<p>Fabricating superhydrophobic surfaces on magnesium alloys via simple, scalable methods remains a significant challenge. In this work, a one-step etching process was employed to create uniform micro- and nanostructures on AZ91D magnesium alloy substrates, significantly reducing the solid–liquid contact area. The modified surfaces exhibited exceptional hydrophobicity, with static contact angles 172° and sliding angles below 2°. Furthermore, the surface demonstrated multifunctional anti-contamination properties, effectively repelling aqueous, organic, and particulate contaminants. Moreover, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reached 1.24 × 10⁵&#xa0;Ω&#xa0;cm² which revealed a 2-3 order-of-magnitude increase in corrosion resistance compared to the untreated substrate. This rapid, scalable method holds promise for industrial applications, particularly in aerospace and marine coatings, where corrosion resistance and contamination control are critical.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>