Lithium niobite (LiNbO3, LN) is a kind of multi-functional artificial crystal, which is called “optical silicon”. Recently, the rapid development of integrated photonics based on LN film (LNOI) has a great tendency to turn “optical silicon” into reality. High integration means high local intensity density, so the photorefractive effect of LN crystal can’t be ignored any more. Photorefractive effect, short for photoinduced refractive index change, which is an important part of nonlinear optics. In this paper, the discovery and mechanism of photorefractive effect, the regulation of photorefractive effect by different dopants and doping combinations are reviewed. The photorefractive characteristics of bismuth-magnesium double-doped LN crystal, related theoretical and experimental results are mainly introduced. The characteristics and applications of LN photorefractive waveguide, optical soliton, and the photorefractive effect in LNOI-based integrated photonics devices are summarized. The future research trends are also prospected. It is expected that China will make full use of the advantages of LN photorefraction research and LNOI industrialization and occupy the advantage in the competition of photonics chips.