In recent years, the rapid expansion of industries such as new energy has significantly heightened the demand for lithium resources. China boasts ample lithium reserves; however, 80% of these reserves are concentrated in salt lake brine, and the high magnesium?to?lithium ratio inherent in salt lakes poses challenges for lithium extraction. To ensure a stable supply of lithium resources in our country, it is imperative to develop cost?effective and highly efficient technologies for lithium extraction from salt lakes. Recent studies have demonstrated that the combination of emerging membrane separation technology with traditional processes holds great potential for achieving significant advancements in lithium extraction from salt lakes. This review aims to present the latest membrane technologies for extracting lithium from salt lake brine. It comprehensively discusses cutting?edge research findings from various perspectives, including the pore structure of membrane, precise design of the chemical environment within the pores, development of innovative membrane fabrication processes, and the integration of multiple membrane processes. By doing so, the review offers valuable insights and guidance for the design of new membrane materials. Furthermore, the review provides a comprehensive overview of the current bottlenecks faced by membrane separation technology in the process of lithium extraction from salt lakes. It also explores the potential prospects of biomimetic membrane materials.