Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) play a crucial role in soil heavy metal detoxification by enhancing plant growth and improving phytoremediation efficiency. PGPR can promote plant growth through nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, potassium solubilization, iron solubilization, and plant hormone secretion. They also enhance plant-heavy metal interactions by chelation, inducing systemic resistance, and improving bioavailability. PGPR can increase heavy metal uptake by plants, reduce their bioavailability, and mitigate their toxicity. Recent studies show that PGPR can significantly enhance the phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. PGPR can also improve plant growth by secreting organic acids, siderophores, and phytohormones such as auxin, cytokinin, gibberellin, and ACC deaminase. These mechanisms help plants absorb and accumulate heavy metals more efficiently. PGPR can also transform toxic heavy metals into forms that are more easily absorbed by plants, thereby improving phytoremediation efficiency. However, challenges remain in the practical application of PGPR, including their short survival time, low survival rate, and the need for effective strains in different environments. Future research should focus on expanding the PGPR strain bank, developing strategies for the synergistic use of multiple PGPR strains, and exploring their application in various environmental remediation areas. PGPR have the potential to replace chemical fertilizers and synthetic growth regulators, promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental bioremediation.Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) play a crucial role in soil heavy metal detoxification by enhancing plant growth and improving phytoremediation efficiency. PGPR can promote plant growth through nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, potassium solubilization, iron solubilization, and plant hormone secretion. They also enhance plant-heavy metal interactions by chelation, inducing systemic resistance, and improving bioavailability. PGPR can increase heavy metal uptake by plants, reduce their bioavailability, and mitigate their toxicity. Recent studies show that PGPR can significantly enhance the phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. PGPR can also improve plant growth by secreting organic acids, siderophores, and phytohormones such as auxin, cytokinin, gibberellin, and ACC deaminase. These mechanisms help plants absorb and accumulate heavy metals more efficiently. PGPR can also transform toxic heavy metals into forms that are more easily absorbed by plants, thereby improving phytoremediation efficiency. However, challenges remain in the practical application of PGPR, including their short survival time, low survival rate, and the need for effective strains in different environments. Future research should focus on expanding the PGPR strain bank, developing strategies for the synergistic use of multiple PGPR strains, and exploring their application in various environmental remediation areas. PGPR have the potential to replace chemical fertilizers and synthetic growth regulators, promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental bioremediation.