The demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is increasing with a rapid development of new energy vehicles. Massive waste LIBs pollute the environment and have a risk of insufficient supply of lithium resources. Recycling metal lithium from waste LIBs thus becomes a recent research hotspot. Effective battery recycling can alleviate the shortage of resources and realize resource utilization, as well as reduce environmental pollution and promote the sustainable development of the industry. Also, research work on recovering lithium by preferential extraction and step-by-step separation has attracted much attentions to realize the efficient recovery of lithium metal in waste LIBs. This review represented the existing situation and methods of recycling waste LIBs, described recent research work on pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, bio metallurgy and electrochemical methods in the process of selective lithium recovery, and analyzed the technical features of electrode electric field drive and membrane electrodialysis in the field of selective lithium recovery. Also, the advantages and disadvantages of each recovery process were summarized, and the problems faced by lithium recovery were analyzed in combination with economic benefits and environmental impact. In addition, the challenges and limitations of LIBs recycling were given, and the future development on LIBs recycling was prospected. This review thus provides a reference for the research and development of more energy-saving, environment-friendly and efficient recycling process of lithium metal in waste LIBs.