diff --git a/skills/vcpkg/SKILL.md b/skills/vcpkg/SKILL.md
index e6909544..cb8a4503 100644
--- a/skills/vcpkg/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/vcpkg/SKILL.md
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ cmake -B build -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=<vcpkg-root>/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cm
 
 ### Classic-to-Manifest Migration
 
-1. List what's currently installed: `vcpkg list`
-2. Create `vcpkg.json` with those dependencies
+1. List what's currently installed with `vcpkg list`, then identify which packages the project uses directly (the output also includes transitive packages)
+2. Create `vcpkg.json` with only those direct dependencies
 3. Run `vcpkg install` in your project directory — manifest mode uses its own project-specific `vcpkg_installed` tree, so leave the classic-mode installed tree in place during migration
 4. Update your build system to use `CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE` if not already
 5. Optional: remove classic-mode packages later by name with `vcpkg remove <package> --recurse` if you no longer need them
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ Use a baseline for the registry that resolves the dependency. For the builtin re
 - `overrides` take precedence over all version constraints, including transitive ones.
 - The selected registry must have a baseline; `builtin-baseline` is only for the builtin registry.
 - Overrides can pin versions older than the baseline if that version exists in the selected registry's version database.
-- Use `vcpkg x-history <port>` to inspect available versions.
+- Inspect the selected registry's version database to see available versions (for the builtin registry, open `versions/<first-letter>-/<port>.json` in the vcpkg repository).
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/skills/vcpkg/references/troubleshooting.md b/skills/vcpkg/references/troubleshooting.md
index 49400e35..a8a531ad 100644
--- a/skills/vcpkg/references/troubleshooting.md
+++ b/skills/vcpkg/references/troubleshooting.md
@@ -61,10 +61,7 @@ Update the features in `vcpkg.json`:
 
 Then run `vcpkg install` — vcpkg will detect the feature change and rebuild.
 
-In classic mode:
-```console
-vcpkg install curl[ssl,ssh] --recurse   # permits rebuilding with the new feature set
-```
+In classic mode, installing a feature only adds to the already installed feature set; omitted features are not removed. To remove a feature, uninstall `curl` and then reinstall it with the desired features. Account for dependent packages before using `--recurse`, because it removes them too.
 
 ### Replacing One Library with Another
 
@@ -88,8 +85,10 @@ Remove-Item -Recurse -Force <vcpkg-root>\installed
 # Remove package build artifacts
 Remove-Item -Recurse -Force <vcpkg-root>\packages
 
-# In manifest mode, remove the local vcpkg_installed directory
+# In CLI manifest mode, remove the manifest-root install directory
 Remove-Item -Recurse -Force .\vcpkg_installed
+
+# With CMake integration, remove <build-directory>\vcpkg_installed (or VCPKG_INSTALLED_DIR)
 ```
 
 ```bash
@@ -97,5 +96,6 @@ rm -rf <vcpkg-root>/buildtrees
 rm -rf <vcpkg-root>/downloads
 rm -rf <vcpkg-root>/installed
 rm -rf <vcpkg-root>/packages
+# CLI manifest mode; with CMake integration, use <build-directory>/vcpkg_installed (or VCPKG_INSTALLED_DIR)
 rm -rf ./vcpkg_installed
 ```