Abstract: Traditional paint removal methods, such as mechanical polishing and chemical cleaning and others, have some problems in different degrees such as poor paint removal quality, serious environmental pollution, bad working environment and other problems.As a new type of non-contact surface pollutant removal technology, laser cleaning has the advantages of environmental protection and high cleaning quality. It is gradually applied in the industrial field. Based on the previous researches, the research progress and application status of laser paint removal in China and abroad in recent years, as well as the mechanism and technology of laser paint removal were analyzed and summarized.