The Er3+ based near 3 μm laser is an ideal light source for precise laser surgery. In addition, it can be used as pump source for the mid- and far-infrared laser system, which is of great value for the development of long-wave lasers. Research shows that the cooperative up-conversion between Er ions can suppress the population bottleneck caused by the long lifetime of the laser lower energy level, which significantly improves the laser efficiency. However, the proposed “high concentration doping” scheme cause heavy thermal loads on the gain crystals, which limites the enhancement of laser power. This paper briefly summarizes the research results on the self-termination and cooperative up-conversion of Er3+-doped crystal lasers, and introduces the current experimental schemes and research progress to achieve high-power lasers near 3 μm. Finally, the development of high-power Er3+ based near 3 μm laser is prospected.