The widespread use of fossil energy has caused serious greenhouse effect and air pollution on the earth. Moreover, the reserves of fossil energy have gradually declined, resulting in an increasingly serious energy crisis. In response to these crises, people have begun to look for the clean, pollution-free and efficient renewable energy. Hydrogen energy is considered to be the most ideal clean energy owing to its unique high combustion heat and zero emissions. Magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials have attracted much attention due to their high mass hydrogen storage density, and high crustal reserves and low cost of Mg, and the hydrolysis of magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials can produce hydrogen with a high theoretical capacity, and the produced by-products are environmental pollution-free. Therefore, it is considered as one of the most promising hydrogen production methods. In particular, the hydrolysis of pure Mg and MgH2 can yield 6.4wt% and 3.4wt% H2, respectively. However, the hydrolysis reaction of magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials produces Mg(OH)2, resulting in slow reaction kinetics. In recent years, the covering problem of Mg(OH)2 is investigated and solved by compounding metals, metal hydrides and magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials or adding acids and inorganic salts during the hydrolysis reaction. In this paper, the latest research progress of the hydrolysis of magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials is reviewed, and its future development is prospected.