺĺś ĩś ćōḿḿĩţţàƀĺē śō ŷōũŕ ţēàḿ ĝēţś ŷōũŕ śķĩĺĺś; ţĥē ŕēśţ ōƒ .ōķ/ śţàŷś ōń ţĥĩś ćōḿƥũţēŕ."
+    ],
     "K0N7zS": ["Ćōńƒĩĝ śĥàŕĩńĝ śţàţũś ŕēàď ƒàĩĺēď"],
     "K1ckLX": ["Ƒàĩĺēď ţō ćŕēàţē ƒōĺďēŕ"],
+    "K2v7QF": ["Ćōũĺďń'ţ śĥàŕē śķĩĺĺś"],
     "K6MQQk": ["Śŷńć ĩś ƒàĩĺĩńĝ. Śēē ţĥē śŷńć śţàţũś ƒōŕ ďēţàĩĺś."],
     "K6jjWB": [["packName"], " ŵàś àĺŕēàďŷ śēţ ũƥ. Ńōţĥĩńĝ ţō ďō."],
     "K6jxcj": ["Àďď à ķēŷ"],
@@ -939,6 +949,7 @@
       "> ĩśń'ţ à ķńōŵń ćōḿƥōńēńţ. Ćōƥŷ ţĥē śōũŕćē ţō ũśē ĩţ ēĺśēŵĥēŕē, ōŕ ďēĺēţē ţĥē ƀĺōćķ."
     ],
     "Khxcyu": ["Ţēŕḿĩńàĺ àććēśś ĩśń'ţ ēńàƀĺēď ƒōŕ ţĥĩś ƥŕōĴēćţ."],
+    "Kiytqd": ["Ēxćēƥţĩōń: śķĩĺĺś àŕē śĥàŕēď"],
     "KkEAud": ["Ćŕēàţē à ƒĩĺē ƒŕōḿ ţĥē ćũŕŕēńţ ďōćũḿēńţ ōŕ ƒōĺďēŕ ćōńţēxţ."],
     "KmydK6": ["ßōĺď"],
     "KnoB--": ["Ŵĩĺĺ ƀē śàvēď àś <0>", ["sanitized"], "</0>."],
@@ -1180,6 +1191,7 @@
     "PiH3UR": ["Ćōƥĩēď!"],
     "PkeYXL": ["Ēxƥàńďēď ĝŕàƥĥ ḿōďē"],
     "Pkw7J9": ["Ţĥĩś ƒōĺďēŕ ĩś ēḿƥţŷ."],
+    "PlGC6r": ["ţĥē ĝĩţ ēxćĺũďē ƒĩĺē ĩśń'ţ ŵŕĩţàƀĺē"],
     "PqYWiC": [
       "Ćōũĺďń'ţ ŕēśţàŕţ ţĥē śēŕvēŕ àũţōḿàţĩćàĺĺŷ. Ţŕŷ ŕũńńĩńĝ `ōķ śţōƥ àĺĺ` ĩń à ţēŕḿĩńàĺ, ţĥēń ŕēōƥēń ţĥĩś ƥŕōĴēćţ — ōŕ ŕēśţàŕţ ŷōũŕ ćōḿƥũţēŕ ĩƒ ĩţ ƥēŕśĩśţś."
     ],
@@ -1190,6 +1202,7 @@
     "Q5fqMz": ["Ćōńńēćţĩōń ēŕŕōŕ — ţŕŷ àĝàĩń"],
     "Q6hhn8": ["Ƥŕēƒēŕēńćēś"],
     "Q7W-mC": ["Śàḿē ƒōĺďēŕ àś ćũŕŕēńţ ƒĩĺē"],
+    "Q7cNKe": ["Śķĩĺĺś àŕē ńōŵ śĥàŕēď. Ćōḿḿĩţ .ōķ/śķĩĺĺś ţō śĥàŕē ţĥēḿ ŵĩţĥ ŷōũŕ ţēàḿ."],
     "Q8A-U_": ["Ćōńńēćţēď ţō"],
     "QAi7Q9": [
       "ßŕàńćĥ <0>",
@@ -1305,6 +1318,7 @@
     "TJnkyf": ["ōķ ũĩ ŕēśƥōńďēď ƀũţ śēŕvēŕ.ĺōćķ ĥàś ńō ƥōŕţ ŷēţ"],
     "TKQ7K-": ["Ĩńśţàĺĺ"],
     "TLIO3j": ["Ţōĝĝĺē ĩţàĺĩć ƒōŕḿàţţĩńĝ."],
+    "TUzThQ": ["Śĥàŕē śķĩĺĺś"],
     "T_R-Qz": ["Ƥŕĩḿàŕŷ"],
     "T_wG4n": ["Ŵē ćōũĺďń'ţ ćĥēćķ ŷōũŕ ĜĩţĤũƀ ćōńńēćţĩōń."],
     "Ta25TG": ["Ńō ĥĩśţōŕŷ ŷēţ"],
@@ -1504,6 +1518,7 @@
     "XvPJaT": ["Ďĩƒƒ ĺàŷōũţ"],
     "Xv_ijG": ["ĥţţƥś://ĝĩţĥũƀ.ćōḿ/ōŵńēŕ/ŕēƥō ōŕ ōŵńēŕ/ŕēƥō"],
     "Xw_maT": ["Ţŷƥē à ǫũēŕŷ, ţĥēń ƥŕēśś ↵ ţō śēàŕćĥ ŷōũŕ ƥàĝēś ƀŷ ḿēàńĩńĝ."],
