<p>Fiber-shaped aqueous zinc-ion batteries (FAZIBs) offer a practical approach to wearable energy storage by combining zinc-ion chemistry with flexible fiber architectures suitable for textile integration. This review systematically examines the fundamental energy storage mechanisms, including Zn²⁺ intercalation/deintercalation, H⁺ intercalation/deintercalation, H⁺/Zn²⁺ co-intercalation/deintercalation, and chemical conversion reactions, providing key insights for materials design. Advances in cathode materials are analyzed, with coverage of carbon-based hierarchical composites, metal-based shape-memory frameworks, manganese and vanadium oxides with structural improvements, and organic compounds for selective proton storage. Zinc anode developments include liquid metal integration for stretchability, surface engineering for dendrite suppression, and wet-spinning methods for improved stability. Gel electrolyte systems encompass polymer-based dual networks, zwitterionic designs, ionic liquid formulations, and hybrid architectures supporting wide-temperature operation and mechanical durability. Assembly strategies from parallel to twisted to coaxial designs are evaluated for their electrochemical and mechanical characteristics. Applications in smart textiles with bidirectional charging, healthcare monitoring, and IoT sensing demonstrate FAZIBs’ potential for integrated energy systems. Challenges such as high internal resistance, manufacturing precision, electrode separation under deformation, and thin encapsulation are addressed, with proposed solutions including microfluidic processing, biomimetic designs, and multi-functional integration. This review connects fundamental mechanisms with practical developments, providing a roadmap for advancing FAZIBs in flexible electronics.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>