<p>It is projected that by 2025, the quantity of retired lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in China will reach the magnitude of one million units annually. The recycling of these spent LIBs is crucial as it can significantly reduce reliance on mineral resources and avert the environmental hazards associated with landfill disposal. However, the field still awaits a breakthrough in the theoretical and practical aspects of efficiently separating and recycling the cathode and anode materials from spent LIBs. Drawing from the most recent research on the separation and recovery of spent LIBs conducted both domestically and internationally, this paper provides a comprehensive review and summary of the processes and mechanisms involved in flotation, magnetic separation, and their combined process. It also generalizes the pretreatment techniques for spent LIBs, such as roasting, milling, and Fenton oxidation, and compares the merits of various pretreatment methods and the flotation chemistry used for LIBs. The text discusses the merits of flotation and magnetic separation in facilitating the damage-free recovery of spent LIBs. It is highlighted that the efficiency of recovery can be enhanced through the synergistic application of flotation and magnetic separation techniques. The aim of this paper is to consolidate the latest findings in the field and to propel the advancement of efficient separation and recovery methods for anode and cathode materials from spent LIBs.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>