# Agent Instructions - Zed

> Configure always-on personal and project instructions for Zed Agent with AGENTS.md and compatible project instruction files.

- 网址：https://funcoding.ai/agents/zed/ai/instructions/
- 来源：Zed 官方文档原文（英文），Apache-2.0 / GPL-3.0 许可，同步于 2026-10-11
- 官方原文：https://zed.dev/docs/ai/instructions

---
Instructions are always-on context for the Zed Agent. Use instructions for persistent guidance that should apply to every relevant agent interaction.

Use [Skills](https://funcoding.ai/agents/zed/ai/skills/) instead when you want reusable task instructions that can be invoked by name.

Zed supports [`AGENTS.md`](https://agents.md/) as the primary instruction file for personal and project-level agent guidance.

## Personal Instructions
Personal instructions apply to every project you open with the Zed Agent.

Create or edit:

```text
~/.config/zed/AGENTS.md
```

On Windows, the equivalent file is under `%APPDATA%\Zed\AGENTS.md`.

## Project Instructions
Project instruction files apply to the current project. Zed uses the first matching file in this list:

- `.rules`
- `.cursorrules`
- `.windsurfrules`
- `.clinerules`
- `.github/copilot-instructions.md`
- `AGENT.md`
- [`AGENTS.md`](https://agents.md/)
- `CLAUDE.md`
- `GEMINI.md`

Project instructions override personal `AGENTS.md` when they conflict.

## Instruction File Support
| File                              | [Zed Agent](https://funcoding.ai/agents/zed/ai/zed-agent/)                            | [External Agents](https://funcoding.ai/agents/zed/ai/external-agents/) | Terminal Threads                 |
| --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| `~/.config/zed/AGENTS.md`         | Loaded as personal instructions                        | Not generally used                      | Not used unless the CLI reads it |
| Project `AGENTS.md`               | Loaded as project instructions                         | Depends on the agent                    | Depends on the CLI               |
| `CLAUDE.md`                       | Loaded as compatible project instructions by Zed Agent | Claude reads natively                   | Claude Code CLI reads natively   |
| `.github/copilot-instructions.md` | Loaded as compatible project instructions by Zed Agent | Depends on the agent                    | Depends on the CLI               |

External Agents and [Terminal Threads](https://funcoding.ai/agents/zed/ai/terminal-threads/) may read their own native instruction files directly. Do not assume Zed's instruction loader controls those agents.

## Instructions vs. Skills
| Use          | Best for                | Example                                                     |
| ------------ | ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| Instructions | Always-on guidance      | Repository conventions, preferred tone, project constraints |
| Skills       | Reusable task workflows | Code review checklist, release workflow, migration helper   |

## Migrating from Rules
Rules have been replaced by Skills and Instructions:

- reusable, on-demand Rules become [Skills](https://funcoding.ai/agents/zed/ai/skills/)
- default, always-on Rules become personal `AGENTS.md`
- project `.rules` files remain supported as compatibility project instruction files