+    "Xwump4": ["ńō ĝĩţ ŕēƥōśĩţōŕŷ ĥēŕē"],
     "XyOUTJ": ["Ēxĩţ ḿēŕĝē"],
     "Xzy0s0": ["Ŕēḿōvē ", ["fullLabel"], " ƒŕōḿ ćōńţēxţ"],
     "Y-Urt2": ["ßĺōćķ ḿàţĥ ēǫũàţĩōń ŕēńďēŕēď ŵĩţĥ ĶàŢēX ƒŕōḿ à ĹàŢēX śōũŕćē śţŕĩńĝ."],
@@ -2310,6 +2325,7 @@
     "ogAuyr": ["ßàćķ ţō ďōćũḿēńţ vĩēŵ"],
     "ohUJJM": ["Ƥĺũĝĩńś"],
     "omXJcU": ["Ćĺōśē ōţĥēŕś"],
+    "onTlRk": ["Ćōũĺďń'ţ ũƥďàţē śķĩĺĺś śĥàŕĩńĝ"],
     "optX0N": [["0"], "ĥ àĝō"],
     "oqB2ez": ["Ƥŕēvĩōũś ḿàţćĥ"],
     "osRqlv": ["Ōƥēń ďēĺēţē ćōńƒĩŕḿàţĩōń ƒōŕ ţĥē śēĺēćţēď ƒĩĺē-ţŕēē ĩţēḿś."],
@@ -2329,6 +2345,7 @@
     "pEQFsW": ["Ńō ḿàţćĥĩńĝ ƥŕōĴēćţś."],
     "pFagOn": ["Śōũŕćē ēďĩţĩńĝ"],
     "pHYP6v": ["Ōƥēń <0>Ćũśţōḿĩźē</0> ĩń ţĥē śĩďēƀàŕ <1/> <2>Śķĩĺĺś</2>."],
+    "pQf2Ux": [".ōķ/śķĩĺĺś ĩś ƀàćķ ţō ĺōćàĺ-ōńĺŷ."],
     "pRc-Im": ["Ũńďōńē àĺĺ ēďĩţś ōń ", ["docName"]],
     "pTPqMK": ["Ţōĝĝĺē à ƒēńćēď ćōďē ƀĺōćķ."],
     "pWT04I": ["Ćĥēćķĩńĝ..."],
@@ -2372,6 +2389,7 @@
     "qSKu2v": ["Śōũŕćē ńàvĩĝàţĩōń àńď śēĺēćţĩōń"],
     "qSxaOz": ["Àććēƥţ ţĥēĩŕ ďēĺēţĩōń"],
     "qUB_o_": ["Àũţō-śŷńć ĩś ōƒƒ — ŷōũŕ ēďĩţś śţàŷ ĺōćàĺ ũńţĩĺ ŷōũ ćōḿḿĩţ àńď ƥũśĥ ḿàńũàĺĺŷ."],
+    "qXN416": ["Ćōũĺďń'ţ śĥàŕē śķĩĺĺś: ĩńţēŕńàĺ ēŕŕōŕ. Ƥĺēàśē ŕēśţàŕţ ţĥē àƥƥ."],
     "qXg5W9": ["Ƒĩĺē śàvēś ţō <0>~/Ďōŵńĺōàďś/ōƥēńķńōŵĺēďĝē.śķĩĺĺ</0>."],
     "qXsafh": ["Ƥũƀĺĩśĥ ţō ĜĩţĤũƀ"],
     "qZv5ZR": ["Ćōńƒĩĝ śĥàŕĩńĝ ţōĝĝĺē ƒàĩĺēď"],
@@ -2762,6 +2780,7 @@
       "Ţĥē ƥŕōƥēŕţĩēś ƀĺōćķ àţ ţĥē ţōƥ ōƒ ţĥĩś ďōć ĥàś à ƒōŕḿàţţĩńĝ ēŕŕōŕ. Śŵĩţćĥ ţō śōũŕćē ḿōďē ţō ƒĩx ĩţ."
     ],
     "zbymaY": [["0"], "ḿ àĝō"],
+    "zcmYx4": ["ĝĩţ ćōńƒĩĝũŕàţĩōń ĩś ũńàvàĩĺàƀĺē"],
     "zd00pH": ["Ćōƥŷ Ƥàţĥ"],
     "zgSFyG": ["Ēxţēŕńàĺ ĺĩńķ"],
     "zkz0Fg": ["Śēţ ũƥ śŷńćĩńĝ"],
diff --git a/packages/app/src/locales/pseudo/messages.po b/packages/app/src/locales/pseudo/messages.po
index 2d0c30cd..aa7c0957 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/locales/pseudo/messages.po
+++ b/packages/app/src/locales/pseudo/messages.po
@@ -29,6 +29,14 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid ".ok folders"
 msgstr ""
 
