# Claude Handoff

Pass the current conversation to a fresh background agent that continues the work.

- Repository: https://github.com/mattpocock/skills (309182 stars)
- Category: AI and agents
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add mattpocock/skills --skill claude-handoff -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add mattpocock/skills --skill claude-handoff -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add mattpocock/skills --skill claude-handoff -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add mattpocock/skills --skill claude-handoff -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add mattpocock/skills`

## Description

Hand the current conversation off to a fresh background agent that picks up the work immediately.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

Write a handoff summary of the current conversation so a fresh agent can continue the work. Save it to the temporary directory of the user's OS, then launch a background agent seeded with it as its prompt: `claude --bg --name "<descriptive name>" -- "$(cat <summary file>)"`. Passing the file keeps the shell from running backticks or expanding `$` in the summary. It starts in the current working directory and returns immediately; the user manages it with `claude agents`.

Always pass `-n`/`--name` with a descriptive name (e.g. `--name "Fix login bug"`); it sets the display name shown in the job list, session picker, and terminal title.

Include a "suggested skills" section in the summary, naming which skills the next agent should call the Skill tool for.

Do not duplicate content already captured in other artifacts (specs, plans, ADRs, issues, commits, diffs). Reference them by path or URL instead.

Redact any sensitive information, such as API keys, passwords, or personally identifiable information, since the summary becomes the agent's prompt.

If the user passed arguments, treat them as a description of what the next session will focus on and tailor the summary accordingly.