Abstract: With the increasing depth of roadway and the complexity of mine environment in China, the challenge of roadway bolt support will be more serious. Based on the investigation of relevant literature, the related theories of roadway bolt support were systematically summarized, and the newly proposed bolt neutral point theory, surrounding rock strength strengthening theory of bolt supporting, theory of bolt uniform strength beam support in recent years were emphatically discussed; at the same time, the action mechanism of anchor is expounded from the following four aspects: the stress distribution law of anchorage body, the load transfer law of anchor bolt, the mechanical properties of anchor anchorage interface, the rheological property of surrounding rock and its timeliness; then the main research results of bolt support form, bolt design method, bolt material and structure are introduced.Finally, combined with the research status of roadway bolt support, the problems and research priorities that need to be solved in roadway bolt support are discussed.