Abstract: Applying an external electromagnetic field is one of the ways to improve the tribological performance of the friction pair. From three aspects of the promotion of dislocation movement, the enhancement of the oxidation of the contact surface and the refinement and oxidation of the wear debris by the external electromagnetic field, the mechanism of the electromagnetic field improving the tribological performance of the metal material friction pair is reviewed. The influence of the external electromagnetic field type, the magnetic field strength, the magnetic field application direction, the magnetic field frequency, the magnitude and difference of magnetic permeability of the friction pair material and the size of the external magnetic particle on the friction and wear of the friction pair is discribed. The future research direction on the anti-friction of the electromagnetic field is pointed out.