diff --git a/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py b/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py
index e804830012..12d085f411 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py
@@ -2778,7 +2778,9 @@ async def process_chat_payload(request, form_data, user, metadata, model):
             if note_files:
                 files = [*(files or []), *note_files]
 
-    if skill_ids or use_builtin_tools:
+    model_builtin_tools = model.get('info', {}).get('meta', {}).get('builtinTools') or {}
+
+    if skill_ids or (use_builtin_tools and model_builtin_tools.get('skills', True)):
         from open_webui.models.skills import Skills as SkillsModel
         from open_webui.utils.terminals import (
             format_terminal_skill_context,
@@ -2791,7 +2793,7 @@ async def process_chat_payload(request, form_data, user, metadata, model):
         db_skill_ids = [sid for sid in skill_ids if not sid.startswith(terminal_skill_prefix)]
         terminal_skill_ids = [sid for sid in skill_ids if sid.startswith(terminal_skill_prefix)]
 
-        if use_builtin_tools:
+        if use_builtin_tools and model_builtin_tools.get('skills', True):
             accessible_skills = {s.id: s for s in await SkillsModel.get_skills(user_id=user.id)}
             db_skill_ids = sorted(accessible_skills)
         else:
@@ -2804,7 +2806,7 @@ async def process_chat_payload(request, form_data, user, metadata, model):
 
         skill_manifest = ''
         for skill in available_skills:
-            if skill.id in mentioned_skill_ids or not use_builtin_tools:
+            if skill.id in mentioned_skill_ids or not use_builtin_tools or not model_builtin_tools.get('skills', True):
                 form_data['messages'] = add_or_update_system_message(
                     f'<skill name="{skill.name}">\n{skill.content}\n</skill>',
                     form_data['messages'],
@@ -2825,7 +2827,7 @@ async def process_chat_payload(request, form_data, user, metadata, model):
 
         listed_terminal_skills = listed if isinstance(listed, list) else []
 
-        if terminal_id and use_builtin_tools:
+        if terminal_id and use_builtin_tools and model_builtin_tools.get('skills', True):
             terminal_skills = listed_terminal_skills
         elif terminal_skill_ids:
             terminal_skill_map = {skill['id']: skill for skill in listed_terminal_skills}
@@ -2833,7 +2835,7 @@ async def process_chat_payload(request, form_data, user, metadata, model):
 
         for skill in terminal_skills:
             sid = skill['id']
-            if sid in mentioned_skill_ids or not use_builtin_tools:
+            if sid in mentioned_skill_ids or not use_builtin_tools or not model_builtin_tools.get('skills', True):
                 skill_name = unquote(sid.removeprefix(terminal_skill_prefix))
                 loaded = await get_terminal_skill(request, user.model_dump(), metadata, skill_name, extra_params)
                 if loaded:
@@ -3058,7 +3060,7 @@ async def process_chat_payload(request, form_data, user, metadata, model):
         # Only inject when the request originates from the UI (identified by session_id).
         # API callers don't expect hidden tools; they can explicitly request tools via tool_ids.
         if use_builtin_tools:
-            if (model.get('info', {}).get('meta', {}).get('builtinTools') or {}).get('knowledge', True):
+            if model_builtin_tools.get('knowledge', True):
                 from html import escape
 
                 knowledge_tags = []
diff --git a/backend/open_webui/utils/tools.py b/backend/open_webui/utils/tools.py
index c0e5eeac96..510dc71de3 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/utils/tools.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/utils/tools.py
@@ -811,7 +811,7 @@ async def get_builtin_tools(
         )
 
     # Skills tools - view_skill allows model to load full skill instructions on demand
-    if extra_params.get('__skill_ids__'):
+    if is_builtin_tool_enabled('skills') and extra_params.get('__skill_ids__'):
         builtin_functions.append(view_skill)
 
     # Task management - break down complex work into trackable steps
diff --git a/src/lib/components/workspace/Models/BuiltinTools.svelte b/src/lib/components/workspace/Models/BuiltinTools.svelte
index 9164f55a8b..6daa3fa496 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/workspace/Models/BuiltinTools.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/workspace/Models/BuiltinTools.svelte
@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@
 		subagents: {
 			label: $i18n.t('settings.admin.models.builtinTools.subagents.label'),
 			description: $i18n.t('settings.admin.models.builtinTools.subagents.description')
+		},
+		skills: {
+			label: $i18n.t('settings.admin.models.builtinTools.skills.label'),
+			description: $i18n.t('settings.admin.models.builtinTools.skills.description')
 		}
 	};
 
diff --git a/src/lib/i18n/locales/en-US/translation.json b/src/lib/i18n/locales/en-US/translation.json
index 4bcdd405d5..db72a630c9 100644
--- a/src/lib/i18n/locales/en-US/translation.json
+++ b/src/lib/i18n/locales/en-US/translation.json
@@ -2631,6 +2631,8 @@
 	"settings.admin.models.builtinTools.notes.label": "Notes",
 	"settings.admin.models.builtinTools.notifications.description": "Send notifications to configured webhook targets",
 	"settings.admin.models.builtinTools.notifications.label": "Notifications",
+	"settings.admin.models.builtinTools.skills.description": "Find and load skill instructions on demand",
+	"settings.admin.models.builtinTools.skills.label": "Skills",
 	"settings.admin.models.builtinTools.subagents.description": "Delegate focused work to parallel sub-agents",
 	"settings.admin.models.builtinTools.subagents.label": "Sub-agents",
 	"settings.admin.models.builtinTools.tasks.description": "Break down complex requests into trackable steps",