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+msgid ".ok/skills is back to local-only."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+msgid ".ok/skills is committable so your team gets your skills; the rest of .ok/ stays on this computer."
+msgstr ""
+
 #. placeholder {0}: skill.name
 #. placeholder {1}: label(result.hosts)
 #: src/components/skill-actions.tsx
@@ -2318,6 +2326,18 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Couldn't send your prompt — please try again."
 msgstr ""
 
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "Couldn't share skills"
+msgstr ""
+
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "Couldn't share skills — {detail}."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "Couldn't share skills: internal error. Please restart the app."
+msgstr ""
+
 #. placeholder {0}: result.error
 #: src/components/skill-actions.tsx
 msgid "Couldn't uninstall skill: {0}"
@@ -2333,6 +2353,14 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Couldn't update skill: {0}"
 msgstr ""
 
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+msgid "Couldn't update skills sharing"
+msgstr ""
+
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+msgid "Couldn't update skills sharing — {detail}."
+msgstr ""
+
 #: src/components/ConsentDialogBody.tsx
 msgid "Counting markdown files"
 msgstr ""
@@ -3146,6 +3174,10 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Error:"
 msgstr ""
 
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+msgid "Exception: skills are shared"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: src/components/NewWorktreeDialog.tsx
 msgid "Existing branch <0>{trimmed}</0> will be checked out into its own window, under <1>.ok/worktrees/</1>."
 msgstr ""
@@ -3725,6 +3757,11 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Git auto-sync"
 msgstr ""
 
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "git configuration is unavailable"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: src/components/SyncStatusBadge.tsx
 msgid "Git identity isn't set — commits use a default author. Set yours so teammates see your name."
 msgstr ""
@@ -5035,6 +5072,11 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "No git repository — config sharing does not apply here."
 msgstr ""
 
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "no git repository here"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: src/components/settings/SkillsManagerSection.tsx
 msgid "No global skills yet."
 msgstr ""
@@ -6998,6 +7040,10 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Share folder"
 msgstr ""
 
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "Share skills"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: src/components/SharingModeField.tsx
 msgid "Share this setup with your team?"
 msgstr ""
@@ -7227,6 +7273,10 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Skills"
 msgstr ""
 
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "Skills are now shared. Commit .ok/skills to share them with your team."
+msgstr ""
+
 #: src/components/settings/SkillsManagerSection.tsx
 msgid "Skills teach agents repeatable tasks. Author them here; install a skill to project it into your editors' skill folders."
 msgstr ""
@@ -7772,6 +7822,11 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "The formula <0>c = √(a² + b²)</0> renders inline."
 msgstr ""
 
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "the git exclude file isn't writable"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: src/components/TemplateProperties.tsx
 msgid "The menu label agents pick this template by (required)."
 msgstr ""
@@ -7984,6 +8039,10 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "This project has no git repository — sharing mode does not apply. Initialize a repo to enable the toggle."
 msgstr ""
 
+#: src/components/SkillsSidebarSection.tsx
+msgid "This project is local-only, so .ok/skills is hidden from git and these skills can't be committed or shared. Share just the skills folder — the rest of your OK config stays on this computer."
+msgstr ""
+
 #. placeholder {0}: info.appRuntime
 #: src/lib/install-server-drift-listener.ts
 msgid "This project is running a different, incompatible build of OpenKnowledge than this app (v{0})."
@@ -8221,6 +8280,10 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Underline"
 msgstr ""
 
+#: src/components/settings/SharingSection.tsx
+msgid "Undo"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: src/components/ActivityPanelFileRow.tsx
 msgid "Undo all"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/packages/app/tests/stress/fixtures/handoff-mocks.ts b/packages/app/tests/stress/fixtures/handoff-mocks.ts
index 717b32c9..62c1741c 100644
--- a/packages/app/tests/stress/fixtures/handoff-mocks.ts
+++ b/packages/app/tests/stress/fixtures/handoff-mocks.ts
@@ -439,11 +439,16 @@ export async function installHandoffMocks(page: Page, cfg: HandoffMockConfig): P
               mode: 'shared' as const,
               excluded: [],
               trackedUpstream: [],
+              skillsShared: false as const,
             }) satisfies import('@/lib/desktop-bridge-types').OkSharingStatusResult,
           setMode: async () => ({
             kind: 'applied' as const,
             mode: 'shared' as const,
           }),
+          setSkillsShared: async () => ({
+            kind: 'applied' as const,
+            mode: 'local-only' as const,
+          }),
         },
         bugReport: {
           create: async () => ({ ok: false as const, error: 'test mock' }),
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/sharing/status.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/sharing/status.ts
index e3eaba26..590335e4 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/sharing/status.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/sharing/status.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   getOkArtifactPaths,
   probeTrackedOkPaths,
   readSharingMode,
+  readSkillsShared,
   type SharingMode,
 } from '../../sharing/git-exclude.ts';
 import { accent, info, success, warning } from '../../ui/colors.ts';
@@ -27,6 +28,8 @@ interface StatusJsonReport {
   type: 'sharing-status';
   projectRoot: string;
   mode: SharingMode;
+  /** True when local-only but `.ok/skills/` is carved back out as shareable. */
+  skillsShared: boolean;
   excluded: string[];
   trackedUpstream: string[];
 }
@@ -39,6 +42,7 @@ export function sharingStatusCommand(): Command {
     .action(async (opts: StatusOptions) => {
       const projectRoot = resolve(opts.project ?? process.cwd());
       const mode = readSharingMode(projectRoot);
+      const skillsShared = readSkillsShared(projectRoot);
       const excluded = [...getExcludedOkPaths(projectRoot)];
       const trackedUpstream = probeTrackedOkPaths(
         projectRoot,
@@ -50,6 +54,7 @@ export function sharingStatusCommand(): Command {
           type: 'sharing-status',
           projectRoot,
           mode,
+          skillsShared,
           excluded,
           trackedUpstream,
         };
@@ -59,6 +64,15 @@ export function sharingStatusCommand(): Command {
 
