In　recent　years,　magnetic　micro-　and　nanorobots　have　been　developed　and　extensively　used　in　many　fields.　Actuated　by　magnetic　fields,　micro-　and　nanorobots　can　achieve　controllable　motion,　targeted　transportation　of　cargo,　and　energy　transmission.　The　proper　use　of　magnetic　fields　is　essential　for　the　further　research　and　development　of　micro-　and　nanorobotics.　In　this　article,　recent　progress　in　magnetic　applications　in　the　field　of　micro-　and　nanorobots　is　reviewed.　First,　the　achievements　of　manufacturing　micro-　and　nanorobots　by　incorporating　different　magnetic　nanoparticles,　such　as　diamagnetic,　paramagnetic,　and　ferromagnetic　materials,　are　discussed　in　detail,　highlighting　the　importance　of　a　rational　use　of　magnetic　materials.　Then　the　innovative　breakthroughs　of　using　different　magnetoelectric　devices　and　magnetic　drive　structures　to　improve　the　micro-　and　nanorobots　are　reviewed.　Finally,　based　on　the　biofriendliness　and　the　precise　and　stable　performance　of　magnetic　micro-　and　nanorobots　in　microbial　environments,　some　future　challenges　are　outlined,　and　the　prospects　of　magnetic　applications　for　micro-　and　nanorobots　are　presented.　©　2021　Xu　et　al.;　licensee　Beilstein-Institut.　License　and　terms:　see　end　of　document.　All　Rights　Reserved.