diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
index 17877e4bfa..ac1ff37080 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
@@ -923,7 +923,7 @@ impl ChatComposer {
         if !self.skills_enabled() {
             return None;
         }
-        Self::current_prefixed_token(&self.textarea, '$', true)
+        Self::current_prefixed_token(&self.textarea, '%', true)
     }
 
     /// Replace the active `@token` (the one under the cursor) with `path`.
@@ -998,7 +998,7 @@ impl ChatComposer {
             .unwrap_or(after_cursor.len());
         let end_idx = safe_cursor + end_rel_idx;
 
-        let inserted = format!("${skill_name}");
+        let inserted = format!("%{skill_name}");
 
         let mut new_text =
             String::with_capacity(text.len() - (end_idx - start_idx) + inserted.len() + 1);
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
index 37cd004a15..2642116fed 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
@@ -1604,7 +1604,7 @@ impl ChatWidget {
                 self.insert_str("@");
             }
             SlashCommand::Skills => {
-                self.insert_str("$");
+                self.insert_str("%");
             }
             SlashCommand::Status => {
                 self.add_status_output();
@@ -3513,7 +3513,8 @@ fn find_skill_mentions(text: &str, skills: &[SkillMetadata]) -> Vec<SkillMetadat
         if seen.contains(&skill.name) {
             continue;
         }
-        let needle = format!("${}", skill.name);
+        let name = &skill.name;
+        let needle = format!("%{name}");
         if text.contains(&needle) {
             seen.insert(skill.name.clone());
             matches.push(skill.clone());
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
index 362b1678f4..3de725c9c9 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ use codex_protocol::plan_tool::PlanItemArg;
 use codex_protocol::plan_tool::StepStatus;
 use codex_protocol::plan_tool::UpdatePlanArgs;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::CodexErrorInfo;
+use codex_protocol::protocol::SkillScope;
 use codex_utils_absolute_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
 use crossterm::event::KeyCode;
 use crossterm::event::KeyEvent;
@@ -3350,3 +3351,26 @@ fn chatwidget_tall() {
     .unwrap();
     assert_snapshot!(term.backend().vt100().screen().contents());
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn skill_mentions_use_percent_prefix() {
+    let deploy = SkillMetadata {
+        name: "deploy".to_string(),
+        description: "deploy skill".to_string(),
+        path: PathBuf::from("/tmp/deploy"),
+        scope: SkillScope::User,
+    };
+    let lint = SkillMetadata {
+        name: "lint".to_string(),
+        description: "lint skill".to_string(),
+        path: PathBuf::from("/tmp/lint"),
+        scope: SkillScope::User,
+    };
+    let skills = vec![deploy.clone(), lint.clone()];
+
+    let matches = find_skill_mentions("Use %deploy and %lint", &skills);
+    assert_eq!(matches, vec![deploy.clone(), lint.clone()]);
+
+    let matches = find_skill_mentions("Use $deploy only", &skills);
+    assert_eq!(matches, Vec::new());
+}
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui2/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs b/codex-rs/tui2/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
index 7ca10c6d24..5df9ed1d59 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui2/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui2/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
@@ -929,7 +929,7 @@ impl ChatComposer {
         if !self.skills_enabled() {
             return None;
         }
-        Self::current_prefixed_token(&self.textarea, '$', true)
+        Self::current_prefixed_token(&self.textarea, '%', true)
     }
 
     /// Replace the active `@token` (the one under the cursor) with `path`.
@@ -1004,7 +1004,7 @@ impl ChatComposer {
             .unwrap_or(after_cursor.len());
         let end_idx = safe_cursor + end_rel_idx;
 
-        let inserted = format!("${skill_name}");
+        let inserted = format!("%{skill_name}");
 
         let mut new_text =
             String::with_capacity(text.len() - (end_idx - start_idx) + inserted.len() + 1);
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui2/src/chatwidget.rs b/codex-rs/tui2/src/chatwidget.rs
index 5461bea729..4de61027e8 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui2/src/chatwidget.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui2/src/chatwidget.rs
@@ -1604,7 +1604,7 @@ impl ChatWidget {
                 self.insert_str("@");
             }
             SlashCommand::Skills => {
-                self.insert_str("$");
+                self.insert_str("%");
             }
             SlashCommand::Status => {
                 self.add_status_output();
@@ -3518,7 +3518,8 @@ fn find_skill_mentions(text: &str, skills: &[SkillMetadata]) -> Vec<SkillMetadat
         if seen.contains(&skill.name) {
             continue;
         }
-        let needle = format!("${}", skill.name);
+        let name = &skill.name;
+        let needle = format!("%{name}");
         if text.contains(&needle) {
             seen.insert(skill.name.clone());
             matches.push(skill.clone());
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui2/src/chatwidget/tests.rs b/codex-rs/tui2/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
index 362b1678f4..3de725c9c9 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui2/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui2/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ use codex_protocol::plan_tool::PlanItemArg;
 use codex_protocol::plan_tool::StepStatus;
 use codex_protocol::plan_tool::UpdatePlanArgs;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::CodexErrorInfo;
+use codex_protocol::protocol::SkillScope;
 use codex_utils_absolute_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
 use crossterm::event::KeyCode;
 use crossterm::event::KeyEvent;
@@ -3350,3 +3351,26 @@ fn chatwidget_tall() {
     .unwrap();
     assert_snapshot!(term.backend().vt100().screen().contents());
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn skill_mentions_use_percent_prefix() {
+    let deploy = SkillMetadata {
+        name: "deploy".to_string(),
+        description: "deploy skill".to_string(),
+        path: PathBuf::from("/tmp/deploy"),
+        scope: SkillScope::User,
+    };
+    let lint = SkillMetadata {
+        name: "lint".to_string(),
+        description: "lint skill".to_string(),
+        path: PathBuf::from("/tmp/lint"),
+        scope: SkillScope::User,
+    };
+    let skills = vec![deploy.clone(), lint.clone()];
+
+    let matches = find_skill_mentions("Use %deploy and %lint", &skills);
+    assert_eq!(matches, vec![deploy.clone(), lint.clone()]);
+
+    let matches = find_skill_mentions("Use $deploy only", &skills);
+    assert_eq!(matches, Vec::new());
+}
diff --git a/docs/skills.md b/docs/skills.md
index 5a9f17f0b0..f7756ea478 100644
--- a/docs/skills.md
+++ b/docs/skills.md
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ Skills are behind the experimental `skills` feature flag and are disabled by def
 
 ## Using skills
 
-- Mention a skill by name in a message using `$<skill-name>`.
+- Mention a skill by name in a message using `%<skill-name>`.
 - In the TUI, you can also use `/skills` to browse and insert skills.
 
 ## Validation and errors