       const lines: string[] = [];
       lines.push(`OpenKnowledge sharing mode: ${formatMode(mode)}`);
+      if (skillsShared) {
+        // In the carve state the blanket `.ok/` line is replaced by
+        // `**/.ok/* + !**/.ok/skills/`, so `getExcludedOkPaths` no longer lists
+        // `.ok/`. Call it out explicitly so the excluded list below isn't
+        // misread as ".ok/ is shared".
+        lines.push(
+          `  ${accent('.ok/skills')} is committable (carved out); the rest of .ok/ stays local.`,
+        );
+      }
       lines.push('');
       lines.push(`Excluded from git via ${accent('.git/info/exclude')}:`);
       if (excluded.length === 0) {
@@ -77,6 +91,13 @@ export function sharingStatusCommand(): Command {
       lines.push(
         `Toggle with: ${info(mode === 'local-only' ? 'ok config-sharing share' : 'ok config-sharing unshare')}`,
       );
+      if (skillsShared) {
+        // Disambiguate: the toggle above promotes the WHOLE project to shared.
+        // Undoing only the skills carve-out is a desktop-app action today.
+        lines.push(
+          '  (that shares the whole project; to undo only the skills carve-out, use the desktop app: Settings > Config sharing)',
+        );
+      }
       process.stdout.write(`${lines.join('\n')}\n`);
     });
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/index.ts
index 78f4a9bf..1849b1d0 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/index.ts
@@ -146,7 +146,9 @@ export {
   getOkArtifactPaths,
   probeTrackedOkPaths,
   readSharingMode,
+  readSkillsShared,
   removeOkPathsFromGitExclude,
   type SharingMode,
+  setSkillsShared,
   type TrackedRefusal,
 } from './sharing/git-exclude.ts';
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/sharing/git-exclude.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/sharing/git-exclude.test.ts
index b9f42825..0ce5665b 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/sharing/git-exclude.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/sharing/git-exclude.test.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ import {
   getOkArtifactPaths,
   probeTrackedOkPaths,
   readSharingMode,
+  readSkillsShared,
   removeOkPathsFromGitExclude,
+  setSkillsShared,
 } from './git-exclude.ts';
 
 function uniqueDir(prefix: string): string {
@@ -572,3 +574,101 @@ describe('formatTrackedRemediation', () => {
     expect(out).toContain('your teammates will see a deletion on their next pull');
   });
 });
+
+describe('setSkillsShared / readSkillsShared (skills carve-out)', () => {
+  let dir: string;
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    dir = uniqueDir('skills-carve-test');
+    initGitRepo(dir);
+  });
+  afterEach(() => {
+    rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  /** Untracked-file set as git sees it (respects .git/info/exclude). */
+  function untracked(): string[] {
+    return execFileSync('git', ['status', '--porcelain', '--untracked-files=all'], {
+      cwd: dir,
+      encoding: 'utf-8',
+    })
+      .split('\n')
+      .filter((l) => l.startsWith('??'))
+      .map((l) => l.slice(3).trim());
+  }
+
+  it('rewrites blanket .ok/ into the carve spelling and reports skills-shared', () => {
+    writeExclude(dir, '.ok/\n.okignore\n');
+    const result = setSkillsShared(dir, true);
+    expect(result.kind).toBe('updated');
+    const content = readExclude(dir);
+    expect(content).not.toMatch(/^\.ok\/$/m); // blanket line gone
+    expect(content).toContain('**/.ok/*');
+    expect(content).toContain('!**/.ok/skills/');
+    expect(content).toContain('.okignore'); // unrelated artifact preserved
+    expect(readSkillsShared(dir)).toBe(true);
+    // Still local-only for the rest of .ok/.
+    expect(readSharingMode(dir)).toBe('local-only');
+  });
+
+  it('actually makes .ok/skills/ visible to git while the rest of .ok/ stays hidden', () => {
+    // The crux: git refuses to re-include under an excluded parent dir, so the
+    // carve MUST use the children-exclude spelling to work at all.
+    mkdirSync(join(dir, '.ok', 'skills', 'my-skill'), { recursive: true });
+    mkdirSync(join(dir, '.ok', 'local'), { recursive: true });
+    writeFileSync(join(dir, '.ok', 'skills', 'my-skill', 'SKILL.md'), '# s\n');
+    writeFileSync(join(dir, '.ok', 'local', 'state.json'), '{}\n');
+    writeFileSync(join(dir, '.ok', 'config.yml'), 'x: 1\n');
+
+    writeExclude(dir, '.ok/\n');
+    // Blanket: everything under .ok/ hidden.
+    expect(untracked().some((f) => f.startsWith('.ok/'))).toBe(false);
+
+    setSkillsShared(dir, true);
+    const files = untracked();
+    expect(files).toContain('.ok/skills/my-skill/SKILL.md');
+    expect(files).not.toContain('.ok/local/state.json');
+    expect(files).not.toContain('.ok/config.yml');
+  });
+
+  it('reverts the carve back to blanket .ok/ when skills sharing is turned off', () => {
+    writeExclude(dir, '.okignore\n**/.ok/*\n!**/.ok/skills/\n');
+    expect(readSkillsShared(dir)).toBe(true);
+    setSkillsShared(dir, false);
+    const content = readExclude(dir);
+    expect(content).toMatch(/^\.ok\/$/m);
+    expect(content).not.toContain('**/.ok/*');
+    expect(content).not.toContain('!**/.ok/skills/');
+    expect(readSkillsShared(dir)).toBe(false);
+    expect(readSharingMode(dir)).toBe('local-only');
+  });
+
+  it('readSharingMode reports local-only from the carve lines alone', () => {
+    writeExclude(dir, '**/.ok/*\n!**/.ok/skills/\n');
+    expect(readSharingMode(dir)).toBe('local-only');
+    expect(readSkillsShared(dir)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('removeOkPaths (share) strips the carve lines so nothing is left excluding .ok/', () => {
+    writeExclude(dir, '**/.ok/*\n!**/.ok/skills/\n.okignore\n');
+    removeOkPathsFromGitExclude(dir, getOkArtifactPaths(dir));
+    const content = readExclude(dir);
+    expect(content).not.toContain('**/.ok/*');
+    expect(content).not.toContain('!**/.ok/skills/');
+    expect(readSharingMode(dir)).toBe('shared');
+    expect(readSkillsShared(dir)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('round-trips: local-only -> skills-shared -> off -> shared leaves no OK .ok lines', () => {
+    writeExclude(dir, '');
+    addOkPathsToGitExclude(dir, getOkArtifactPaths(dir));
+    expect(readSharingMode(dir)).toBe('local-only');
+    setSkillsShared(dir, true);
+    expect(readSkillsShared(dir)).toBe(true);
+    setSkillsShared(dir, false);
+    expect(readSkillsShared(dir)).toBe(false);
+    removeOkPathsFromGitExclude(dir, getOkArtifactPaths(dir));
+    expect(readSharingMode(dir)).toBe('shared');
+    const content = readExclude(dir);
+    expect(content).not.toContain('.ok/');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/sharing/git-exclude.ts b/packages/cli/src/sharing/git-exclude.ts
index 623944f8..089b4508 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/sharing/git-exclude.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/sharing/git-exclude.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import {
   OK_DIR,
   parseInstalledSkills,
   RESERVED_PROJECT_SKILL_NAME,
+  SKILL_CONTENT_ROOT,
 } from '@inkeep/open-knowledge-core';
 // `resolveGitDirDetailed` is in the `node:fs`-importing subpath of core —
 // the barrel deliberately omits it to keep the main entry browser-safe
@@ -53,6 +54,22 @@ const CLAUDE_LAUNCH_JSON = '.claude/launch.json';
  */
 const OK_IGNORE_FILENAME = '.okignore';
 
