diff --git a/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/__init__.py b/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/__init__.py
index 8ee1d9df5a..a2944de815 100644
--- a/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/__init__.py
+++ b/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/__init__.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
     SkillValidationError,
     TaskTrigger,
     load_skills_from_dir,
+    load_user_skills,
 )
 
 
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@
     "TaskTrigger",
     "SkillKnowledge",
     "load_skills_from_dir",
+    "load_user_skills",
     "render_template",
     "SkillValidationError",
 ]
diff --git a/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/agent_context.py b/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/agent_context.py
index f2d5962f1b..9396fcc64b 100644
--- a/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/agent_context.py
+++ b/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/agent_context.py
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import pathlib
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, field_validator
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, field_validator, model_validator
 
 from openhands.sdk.context.prompts import render_template
 from openhands.sdk.context.skills import (
     Skill,
     SkillKnowledge,
+    load_user_skills,
 )
 from openhands.sdk.llm import Message, TextContent
 from openhands.sdk.logger import get_logger
@@ -48,6 +49,13 @@ class AgentContext(BaseModel):
     user_message_suffix: str | None = Field(
         default=None, description="Optional suffix to append to the user's message."
     )
+    load_user_skills: bool = Field(
+        default=False,
+        description=(
+            "Whether to automatically load user skills from ~/.openhands/skills/ "
+            "and ~/.openhands/microagents/ (for backward compatibility). "
+        ),
+    )
 
     @field_validator("skills")
     @classmethod
@@ -62,6 +70,29 @@ def _validate_skills(cls, v: list[Skill], _info):
             seen_names.add(skill.name)
         return v
 
+    @model_validator(mode="after")
+    def _load_user_skills(self):
+        """Load user skills from home directory if enabled."""
+        if not self.load_user_skills:
+            return self
+
+        try:
+            user_skills = load_user_skills()
+            # Merge user skills with explicit skills, avoiding duplicates
+            existing_names = {skill.name for skill in self.skills}
+            for user_skill in user_skills:
+                if user_skill.name not in existing_names:
+                    self.skills.append(user_skill)
+                else:
+                    logger.warning(
+                        f"Skipping user skill '{user_skill.name}' "
+                        f"(already in explicit skills)"
+                    )
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning(f"Failed to load user skills: {str(e)}")
+
+        return self
+
     def get_system_message_suffix(self) -> str | None:
         """Get the system message with repo skill content and custom suffix.
 
