[DOCS] `--add-dir` docs missing automatic `.claude/skills/` loading behavior (v2.1.32)

Documentation Type

Incorrect/outdated documentation

Documentation Location

https://code.claude.com/docs/en/skills

Section/Topic

Skill discovery behavior when additional directories are added via --add-dir.

Current Documentation

The docs currently say skills are discovered from normal locations and nested subdirectories under the working tree:

"When you work with files in subdirectories, Claude Code automatically discovers skills from nested .claude/skills/ directories..."

And memory docs currently frame --add-dir behavior around CLAUDE.md files only:

"The --add-dir flag gives Claude access to additional directories outside your main working directory. By default, CLAUDE.md files from these directories are not loaded."

No page explains whether skills inside added directories are loaded automatically.

What's Wrong or Missing?

Claude Code changelog v2.1.32 says:

Skills defined in .claude/skills/ within additional directories (--add-dir) are now loaded automatically.

Current docs do not describe this behavior, and nearby wording can imply added directories only affect file access and optional CLAUDE.md loading. This makes the new capability hard to discover and can lead users to think skills in added directories are unsupported.

Suggested Improvement

Update docs to explicitly document this new behavior:

1. Add --add-dir skill-loading details to skills docs (with precedence and scope).
2. Add a note in cli-reference under --add-dir describing automatic .claude/skills/ discovery in added directories.
3. Clarify in memory docs that CLAUDE_CODE_ADDITIONAL_DIRECTORIES_CLAUDE_MD controls memory-file loading, while skills in added directories now auto-load independently.
4. Include one concrete example command and folder layout.

Impact

Medium - Makes feature difficult to understand

Additional Context

Affected Pages:

| Page | Line(s) | Context |
|------|---------|---------|
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/skills | 88-91 | Documents nested skill discovery but not --add-dir skill discovery |
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/cli-reference | 29 | --add-dir row mentions directory access only |
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/memory | 67-75 | --add-dir described only in relation to CLAUDE.md memory loading |
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/permissions | 197-201 | Additional directories discussed as permission scope only |
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/settings | 763 | Env var description focuses on CLAUDE.md loading |

Total scope: 5 pages affected

Source: Claude Code changelog v2.1.32

Skills defined in .claude/skills/ within additional directories (--add-dir) are now loaded automatically.