+/** `.ok/` blanket exclude — the default local-only spelling for the whole
+ *  `.ok/` tree (unanchored, matches every `.ok/` at any depth). Emitted as
+ *  the first entry of `getOkArtifactPaths`. */
+const OK_BLANKET = `${OK_DIR}/`;
+
+// Skills carve-out spelling. `.ok/skills/` is shareable content (skills-as-
+// content), NOT machine-local config, yet OK_BLANKET hides it along with the
+// rest of `.ok/` in local-only mode. Git refuses to re-include a path whose
+// parent directory is excluded, so the carve cannot be a `!` line appended
+// after `.ok/` — it REPLACES the blanket with a children-exclude plus a skills
+// re-include. Both are `**/`-prefixed so they stay content.dir-independent and
+// reach folder-nested `.ok/` dirs, matching OK_BLANKET's reach. A plain
+// `!.ok/skills/` after `.ok/` does NOT re-include (git prunes the excluded dir).
+const OK_CARVE_CHILDREN = `**/${OK_DIR}/*`;
+const OK_CARVE_SKILLS_REINCLUDE = `!**/${SKILL_CONTENT_ROOT}/`;
+
 /**
  * Result of an `addOkPathsToGitExclude` / `removeOkPathsFromGitExclude` call
  * that completed the variant-matching pass against the exclude file.
@@ -264,6 +281,12 @@ export function removeOkPathsFromGitExclude(
   for (const set of variantsByPath) {
     for (const v of set) allVariants.add(v);
   }
+  // Also strip the skills carve-out spelling so a local-only(+skills-shared)
+  // -> shared transition fully cleans up; otherwise the orphaned
+  // `**/.ok/*` line would keep excluding non-skills `.ok/` content after
+  // "share". These are OK-managed lines, safe to remove unconditionally.
+  allVariants.add(OK_CARVE_CHILDREN);
+  allVariants.add(OK_CARVE_SKILLS_REINCLUDE);
 
   let before: string;
   try {
@@ -345,6 +368,10 @@ export function readSharingMode(projectRoot: string): SharingMode {
   for (const p of artifacts) {
     if (hasAnyVariant(present, p)) return 'local-only';
   }
+  // Carve state: the blanket `.ok/` line is gone (replaced by the children-
+  // exclude), but the project is still local-only. Recognize it so the mode
+  // stays correct even if every other artifact line were manually removed.
+  if (present.has(OK_CARVE_CHILDREN)) return 'local-only';
   return 'shared';
 }
 
@@ -373,6 +400,82 @@ export function getExcludedOkPaths(projectRoot: string): readonly string[] {
   return getOkArtifactPaths(projectRoot).filter((p) => hasAnyVariant(present, p));
 }
 