diff --git a/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/skills/__init__.py b/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/skills/__init__.py
index fba276ce92..c8c2b7eefb 100644
--- a/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/skills/__init__.py
+++ b/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/skills/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 from openhands.sdk.context.skills.exceptions import SkillValidationError
-from openhands.sdk.context.skills.skill import Skill, load_skills_from_dir
+from openhands.sdk.context.skills.skill import (
+    Skill,
+    load_skills_from_dir,
+    load_user_skills,
+)
 from openhands.sdk.context.skills.trigger import (
     BaseTrigger,
     KeywordTrigger,
@@ -15,5 +19,6 @@
     "TaskTrigger",
     "SkillKnowledge",
     "load_skills_from_dir",
+    "load_user_skills",
     "SkillValidationError",
 ]
diff --git a/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/skills/skill.py b/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/skills/skill.py
index 4ec8ab4d80..8f6dadd41d 100644
--- a/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/skills/skill.py
+++ b/openhands-sdk/openhands/sdk/context/skills/skill.py
@@ -307,3 +307,53 @@ def load_skills_from_dir(
         f"{[*repo_skills.keys(), *knowledge_skills.keys()]}"
     )
     return repo_skills, knowledge_skills
+
+
+# Default user skills directories (in order of priority)
+USER_SKILLS_DIRS = [
+    Path.home() / ".openhands" / "skills",
+    Path.home() / ".openhands" / "microagents",  # Legacy support
+]
+
+
+def load_user_skills() -> list[Skill]:
+    """Load skills from user's home directory.
+
+    Searches for skills in ~/.openhands/skills/ and ~/.openhands/microagents/
+    (legacy). Skills from both directories are merged, with skills/ taking
+    precedence for duplicate names.
+
+    Returns:
+        List of Skill objects loaded from user directories.
+        Returns empty list if no skills found or loading fails.
+    """
+    all_skills = []
+    seen_names = set()
+
+    for skills_dir in USER_SKILLS_DIRS:
+        if not skills_dir.exists():
+            logger.debug(f"User skills directory does not exist: {skills_dir}")
+            continue
+
+        try:
+            logger.debug(f"Loading user skills from {skills_dir}")
+            repo_skills, knowledge_skills = load_skills_from_dir(skills_dir)
+
+            # Merge repo and knowledge skills
+            for skills_dict in [repo_skills, knowledge_skills]:
+                for name, skill in skills_dict.items():
+                    if name not in seen_names:
+                        all_skills.append(skill)
+                        seen_names.add(name)
+                    else:
+                        logger.warning(
+                            f"Skipping duplicate skill '{name}' from {skills_dir}"
+                        )
+
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning(f"Failed to load user skills from {skills_dir}: {str(e)}")
+
+    logger.debug(
+        f"Loaded {len(all_skills)} user skills: {[s.name for s in all_skills]}"
+    )
+    return all_skills
diff --git a/tests/sdk/context/skill/test_load_user_skills.py b/tests/sdk/context/skill/test_load_user_skills.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0cd2459360
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/sdk/context/skill/test_load_user_skills.py
@@ -0,0 +1,274 @@
+"""Tests for load_user_skills functionality."""
+
+import tempfile
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from openhands.sdk.context.agent_context import AgentContext
+from openhands.sdk.context.skills import (
+    KeywordTrigger,
+    Skill,
+    load_user_skills,
+)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def temp_user_skills_dir():
+    """Create a temporary user skills directory structure."""
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+        root = Path(temp_dir)
+
+        # Create .openhands/skills directory
+        skills_dir = root / ".openhands" / "skills"
+        skills_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+
+        yield root, skills_dir
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def temp_microagents_dir():
+    """Create a temporary microagents directory structure."""
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+        root = Path(temp_dir)
+
+        # Create .openhands/microagents directory
+        microagents_dir = root / ".openhands" / "microagents"
+        microagents_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+
+        yield root, microagents_dir
+
+
+def test_load_user_skills_no_directories(tmp_path):
+    """Test load_user_skills when no user skills directories exist."""
+    # Point USER_SKILLS_DIRS to non-existent directories
+    from openhands.sdk.context.skills import skill
+
+    original_dirs = skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS
+    try:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = [
+            tmp_path / "nonexistent1",
+            tmp_path / "nonexistent2",
+        ]
+        skills = load_user_skills()
+        assert skills == []
+    finally:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = original_dirs
+
+
+def test_load_user_skills_with_skills_directory(temp_user_skills_dir):
+    """Test load_user_skills loads from skills directory."""
+    root, skills_dir = temp_user_skills_dir
+
+    # Create a test skill file
+    skill_file = skills_dir / "test_skill.md"
+    skill_file.write_text(
+        "---\nname: test_skill\ntriggers:\n  - test\n---\nThis is a test skill."
+    )
+
+    from openhands.sdk.context.skills import skill
+
+    original_dirs = skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS
+    try:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = [skills_dir]
+        skills = load_user_skills()
+        assert len(skills) == 1
+        assert skills[0].name == "test_skill"
+        assert skills[0].content == "This is a test skill."
+        assert isinstance(skills[0].trigger, KeywordTrigger)
+    finally:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = original_dirs
+
+
+def test_load_user_skills_with_microagents_directory(temp_microagents_dir):
+    """Test load_user_skills loads from microagents directory (legacy)."""
+    root, microagents_dir = temp_microagents_dir
+
+    # Create a test microagent file
+    microagent_file = microagents_dir / "legacy_skill.md"
+    microagent_file.write_text(
+        "---\n"
+        "name: legacy_skill\n"
+        "triggers:\n"
+        "  - legacy\n"
+        "---\n"
+        "This is a legacy microagent skill."
+    )
+
+    from openhands.sdk.context.skills import skill
+
+    original_dirs = skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS
