The concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere reached an all?time high in the 2021(414.7 μg/g), which has caused a series of ecological and environmental problems. In order to solve the problem of global warming, CO₂ resource utilization is imperative. From the view of CO₂ utilization and methanol (MeOH) economy, the preparation of MeOH by CO₂ hydrogenation is a potential energy route, which can be used as one of the key paths to achieve carbon neutrality. The recent progress in preparation of MeOH by reduction of CO₂ with H₂ as reductant in homogeneous system was summarized.According to the three routes of preparing MeOH by direct hydrogenation of CO₂,preparing MeOH by hydrogenation of CO₂ derivatives,and preparing MeOH by dissimilation of HCOOH,the catalyst system design,structure?activity relationship and reaction mechanism involved in each route were introduced,and the shortcomings of each hydrogenation route were summarized,the problems needed to be solved in the industrial production of MeOH by CO₂ hydrogenation were put forward.