+/**
+ * True iff `.git/info/exclude` currently carves `.ok/skills/` OUT of a
+ * local-only `.ok/` exclusion — the project is local-only, but skills stay
+ * shareable. Detected by the presence of BOTH carve lines. Pure read — never
+ * throws, never writes.
+ *
+ * Independent of `readSharingMode` (which reports `local-only` for both the
+ * blanket and the carve state); this predicate distinguishes the two so the
+ * Skills UI can render the toggle's current position.
+ */
+export function readSkillsShared(projectRoot: string): boolean {
+  const resolved = resolveExcludePath(projectRoot);
+  if (resolved.kind !== 'ok' || !existsSync(resolved.path)) return false;
+  let content: string;
+  try {
+    content = readFileSync(resolved.path, 'utf-8');
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+  const present = collectPresentVariants(content);
+  return present.has(OK_CARVE_CHILDREN) && present.has(OK_CARVE_SKILLS_REINCLUDE);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Toggle whether `.ok/skills/` stays shareable while the rest of `.ok/`
+ * remains local-only. Swaps the `.ok/` representation in `.git/info/exclude`
+ * between the blanket spelling (`OK_BLANKET`, skills hidden) and the carve
+ * spelling (`OK_CARVE_CHILDREN` + `OK_CARVE_SKILLS_REINCLUDE`, skills visible).
+ * Every OTHER OK-artifact exclude line is left untouched, so the local-only
+ * posture for config / MCP / editor bundles is preserved.
+ *
+ * Mechanical — callers gate WHEN it is offered (the desktop Skills UI shows it
+ * only in local-only mode). `shared: true` on a project that is NOT local-only
+ * would create a partial exclusion; don't call it there.
+ *
+ * No tracked-files probe: turning skills sharing ON only REMOVES exclusion
+ * (never hides a tracked file); turning it OFF re-adds the blanket, which is
+ * inert against already-tracked skills — the same no-op the main
+ * `shared -> local-only` refusal already documents.
+ */
+export function setSkillsShared(projectRoot: string, shared: boolean): ExcludeWriteResult {
+  const resolved = resolveExcludePath(projectRoot);
+  if (resolved.kind !== 'ok') return resolved.result;
+
+  let existing = '';
+  if (existsSync(resolved.path)) {
+    try {
+      existing = readFileSync(resolved.path, 'utf-8');
+    } catch {
+      return { kind: 'no-exclude', reason: 'inaccessible' };
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Drop every managed `.ok/` representation line (blanket variants + both
+  // carve lines), then append the target spelling. Non-`.ok` lines pass
+  // through untouched, preserving the rest of the local-only artifact set.
+  const managed = new Set<string>([
+    ...buildVariants(OK_BLANKET),
+    OK_CARVE_CHILDREN,
+    OK_CARVE_SKILLS_REINCLUDE,
+  ]);
+  const kept = existing.split('\n').filter((line) => !managed.has(line.trim()));
+  const additions = shared ? [OK_CARVE_CHILDREN, OK_CARVE_SKILLS_REINCLUDE] : [OK_BLANKET];
+
+  const body = kept.join('\n');
+  const separator = body.length === 0 || body.endsWith('\n') ? '' : '\n';
+  const next = `${body}${separator}${additions.join('\n')}\n`;
+
+  try {
+    writeFileSync(resolved.path, next, 'utf-8');
+  } catch {
+    return { kind: 'no-exclude', reason: 'inaccessible' };
+  }
+  return { kind: 'updated', appended: additions, alreadyPresent: [], removed: [] };
+}
+
 /**
  * Pure probe — checks which of `paths` (if any) are currently tracked
  * upstream via `git ls-files --error-unmatch`. Used at exactly one site
diff --git a/packages/core/src/desktop-bridge.ts b/packages/core/src/desktop-bridge.ts
index c38e2218..46612a49 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/desktop-bridge.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/desktop-bridge.ts
@@ -818,6 +818,8 @@ export interface OkSharingStatusResult {
   readonly mode: 'shared' | 'local-only' | 'no-git';
   readonly excluded: readonly string[];
   readonly trackedUpstream: readonly string[];
+  /** True when local-only but `.ok/skills/` is carved back out as shareable. */
+  readonly skillsShared: boolean;
 }
 
 export type OkSharingSetModeResult =
@@ -1343,6 +1345,8 @@ export interface OkDesktopBridge {
   sharing: {
     status(): Promise<OkSharingStatusResult>;
     setMode(mode: 'shared' | 'local-only'): Promise<OkSharingSetModeResult>;
+    /** Toggle `.ok/skills/` shareability within local-only mode. */
+    setSkillsShared(shared: boolean): Promise<OkSharingSetModeResult>;
   };
 
   /**
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/main/index.ts b/packages/desktop/src/main/index.ts
index 84944ea9..c296f528 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/main/index.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/main/index.ts
@@ -237,7 +237,11 @@ import {
   type LocalOpDeps,
 } from './ipc/local-op.ts';
 import { handleSeedApply, handleSeedListPacks, handleSeedPlan } from './ipc/seed.ts';
-import { handleSharingSetMode, handleSharingStatus } from './ipc/sharing.ts';
+import {
+  handleSharingSetMode,
+  handleSharingSetSkillsShared,
+  handleSharingStatus,
+} from './ipc/sharing.ts';
 import {
   detectProtocol as detectProtocolImpl,
   recordHandoff as recordHandoffImpl,
@@ -3901,6 +3905,9 @@ function registerIpcHandlers() {
     if (request.kind === 'status') {
       return handleSharingStatus(ctx.projectPath);
     }
+    if (request.kind === 'set-skills-shared') {
+      return handleSharingSetSkillsShared(ctx.projectPath, request.shared);
+    }
     const mode: 'shared' | 'local-only' = request.mode === 'local-only' ? 'local-only' : 'shared';
     return handleSharingSetMode(ctx.projectPath, mode);
   });
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/main/ipc/sharing.test.ts b/packages/desktop/src/main/ipc/sharing.test.ts
index 47a4fe3b..a2d18b44 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/main/ipc/sharing.test.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/main/ipc/sharing.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /**
- * IPC handler tests for the `ok:sharing:dispatch` channel (status / set-mode).
+ * IPC handler tests for the `ok:sharing:dispatch` channel (status / set-mode /
+ * set-skills-shared).
  *
  * Exercise the pure handler functions directly against a tmpdir-backed git
  * repo. The IPC wrapping in main/index.ts is one createHandler call; its
@@ -13,7 +14,11 @@ import { execFileSync } from 'node:child_process';
 import { mkdirSync, readFileSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs';
 import { tmpdir } from 'node:os';
 import { join, resolve } from 'node:path';
-import { handleSharingSetMode, handleSharingStatus } from './sharing.ts';
+import {
+  handleSharingSetMode,
+  handleSharingSetSkillsShared,
+  handleSharingStatus,
+} from './sharing.ts';
 
