As a kind of clean energy， microwave is widely used in energetic materials due to its unique penetrability and high safety， which can interact with energetic materials in volume. The application of microwave in the testing of energetic materials， microwave assisted synthesis of energetic materials， excitation of energetic materials and enhancement of propellant combustion were summarized. The mechanism of microwave-assisted synthesis of energetic materials is not clear， the absorption materials introduced in microwave sensitized explosives is relatively single， and the microwave enhanced combustion is only suitable for some propellants were pointed out. The future development directions were put forward： expanding the types of absorbing materials， activating non-metallic energetic materials by microwave ignition of nano-thermites， and realizing the dexterity and convenience of microwave devices.