+    try:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = [microagents_dir]
+        skills = load_user_skills()
+        assert len(skills) == 1
+        assert skills[0].name == "legacy_skill"
+        assert skills[0].content == "This is a legacy microagent skill."
+    finally:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = original_dirs
+
+
+def test_load_user_skills_priority_order(tmp_path):
+    """Test that skills/ directory takes precedence over microagents/."""
+    # Create both directories
+    skills_dir = tmp_path / ".openhands" / "skills"
+    microagents_dir = tmp_path / ".openhands" / "microagents"
+    skills_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    microagents_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+
+    # Create duplicate skill in both directories
+    (skills_dir / "duplicate.md").write_text(
+        "---\nname: duplicate\n---\nFrom skills directory."
+    )
+
+    (microagents_dir / "duplicate.md").write_text(
+        "---\nname: duplicate\n---\nFrom microagents directory."
+    )
+
+    from openhands.sdk.context.skills import skill
+
+    original_dirs = skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS
+    try:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = [skills_dir, microagents_dir]
+        skills = load_user_skills()
+        assert len(skills) == 1
+        assert skills[0].name == "duplicate"
+        # Should be from skills directory (takes precedence)
+        assert skills[0].content == "From skills directory."
+    finally:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = original_dirs
+
+
+def test_load_user_skills_both_directories(tmp_path):
+    """Test loading unique skills from both directories."""
+    # Create both directories
+    skills_dir = tmp_path / ".openhands" / "skills"
+    microagents_dir = tmp_path / ".openhands" / "microagents"
+    skills_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    microagents_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+
+    # Create different skills in each directory
+    (skills_dir / "skill1.md").write_text("---\nname: skill1\n---\nSkill 1 content.")
+    (microagents_dir / "skill2.md").write_text(
+        "---\nname: skill2\n---\nSkill 2 content."
+    )
+
+    from openhands.sdk.context.skills import skill
+
+    original_dirs = skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS
+    try:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = [skills_dir, microagents_dir]
+        skills = load_user_skills()
+        assert len(skills) == 2
+        skill_names = {s.name for s in skills}
+        assert skill_names == {"skill1", "skill2"}
+    finally:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = original_dirs
+
+
+def test_load_user_skills_handles_errors_gracefully(temp_user_skills_dir):
+    """Test that errors in loading are handled gracefully."""
+    root, skills_dir = temp_user_skills_dir
+
+    # Create an invalid skill file
+    invalid_file = skills_dir / "invalid.md"
+    invalid_file.write_text(
+        "---\n"
+        "triggers: not_a_list\n"  # Invalid: triggers must be a list
+        "---\n"
+        "Invalid skill."
+    )
+
+    from openhands.sdk.context.skills import skill
+
+    original_dirs = skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS
+    try:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = [skills_dir]
+        # Should not raise exception, just return empty list
+        skills = load_user_skills()
+        assert skills == []
+    finally:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = original_dirs
+
+
+def test_agent_context_loads_user_skills_by_default(temp_user_skills_dir):
+    """Test that AgentContext loads user skills when enabled."""
+    root, skills_dir = temp_user_skills_dir
+
+    # Create a test skill
+    skill_file = skills_dir / "auto_skill.md"
+    skill_file.write_text("---\nname: auto_skill\n---\nAutomatically loaded skill.")
+
+    from openhands.sdk.context.skills import skill
+
+    original_dirs = skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS
+    try:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = [skills_dir]
+        context = AgentContext(load_user_skills=True)
+        skill_names = [s.name for s in context.skills]
+        assert "auto_skill" in skill_names
+    finally:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = original_dirs
+
+
+def test_agent_context_can_disable_user_skills_loading():
+    """Test that user skills loading can be disabled."""
+    context = AgentContext(load_user_skills=False)
+    assert context.skills == []
+
+
+def test_agent_context_merges_explicit_and_user_skills(temp_user_skills_dir):
+    """Test that explicit skills and user skills are merged correctly."""
+    root, skills_dir = temp_user_skills_dir
+
+    # Create user skill
+    user_skill_file = skills_dir / "user_skill.md"
+    user_skill_file.write_text("---\nname: user_skill\n---\nUser skill content.")
+
+    # Create explicit skill
+    explicit_skill = Skill(
+        name="explicit_skill",
+        content="Explicit skill content.",
+        trigger=None,
+    )
+
+    from openhands.sdk.context.skills import skill
+
+    original_dirs = skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS
+    try:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = [skills_dir]
+        context = AgentContext(skills=[explicit_skill], load_user_skills=True)
+        skill_names = [s.name for s in context.skills]
+        assert "explicit_skill" in skill_names
+        assert "user_skill" in skill_names
+        assert len(context.skills) == 2
+    finally:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = original_dirs
+
+
+def test_agent_context_explicit_skill_takes_precedence(temp_user_skills_dir):
+    """Test that explicitly provided skills take precedence over user skills."""
+    root, skills_dir = temp_user_skills_dir
+
+    # Create user skill with same name
+    user_skill_file = skills_dir / "duplicate.md"
+    user_skill_file.write_text("---\nname: duplicate\n---\nUser skill content.")
+
+    # Create explicit skill with same name
+    explicit_skill = Skill(
+        name="duplicate",
+        content="Explicit skill content.",
+        trigger=None,
+    )
+
+    from openhands.sdk.context.skills import skill
+
+    original_dirs = skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS
+    try:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = [skills_dir]
+        context = AgentContext(skills=[explicit_skill], load_user_skills=True)
+        assert len(context.skills) == 1
+        # Explicit skill should be used, not the user skill
+        assert context.skills[0].content == "Explicit skill content."
+    finally:
+        skill.USER_SKILLS_DIRS = original_dirs