 function uniqueDir(prefix: string): string {
   return resolve(tmpdir(), `${prefix}-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2)}`);
@@ -126,3 +131,66 @@ describe('handleSharingSetMode', () => {
     }
   });
 });
+
+describe('handleSharingSetSkillsShared (local-only skills carve-out)', () => {
+  let dir: string;
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    dir = uniqueDir('sharing-skills-handler');
+    initGitRepo(dir);
+  });
+  afterEach(() => {
+    rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  it('carves skills out of a local-only project and reports it in status', () => {
+    handleSharingSetMode(dir, 'local-only');
+    expect(handleSharingStatus(dir).skillsShared).toBe(false);
+
+    const result = handleSharingSetSkillsShared(dir, true);
+    expect(result.kind).toBe('applied');
+    if (result.kind !== 'applied') throw new Error('expected applied');
+    // Still local-only for the rest of .ok/ — only skills were carved out.
+    expect(result.mode).toBe('local-only');
+
+    const status = handleSharingStatus(dir);
+    expect(status.mode).toBe('local-only');
+    expect(status.skillsShared).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('turning skills sharing back off restores full local-only', () => {
+    handleSharingSetMode(dir, 'local-only');
+    handleSharingSetSkillsShared(dir, true);
+    handleSharingSetSkillsShared(dir, false);
+    const status = handleSharingStatus(dir);
+    expect(status.mode).toBe('local-only');
+    expect(status.skillsShared).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('actually unhides .ok/skills while keeping .ok/local hidden from git', () => {
+    mkdirSync(join(dir, '.ok', 'skills', 's'), { recursive: true });
+    mkdirSync(join(dir, '.ok', 'local'), { recursive: true });
+    writeFileSync(join(dir, '.ok', 'skills', 's', 'SKILL.md'), '# s\n', 'utf-8');
+    writeFileSync(join(dir, '.ok', 'local', 'state.json'), '{}\n', 'utf-8');
+
+    handleSharingSetMode(dir, 'local-only');
+    handleSharingSetSkillsShared(dir, true);
+
+    const untracked = execFileSync('git', ['status', '--porcelain', '--untracked-files=all'], {
+      cwd: dir,
+      encoding: 'utf-8',
+    });
+    expect(untracked).toContain('.ok/skills/s/SKILL.md');
+    expect(untracked).not.toContain('.ok/local/state.json');
+  });
+
+  it('returns `no-exclude` / `no-git` for a non-git directory', () => {
+    const nonGit = uniqueDir('sharing-skills-nongit');
+    mkdirSync(nonGit, { recursive: true });
+    try {
+      const result = handleSharingSetSkillsShared(nonGit, true);
+      expect(result).toMatchObject({ kind: 'no-exclude', reason: 'no-git' });
+    } finally {
+      rmSync(nonGit, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/main/ipc/sharing.ts b/packages/desktop/src/main/ipc/sharing.ts
index 75682dad..45cd65a9 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/main/ipc/sharing.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/main/ipc/sharing.ts
@@ -21,8 +21,10 @@ import {
   getOkArtifactPaths,
   probeTrackedOkPaths,
   readSharingMode,
+  readSkillsShared,
   removeOkPathsFromGitExclude,
   type SharingMode,
+  setSkillsShared,
 } from '@inkeep/open-knowledge';
 
 export interface SharingStatusResult {
@@ -33,6 +35,10 @@ export interface SharingStatusResult {
   mode: SharingMode;
   excluded: string[];
   trackedUpstream: string[];
+  /** True when local-only but `.ok/skills/` is carved back out as shareable
+   *  (see `readSkillsShared`). Always false outside local-only. Drives the
+   *  Skills UI "share skills" toggle position. */
+  skillsShared: boolean;
 }
 
