diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index ba526354a3..def2ef34ff 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -7490,7 +7490,7 @@ def cmd_profile(args):
                 if clone_all:
                     print(f"Full copy from {source_label}.")
                 else:
-                    print(f"Cloned config, .env, SOUL.md from {source_label}.")
+                    print(f"Cloned config, .env, SOUL.md, and skills from {source_label}.")
 
             # Auto-clone Honcho config for the new profile (only with --clone/--clone-all)
             if clone or clone_all:
diff --git a/hermes_cli/profiles.py b/hermes_cli/profiles.py
index bf5d79b0b8..872d59563c 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/profiles.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/profiles.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ zero migration needed.
 Usage::
 
     hermes profile create coder          # fresh profile + bundled skills
-    hermes profile create coder --clone  # also copy config, .env, SOUL.md
+    hermes profile create coder --clone  # also copy config, .env, SOUL.md, skills
     hermes profile create coder --clone-all  # full copy of source profile
     coder chat                           # use via wrapper alias
     hermes -p coder chat                 # or via flag
@@ -388,7 +388,8 @@ def create_profile(
     clone_all:
         If True, do a full copytree of the source (all state).
     clone_config:
-        If True, copy only config files (config.yaml, .env, SOUL.md).
+        If True, copy config files (config.yaml, .env, SOUL.md), installed
+        skills, and selected profile identity files from the source profile.
     no_alias:
         If True, skip wrapper script creation.
 
@@ -442,6 +443,14 @@ def create_profile(
                 if src.exists():
                     shutil.copy2(src, profile_dir / filename)
 
+            # Clone installed skills from the source profile. The dashboard's
+            # "clone from default" flow is expected to preserve both bundled
+            # and user-installed skills so the new profile immediately has the
+            # same agent capabilities as the source profile.
+            source_skills = source_dir / "skills"
+            if source_skills.is_dir():
+                shutil.copytree(source_skills, profile_dir / "skills", dirs_exist_ok=True)
+
             # Clone memory and other subdirectory files
             for relpath in _CLONE_SUBDIR_FILES:
                 src = source_dir / relpath
diff --git a/hermes_cli/web_server.py b/hermes_cli/web_server.py
index 6f3fadc873..b4ee6077bc 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/web_server.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/web_server.py
@@ -2214,6 +2214,13 @@ async def create_profile_endpoint(body: ProfileCreate):
             clone_from="default" if body.clone_from_default else None,
             clone_config=body.clone_from_default,
         )
+        # Match the CLI's profile-create flow: fresh named profiles get the
+        # bundled skills installed. When cloning from default, create_profile()
+        # has already copied the source profile's skills, including any
+        # user-installed skills.
+        if not body.clone_from_default:
+            profiles_mod.seed_profile_skills(path, quiet=True)
+
         # Match the CLI's profile-create flow: named profiles should get a
         # wrapper in ~/.local/bin when the alias is safe to create.
         collision = profiles_mod.check_alias_collision(body.name)
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_profiles.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_profiles.py
index b8876a764c..bcf4da244e 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_profiles.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_profiles.py
@@ -149,6 +149,23 @@ class TestCreateProfile:
         assert (profile_dir / ".env").read_text() == "KEY=val"
         assert (profile_dir / "SOUL.md").read_text() == "Be helpful."
 
+    def test_clone_config_copies_source_skills(self, profile_env):
+        tmp_path = profile_env
+        default_home = tmp_path / ".hermes"
+        skill_dir = default_home / "skills" / "custom" / "installed-skill"
+        skill_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+        (skill_dir / "SKILL.md").write_text("---\nname: installed-skill\n---\n")
+
+        profile_dir = create_profile("coder", clone_config=True, no_alias=True)
+
+        assert (
+            profile_dir
+            / "skills"
+            / "custom"
+            / "installed-skill"
+            / "SKILL.md"
+        ).read_text() == "---\nname: installed-skill\n---\n"
+
     def test_clone_all_copies_entire_tree(self, profile_env):
         tmp_path = profile_env
         default_home = tmp_path / ".hermes"
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server.py
index b6537f2cc8..60390d47ce 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server.py
@@ -684,6 +684,51 @@ class TestNewEndpoints:
         assert wrapper_path.exists()
         assert wrapper_path.read_text() == '#!/bin/sh\nexec hermes -p writer "$@"\n'
 
+    def test_profiles_create_with_clone_from_default_copies_default_skills(self, monkeypatch):
+        from hermes_constants import get_hermes_home
+        import hermes_cli.profiles as profiles_mod
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(profiles_mod, "create_wrapper_script", lambda name: None)
+        default_skill = get_hermes_home() / "skills" / "custom" / "new-skill"
+        default_skill.mkdir(parents=True)
+        (default_skill / "SKILL.md").write_text("---\nname: new-skill\n---\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+        resp = self.client.post(
+            "/api/profiles",
+            json={"name": "cloned", "clone_from_default": True},
+        )
+
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        cloned_skill = get_hermes_home() / "profiles" / "cloned" / "skills" / "custom" / "new-skill" / "SKILL.md"
+        assert cloned_skill.exists()
+        profiles = {p["name"]: p for p in self.client.get("/api/profiles").json()["profiles"]}
+        assert profiles["cloned"]["skill_count"] == 1
+
+    def test_profiles_create_without_clone_seeds_bundled_skills(self, monkeypatch):
+        from hermes_constants import get_hermes_home
+        import hermes_cli.profiles as profiles_mod
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(profiles_mod, "create_wrapper_script", lambda name: None)
+
+        def fake_seed(profile_dir, quiet=False):
+            skill_dir = profile_dir / "skills" / "software-development" / "plan"
+            skill_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+            (skill_dir / "SKILL.md").write_text("---\nname: plan\n---\n", encoding="utf-8")
+            return {"copied": ["plan"]}
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(profiles_mod, "seed_profile_skills", fake_seed)
+
+        resp = self.client.post(
+            "/api/profiles",
+            json={"name": "fresh", "clone_from_default": False},
+        )
+
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        seeded_skill = get_hermes_home() / "profiles" / "fresh" / "skills" / "software-development" / "plan" / "SKILL.md"
+        assert seeded_skill.exists()
+        profiles = {p["name"]: p for p in self.client.get("/api/profiles").json()["profiles"]}
+        assert profiles["fresh"]["skill_count"] == 1
+
     def test_profile_open_terminal_uses_macos_terminal(self, monkeypatch):
         from hermes_constants import get_hermes_home
         import hermes_cli.web_server as web_server