Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been widely used as a new energy storage system with high energy density and long cycle life. However, the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) formed on the surface of anode consumes excess active lithium during the initial cycle, resulting in an initial irreversible capacity loss (ICL) and reducing the overall electrochemical performance. To solve the critical issue, pre-lithiation technology has been accepted as one of the most promising strategies. Due to the pre-lithiated treatment provides additional active lithium to compensate for the ICL and effectively improves initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), leading to raising the working voltage, increasing the Li concentration, as well as improving the energy density and cycle stability of LIBs. In this overview, the causes of ICL in LIBs are analyzed from different perspectives, and various pre-lithiation strategies are systematically classified and summarized. Finally, some current problems and development prospects in this field are summarized, with prospects for realizing industrialized technologies.