It　is　projected　that　by　2025,　the　quantity　of　retired　lithium-ion　batteries　(LIBs)　in　China　will　reach　the　magnitude　of　one　million　units　annually.　The　recycling　of　these　spent　LIBs　is　crucial　as　it　can　significantly　reduce　reliance　on　mineral　resources　and　avert　the　environmental　hazards　associated　with　landfill　disposal.　However,　the　field　still　awaits　a　breakthrough　in　the　theoretical　and　practical　aspects　of　efficiently　separating　and　recycling　the　cathode　and　anode　materials　from　spent　LIBs.　Drawing　from　the　most　recent　research　on　the　separation　and　recovery　of　spent　LIBs　conducted　both　domestically　and　internationally,　this　paper　provides　a　comprehensive　review　and　summary　of　the　processes　and　mechanisms　involved　in　flotation,　magnetic　separation,　and　their　combined　process.　It　also　generalizes　the　pretreatment　techniques　for　spent　LIBs,　such　as　roasting,　milling,　and　Fenton　oxidation,　and　compares　the　merits　of　various　pretreatment　methods　and　the　flotation　chemistry　used　for　LIBs.　The　text　discusses　the　merits　of　flotation　and　magnetic　separation　in　facilitating　the　damage-free　recovery　of　spent　LIBs.　It　is　highlighted　that　the　efficiency　of　recovery　can　be　enhanced　through　the　synergistic　application　of　flotation　and　magnetic　separation　techniques.　The　aim　of　this　paper　is　to　consolidate　the　latest　findings　in　the　field　and　to　propel　the　advancement　of　efficient　separation　and　recovery　methods　for　anode　and　cathode　materials　from　spent　LIBs.　©　The　Minerals,　Metals　&　Materials　Society　2025.