 export type SharingSetModeResult =
@@ -57,16 +63,42 @@ export function handleSharingStatus(projectPath: string): SharingStatusResult {
       projectPath,
       getOkArtifactPaths(projectPath),
     ).tracked;
-    return { kind: 'status', mode, excluded, trackedUpstream };
+    const skillsShared = readSkillsShared(projectPath);
+    return { kind: 'status', mode, excluded, trackedUpstream, skillsShared };
   } catch {
     // `probeTrackedOkPaths` shells out to `git` (which may be absent from
     // Electron's inherited PATH), and the fs reads can hit a TOCTOU /
     // permission throw. Degrade to a safe status so SharingSection renders
     // instead of the IPC promise rejecting and stranding it in its Skeleton.
-    return { kind: 'status', mode: 'no-git', excluded: [], trackedUpstream: [] };
+    return {
+      kind: 'status',
+      mode: 'no-git',
+      excluded: [],
+      trackedUpstream: [],
+      skillsShared: false,
+    };
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Toggle whether `.ok/skills/` stays shareable while the rest of `.ok/`
+ * remains local-only. Delegates to the shared `setSkillsShared` primitive, so
+ * desktop and CLI cannot drift. Only meaningful in local-only mode; the
+ * renderer gates the toggle's visibility. Returns the same discriminated
+ * result shape as `set-mode` (no `refused-tracked` arm — carving skills OUT
+ * only removes exclusion, it never hides a tracked file).
+ */
+export function handleSharingSetSkillsShared(
+  projectPath: string,
+  shared: boolean,
+): SharingSetModeResult {
+  const result = setSkillsShared(projectPath, shared);
+  if (result.kind === 'no-exclude') {
+    return { kind: 'no-exclude', reason: result.reason };
+  }
+  return { kind: 'applied', mode: readSharingMode(projectPath) };
+}
+
 /**
  * Toggle the mode. `local-only` calls `addOkPathsToGitExclude` which runs
  * the tracked-files probe internally; on refusal we return the
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/preload/index.ts b/packages/desktop/src/preload/index.ts
index 7e3f1397..25b958f5 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/preload/index.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/preload/index.ts
@@ -462,9 +462,10 @@ const bridge: OkDesktopBridge = {
   },
 
   sharing: {
-    // The two-method surface maps onto a single discriminated channel
-    // (`ok:sharing:dispatch`) so the codebase's hand-rolled-channel cap is respected.
-    // Each method narrows the result type via the typed-IPC layer.
+    // The three-method surface (status / setMode / setSkillsShared) maps onto a
+    // single discriminated channel (`ok:sharing:dispatch`) so the codebase's
+    // hand-rolled-channel cap is respected. Each method narrows the result type
+    // via the typed-IPC layer.
     status: async () => {
       const result = await invoke('ok:sharing:dispatch', { kind: 'status' });
       if (result.kind !== 'status') {
@@ -479,6 +480,13 @@ const bridge: OkDesktopBridge = {
       }
       return result;
     },
+    setSkillsShared: async (shared: boolean) => {
+      const result = await invoke('ok:sharing:dispatch', { kind: 'set-skills-shared', shared });
+      if (result.kind === 'status') {
+        throw new Error('ok:sharing:dispatch: expected set-skills-shared result, got status');
+      }
+      return result;
+    },
   },
 
   bugReport: {
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/shared/bridge-contract.ts b/packages/desktop/src/shared/bridge-contract.ts
index 7f45bcc3..0a697104 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/shared/bridge-contract.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/shared/bridge-contract.ts
@@ -535,6 +535,8 @@ export interface OkSharingStatusResult {
   readonly mode: 'shared' | 'local-only' | 'no-git';
   readonly excluded: readonly string[];
   readonly trackedUpstream: readonly string[];
+  /** True when local-only but `.ok/skills/` is carved back out as shareable. */
+  readonly skillsShared: boolean;
 }
 
 export type OkSharingSetModeResult =
@@ -1531,6 +1533,8 @@ export interface OkDesktopBridge {
   sharing: {
     status(): Promise<OkSharingStatusResult>;
     setMode(mode: 'shared' | 'local-only'): Promise<OkSharingSetModeResult>;
+    /** Toggle `.ok/skills/` shareability within local-only mode. */
+    setSkillsShared(shared: boolean): Promise<OkSharingSetModeResult>;
   };
 
   /**
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/shared/ipc-channels.ts b/packages/desktop/src/shared/ipc-channels.ts
index 15f55f57..bb2e22af 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/shared/ipc-channels.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/shared/ipc-channels.ts
@@ -109,6 +109,8 @@ export interface OkSharingStatusResult {
   readonly mode: 'shared' | 'local-only' | 'no-git';
   readonly excluded: readonly string[];
   readonly trackedUpstream: readonly string[];
+  /** True when local-only but `.ok/skills/` is carved back out as shareable. */
+  readonly skillsShared: boolean;
 }
 
 export type OkSharingSetModeResult =
@@ -795,16 +797,21 @@ export interface RequestChannels {
   'ok:project:get-info': { args: []; result: OkDesktopConfig };
 
   /**
-   * Single-channel discriminated surface
-   * for both the read (`status`) and write (`set-mode`) operations. Folded
-   * into one channel to stay under the hand-rolled-channel scale-match
-   * cap; the discriminated args/result keeps the per-operation typing
-   * crisp at the call sites (preload + handler). Internally main dispatches
-   * on `request.kind`. The renderer's `bridge.sharing.{status,setMode}`
-   * surface keeps the ergonomic split.
+   * Single-channel discriminated surface for the read (`status`) and the two
+   * writes (`set-mode`, `set-skills-shared`). Folded into one channel to stay
+   * under the hand-rolled-channel scale-match cap; the discriminated
+   * args/result keeps the per-operation typing crisp at the call sites (preload
+   * + handler). Internally main dispatches on `request.kind`. The renderer's
+   * `bridge.sharing.{status,setMode,setSkillsShared}` surface keeps the
+   * ergonomic split.
    */
   'ok:sharing:dispatch': {
-    args: [request: { kind: 'status' } | { kind: 'set-mode'; mode: 'shared' | 'local-only' }];
+    args: [
+      request:
+        | { kind: 'status' }
+        | { kind: 'set-mode'; mode: 'shared' | 'local-only' }
+        | { kind: 'set-skills-shared'; shared: boolean },
+    ];
     result: OkSharingResult;
   };
   /**