diff --git a/src/specify_cli/extensions/command_add.py b/src/specify_cli/extensions/command_add.py
index 1917663406..96b7125ea4 100644
--- a/src/specify_cli/extensions/command_add.py
+++ b/src/specify_cli/extensions/command_add.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 
 @_commands.extension_app.command("add")
 def extension_add(
-    extension: str = typer.Argument(help="Extension name or path"),
+    extension: Optional[str] = typer.Argument(None, help="Extension name or path (optional when --from is given)"),
     dev: bool = typer.Option(False, "--dev", help="Install from local directory"),
     from_url: Optional[str] = typer.Option(None, "--from", help="Install from custom URL"),
     force: bool = typer.Option(False, "--force", help="Overwrite if already installed"),
@@ -33,6 +33,26 @@ def extension_add(
     # Typer supplies its OptionInfo object instead of a parsed option value.
     if not isinstance(version, str):
         version = None
+    # Same for the optional positional name when a caller omits it.
+    if not isinstance(extension, str):
+        extension = None
+
+    # The name is optional only for URL installs (``--from <url>``), where the
+    # archive's manifest supplies the extension ID. ``--dev`` needs a local
+    # path, and a catalog install needs a name to look up.
+    if extension is None and (dev or not from_url):
+        if dev:
+            console.print("[red]Error:[/red] --dev requires the path to a local extension directory.")
+        else:
+            console.print(
+                "[red]Error:[/red] Missing extension name or source. "
+                "Provide an extension name, or install from a URL with --from <url>."
+            )
+        console.print("\nUsage:")
+        console.print("  specify extension add <name>")
+        console.print("  specify extension add --from <url>")
+        console.print("  specify extension add --dev <path>")
+        raise typer.Exit(1)
 
     project_root = _commands._require_specify_project()
     # Validate priority
@@ -99,7 +119,8 @@ def extension_add(
             console.print("Cancelled")
             raise typer.Exit(0)
 
-    safe_extension = _escape_markup(extension)
+    # With ``--from`` and no name, describe the install by its source URL.
+    safe_extension = _escape_markup(extension if extension is not None else str(from_url))
 
     try:
         with console.status(f"[cyan]Installing extension: {safe_extension}[/cyan]"):
diff --git a/tests/specify_cli/extensions/test_command_add.py b/tests/specify_cli/extensions/test_command_add.py
index 4b67706704..fdf1a7fac5 100644
--- a/tests/specify_cli/extensions/test_command_add.py
+++ b/tests/specify_cli/extensions/test_command_add.py
@@ -875,6 +875,69 @@ def reject_oversized(*_args, **_kwargs):
         assert "exceeds maximum size" in result.output
         install.assert_not_called()
 
+    def test_add_from_url_without_extension_name(self, tmp_path):
+        """``extension add --from <url>`` works with no positional name (#1)."""
+        project_dir = tmp_path / "test-project"
+        project_dir.mkdir()
+        (project_dir / ".specify").mkdir()
+        url = "https://example.com/ext.zip"
+        seen = {}
+
+        def fake_install_from_url(manager, root, from_url, speckit_version, **kwargs):
+            seen["url"] = from_url
+            return SimpleNamespace(
+                id="x", name="X", version="1.0.0", description="",
+                warnings=[], commands=[], hooks=[],
+            )
+
+        with patch.object(Path, "cwd", return_value=project_dir), \
+             patch("typer.confirm", return_value=True), \
+             patch("specify_cli.extensions._commands.install_extension_from_url", side_effect=fake_install_from_url):
+            result = CliRunner().invoke(app, ["extension", "add", "--from", url], catch_exceptions=True)
+
+        output = strip_ansi(result.output)
+        assert result.exit_code == 0, output
+        assert "Missing argument" not in output
+        assert seen["url"] == url
+        assert "Extension installed successfully" in output
+
+    def test_add_without_name_or_source_errors_clearly(self, tmp_path):
+        """No name and no --from prints a clear error and installs nothing."""
+        project_dir = tmp_path / "test-project"
+        project_dir.mkdir()
+        (project_dir / ".specify").mkdir()
+
+        with patch.object(Path, "cwd", return_value=project_dir), \
+             patch.object(ExtensionManager, "install_from_zip") as install_zip, \
+             patch.object(ExtensionManager, "install_from_directory") as install_dir:
+            result = CliRunner().invoke(app, ["extension", "add"], catch_exceptions=True)
+
+        output = strip_ansi(result.output)
+        assert result.exit_code == 1, output
+        assert result.exception is None or isinstance(result.exception, SystemExit)
+        assert "Missing extension name or source" in output
+        assert "--from <url>" in output
+        assert "Traceback" not in output
+        install_zip.assert_not_called()
+        install_dir.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_add_dev_without_path_errors_clearly(self, tmp_path):
+        """``--dev`` with no path is rejected instead of falling through."""
+        project_dir = tmp_path / "test-project"
+        project_dir.mkdir()
+        (project_dir / ".specify").mkdir()
+
+        with patch.object(Path, "cwd", return_value=project_dir):
+            result = CliRunner().invoke(
+                app,
+                ["extension", "add", "--dev", "--from", "https://example.com/ext.zip"],
+                catch_exceptions=True,
+            )
+
+        output = strip_ansi(result.output)
+        assert result.exit_code == 1, output
+        assert "--dev requires the path" in output
+
     def test_add_from_url_resolves_ghes_release_asset(self, tmp_path):
         """A GHES release-download URL resolves to /api/v3 with octet-stream Accept."""
         from types import SimpleNamespace